Christian Keyes
Actor
Christian Keyes was born in Detroit and reared in Flint, Michigan. He is best known for his role as Levi Sterling in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, “Saints & Sinners.” Keyes’ formal training is in musical theater and he studied at Ferris State University in Michigan.
Keyes is an actor, model, producer, screenwriter, and surprisingly a singer. He got his start in the entertainment industry by appearing in stage plays having since graduated to television and film. Since his introduction as an actor he has added singer, author and producer to his résumé. He recently played Dante Wilson in The Preachers Son, which is based on a bestselling book by author Carl Weber. Keyes has one son named Christian Keyes, Jr.
Reggie Rouse
Programming Director, V-103 FM
New York City-bred and Syracuse University-educated Reggie Rouse was promoted to programming director at V-103 FM, Atlanta’s number one urban radio station in 2005. Inheriting a number one station can be daunting, but he took the reign and led WVEE-FM and WAOK-AM to new heights. Both stations are known for their community activism and outreach. Most recently, the stations did a +Help Houston Diaper Drive collecting three 18-wheeler truckloads of baby and adult diapers for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. “We have committed to doing community forums each month. Yes, we want to get good ratings and bring in revenue, but we also want to educate and inform our listeners, says Rouse.” Rouse credits his faith for his success and says that he wouldn’t change the tough times he had went to weather to get to this pinnacle point in his career.
Kennedy A. Stewart
CEO
At the tender age of 10, Kennedy A. Stewart is making the moves of a true bosspreneur. Landing the No. 1 spot at the Pretty Mogul Shark Tank Entrepreneur Camp, she has founded three innovative companies including BDT, which is short for Butterfly Diamond Trillionaires, a network marketing company that helps people save money on products and services. Second, she created Fashsciprenure to make medical and fashion bracelet for kids. And the third is K’s Inc., which partners with companies to manufacture products and supply services.
A public speaker, Stewart speaks on the following topics: “The Power of Desire,” where she highlights the importance of perseverance; “The Benefits of Focus”, noting the importance of the clarity of vision; and “The Necessity of Vision,” which emphasizes that you don’t settle for less.
Jay Carter
Founder, ONE Musicfest
ONE Musicfest recently celebrated its 8th anniversary; it’s the Southeast’s premier urban progressive music and arts festival. It’s founder Jason “Jay” Carter says in thinking back 10 to 15 years ago, Carter says he had no idea his vision would be realized and evolve so successfully, “We wouldn’t have predicted we would have been in this space. I don’t know if we could have written this story. When you read these motivational books and listen to these motivational speakers and they say, ‘Follow your passion. Follow your heart, you have no idea where it will lead you or what doors will open or what type of impact you will create.’ I will say that is definitely what happened with this idea. Sometimes you just need a few believers around you to help push and fuel the energy, thought and passion. It truly is a blessing.”
Charles Jenkins
Faith Leader, Social Engineer, Entrepreneur, Idea Maker, Communicator
For the past 13 years, Charles Jenkins has been widely known as the senior pastor of the historic Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, a rapidly growing multi-location congregation founded by civil rights pioneer Reverend Clay Evans. Jenkins is also Founding President of Fellowship Educational and Economic Development Corporation (FEED), a 501c3 that focuses on education, community development, job creation, public safety, and urban renewal in Chicago inner-city neighborhoods. FEED is currently leading a $26 million effort known as The Legacy Project estimated to produce 400 new jobs creating a socioeconomic oasis to enhance Chicago’s Southside.
Additionally, Jenkins is also a multi award-winning songwriter, hit maker, Billboard No. 1 music producer, nine-time Stellar award-winning recording artist, Soul Train Music Award nominee, Multi-Dove Music Award nominee.
Keri Hilson
Actress/Singer/Songwriter
Keri Hilson likes to play. She enjoys wordplay and acting. The millennial singer, songwriter and actress shared with rolling out during an interview, “I think our voices are more powerful in our gift,” in sharing insight on why she acts and sings. She says the most fulfilling part of her career is “Being able to bless people. Sometimes it’s a picture or as simple or easy as a return smile, or the first to smile. I love to give. I love giving to my family, blessing my mother and father, sisters and brothers, my cousins and aunts. And to those truly in need. I am able to lend my time, my voice, my person … shedding all the heels, the purses, the glamour and speak to them, one on one.”
Steve Canal
MillerCoors’ National Community Affairs Manager
Steve Canal, recently penned the Amazon best-selling book The Mind of a Winner, and it’s being described as the “play-by-play” motivational handbook for business leaders. Canal, who currently works as an innovator and national community affairs lead for MillerCoors comes with a plethora of experience. In this book, he also gets help from his business-minded mogul friends that include the likes of Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran (both from “Shark Tank”) and also from his celebrity friends that include 2 Chainz and Kenny “the Jet” Smith. A RIDE Conference speaker, Canal is bringing his expertise to help people “unlock that relentless determination and rare drive that give them access to the realm where miracles happen.” He will show attendees how to tap into the mind-set of a winner through power moves and methodologies.
Roger Bobb
CEO, Bobbcat Films
Six-time NAACP Image Award-winning producer Roger Bobb is one of the most successful producers working in the film and television industry today, with three hit TV shows currently on the air and 11 films having been released in the last 10 years, all opening at No. 1 or No. 2. He’s the president and CEO of Bobbcat Films. Prior, Bobb served as EVP of Tyler Perry Studios for seven years.
Bobb is the executive producer/creator of “It’s A Mann’s World, “Rickey Smiley For Real” and “Mann & Wife.” He also produced “The Rickey Smiley Show”, “House of Payne” and “Meet The Browns.” He has produced over 600 television sitcom episodes in his career.
Bobb’s theatrical producing credits include For Colored Girls, Why Did I Get Married I & II, Madea’s Big Happy Family and more.
Enitan Bereola II
Author, speaker and columnist
Enitan Bereola II has taken the classic concept of manners and made it tasteful, again! He penned the award-winning snf bestselling books, BEREOLAESQUE: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette book for the Urban Sophisticate and GENTLEWOMAN: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman.
As president of The Bereolaesque Group, cultural figure, celebrity ghostwriter, speaker and etiquette impresario, his voice reaches generations. He consulted and partnered with 20th Century Fox, Apple, Facebook, Salesforce, Visa, LINKEDIN, Yahoo, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal XO, I.W. Harper, Anheuser-Busch, BEVEL, Goorin Bros. and more. Bereola worked on projects with award-winning actors Hill Harper and Meagan Good, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Grammy award-winning platinum producer Bryan-Michael Cox and others. President Barack Obama and the First Family, Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg are owners of his work.
Raquel Harper
Producer, TMZ
Raquel Harper is a no-holds-barred and twice Emmy nominated TMZ producer, co-host of “South of Wilshire” and Host of a TMZ show, “Raq Rants,” a No. 1 show on YouTube. Harper attended Hampton University and California State University, Dominguez Hills where she majored in Mass Communications and minored in Political Science. Prior to TMZ, she interned at Fox Sports, ABC, KEYT, Hampton Channel, and KPMR. She’s worked at ABC, NBC and KPMR.
Harper resides in Los Angeles with her two kids, Justice and Jayah. She is a native of Santa Barbara, California.
Kevin Hooks
CEO, Las Vegas Urban League
Kevin E. Hooks is the President and CEO of the Las Vegas Urban League, one of the largest Urban League affiliates in the US. He’s been instrumental in boosting the organization’s revenue through strategic restructuring, new service offerings, profitable corporate partnerships and robust re-branding.
Hooks’ history of proactive leadership began with State Farm in the early 90s, working as a marketing executive in Hollywood in the early 2000s. His development and implementation of an urban-focused marketing platform for film releases led to his appointment as VP and GM for UPP Entertainment Marketing. In that role, he advanced celebrity brand placement protocols for major events such as the Sundance Film Festival, People’s Choice Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.
In 2014, Hooks won the National Urban League’s Newcomer CEO of the Year award.
