theforcedpivot with Antoine Medley

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes J.A. Faulkerson.J. A. Faulkerson is a Northern Virginia-based Creative Writer who has penned instant classics like Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet (fiction), Real Men Raise CHAMPIONS: Unleashing Your Inner COACH (nonfiction), and Young Achiever Playbook: Planning To Achieve (nonfiction).  In July 2015, Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet was named one of three finalists for a Phillis Wheatley Book Award (in the First Fiction category). The Phillis Wheatley Book Awards are held annually as the kickoff event for New York City’s Harlem Book Fair.J. A. is available to speak about his insights and experiences as a Creative Writer, Child and Family Advocate, Social Entrepreneur, and former TRIO Upward Bound and YMCA Director. Website: jafaulkerson.comMusic Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Jason Kelley.Garnering critical and commercial acclaim for his waggishly entertaining voice acting as Colt Vahn, the anti-hero in Arkane’s DEATHLOOP (2021), actor Jason Kelley erupted onto the 2021-22 gaming stage. Earning an impressive 8 nominations & 2 wins* in the Best Performer or Performer in a Leading Role category:Global Industry Game AwardsBAFTA Games AwardsDICE AwardsAlgerian Game  AwardsIGN’s 2021 Best Gaming Performance*Arab Game Awards*The Game AwardsGolden Joystick AwardsAn instant fan favorite, Jason charmed players and media establishments with a fresh new benchmark by delivering an original archetype for lead characters of color. The impact was felt globally inspiring fan art, cosplay, and heavy social media engagement with gamers of all cultures.He can be seen recurring on Taylor Sheridan's hit series MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN (2021) on Paramount+, a supporting role in Netflix’s animation SEAL TEAM (2021), and the highly anticipated game sequel, HORIZON: FORBIDDEN WEST (2022) along with several unannounced performances in gaming, animation, and film.With a voiceover Emmy Award (2011) and NAACP Theater Award (2014) to his name, this multi-hyphenate continues expanding his range, adding executive producer to his repertoire with the indie feature, SEA CLOUD PARK due in 2022.Jason is an ongoing student of the Seydways Acting Studio, an alum of The Second City Conservatory, and a rising talent among the ranks of iconic creatives like Keegan Michael-Key, Bill Hader, Tim Meadows, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Adam McKay and Bob Odenkirk. Originally from the Washington DC metro region, this Virginia native currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son.www.jason-kelley.comMusic Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Tyronne Drakeford.Drakeford is the current District Athletic Director for DD2 where he oversees the seven middle schools and three high schools’ athletics and athletic facilities. Mr. Drakeford has a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Athletic Administration with a focus in Interscholastic athletics from Ohio University. He is a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association, and the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association. He was awarded the South Carolina Athletic Administration Athletic Director of the Year in 2020, Region Athletic Director of the Year in 2019 & 2020, and Football Coach of the Year in 2020. He continues to put others first while creating an environment of selfless individuals who respect others. He has spent the past 20 years as an athletic administrator and or a coach. Mr. Drakeford is a former Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America where he found a passion for serving, mentoring, and helping young people to be productive in the communities in which they serve. Mr. Drakeford also played 8 years in the NFL and is a member of the 1994 San Francisco 49ers Superbowl XXIX team and a member of the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.www.KandyApplesByK.comMusic Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Kim Battle.Kim Battle, Owner and Founder of Kandy Apples by K.  They sell incredible and beautiful candy apples in order to enhance the typical candy apple experience. Kim grew up in Raleigh and graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance.  After 19 years as an accountant, she took a leap of faith and launched the first Candy Apple-focused shop in the area. Kandy Apples by K has received numerous awards and recognition in the area and has also been featured in the Food Network magazine and Al Roker’s Family Style show on The Today Show platform.  On April 13th Kandy Apples By K will celebrate its 5th year of business! www.KandyApplesByK.comMusic Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Barron Damon.Barron Damon is a Certified Philanthropic Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) with over 20 years of experience working as a Non-Profit Executive.  Barron is currently the Managing Partner of the Business of Life Coaching and Consulting (BOLCC) a service and education company.  As a philanthropic coach, Barron teaches donors how to Live their Legacy through strategic giving that aligns with their deepest values.    Barron has coached and trained thousands of people during his professional career and has been featured in national magazines as well as a special guest on TV, radio shows, and podcasts discussing topics related to philanthropy, business, youth development, and travel.  Barron is a nationally syndicated radio host and the host of Live Your Legacy and Giving While Black Podcast, He is the author of Monday Morning Manna and a collaborative book "Transforming Lives" which will be released this summer. Barron is the CEO of the BK Damon Foundation whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of young people and adults through philanthropic acts of kindness.Giving While Black PodcastMusic Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Ron Brade.As Senior Vice President of Administration & Chief Operating Officer, Ron Brade supports the President of Xavier University in Louisiana, in strategic analysis and planning. He oversees the daily operations of the university, ensuring administrative units fulfill the mission of the university. This includes overseeing infrastructure, the university Master Plan and its execution, finances, IT, facilities operations, human resources, campus safety, risk and insurance management, compliance, and satisfaction of internal and external stakeholders.Before his appointment with Xavier, Mr. Brade was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Sourcing & Chief Procurement Officer at the University of North Texas (UNT) System. In this role, he provided strategic direction, leadership, and supervision of strategic sourcing, the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program, contract management, credit card services, and accounts payable functions across the system’s member institutions in Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Most recently, Mr. Brade led the transformation of UNT System's procurement infrastructure, including the automation of its procure-to-pay processes.Prior to joining UNTS, Mr. Brade retired as a member of the Senior Executive Service, having spent 29 years working in the federal government. While he completed his federal career as the Associate Center Director for NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, his federal career included center and agency-level leadership responsibilities covering Human Capital, Procurement, IT, Strategic Infrastructure, and Protective Services. In addition to NASA, Mr. Brade worked for other federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency at the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Institute of Standards & Technology.Mr. Brade is a native of South Boston, VA, and received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and his master’s degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. He is married to Angela LaCroix Brade, and they have three children: Bianca, Beau, and Brielle.Music Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Grammy-nominated R&B Artist Eric Roberson.As a GRAMMY Award-nominee, Singer, Songwriter, Producer, and Howard University alum, Eric Roberson continues to break boundaries as an independent artist in an industry dominated by major labels, manufactured sounds, and mainstream radio. Described as the original pioneer of the independent movement in R&B/Soul music, Eric has achieved major milestones in his career, from being a successful songwriter and producer for notable artists such as Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Dwele, Vivian Green and countless others, to headlining sold out tours across the country.Eric is celebrating over twenty years as an independent artist, creating “Honest Music” since 2001, which has afforded him the artistic freedom that isn’t typically offered in the mainstream music industry. Throughout 2021, Eric will be sharing his creative thought process and the work he’s done on his last 13 solo albums. “I was more than willing to take less to enjoy my passion. I was fortunate to be rewarded with a career...a career that I never dreamed of.”In June 2021, Eric will release a new single, entitled “Lessons”. Ironically, the song was recorded on the morning of his 12th wedding anniversary to his wife Shawn, with whom he credits as his inspiration. Eric says, “Being blessed to be with a woman who has had my back and who completes me, helped put me in a special mood to create”.As Eric reflects on his new single release, he said, “I thank God for not having my temporary prayers answered. We have to have the heartbreak, the roadblocks and [other] things to not work out as planned. There's a lesson in just being patient and swimming against the current to get to your destination. That's the lesson for me. Knowing that there's a reason for setback, for failure, for all of it."While recording the trilogy album Earth, Wind & Fire in 2017, Eric created “The Process”, a forum in which he invites fans to navigate through his creative experience. It allows fans to listen and comment on unreleased songs, thereby being a part of the “process” of making music. “We are losing so much of the culture that went with listening to music. Letting the fans watch us create the albums was our way of bringing some of the old music culture back,” says Eric.Eric was nominated in 2010 and 2011 for a GRAMMY award in the “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” category and continues to blaze trails unheard of as an independent artist. He was the recipient of the “Underground Artist of the Year” BETJ Virtual Award, with Rahsaan Patterson in 2008, and he became the first independent artist to be nominated for a BET Award in 2007.The portal for all things Eric Roberson https://ericrobersonmusic.com/Music Credits:CellTower

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Greg Hedgepeth.Greg Hedgepeth was born and raised in Halifax County, NC, and was a first-generation college student that attended East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. There he received his undergraduate degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. He later received his Masters in Management and Leadership from Webster University. Greg is also in the early stages of his doctoral pursuit in Learning and Organizational Change. Greg currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the NC State University Graduate School and is the President and CEO of Substantial Media, LLC an award-winning minority multimedia platform that seeks to amplify the voices and stories of black and brown communities and bring awareness to important issues that impact these communities on a local, state and national level. Greg has been in the field of higher education marketing and communication for over 16 years, serving in leadership roles at the divisional and university level. Greg is a certified digital marketing professional, a husband, a father of two beautiful little girls, a professor within the Mass Communications and Digital Technology Department at Shaw University, and a social entrepreneur. Greg has presented and facilitated at conferences, summits, and workshops all around the country and has been awarded for his service work within the minority community and the field of education.Substantial Magazinehttps://www.facebook.com/SubstantialMagazine/https://twitter.com/substantialmagMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast creator Antoine Medley shares his thoughts on loss and how one deals with the changes in their life after loss.  Medley is joined briefly by special guest Licensed Clinical Social Worker Dekevias Atkinson, Sr.Music Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast chats with guest Brenton Logan on his life journies and how the pandemic affected him.Brenton Logan is a native of Richmond, VA.  He received his undergraduate education from Shaw University where he studied sociology. Brenton serves as a board member of The Tulsa Initiative, Inc. a non-profit organization which utilizes mentorship and education to cultivate young minds, preparing them to change lives. In addition, Brenton is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men.Brenton is the CEO and founder of N-Tech-U where he provides professional preparation, coaching, and networking in the tech industry for HBCU students. Brenton has worked in community engagement, sales, and process improvement. Prior to joining Capital One Brenton led 30+ employees at AT&T doing escalations and technical troubleshooting. He has also worked at Lenovo, leading education sales and creating process improvement strategies. Brenton most recently worked at Amazon Web Services where he was program manager in the business operation organization. Brenton describes himself as a master relationship builder and servant leader. He subscribes to Dr. King's philosophy “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."Music Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcasts sits down with Natalie Bullock Brown. Natalie Bullock Brown is an award-winning producer, an Assistant Teaching Professor in Interdisciplinary Studies at North Carolina State University, and a 2021 Rockwood Institute JustFilms Fellow. She is director/producer of a documentary work-in-progress that explores the impact of the beauty standard on Black women and girls; and is a producer on award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt’s PBS documentary, HAZING, as well as his upcoming NOVA film, Lee and Liza’s Family Tree.Natalie is also a proud member of the Documentary Accountability Working Group, which released a values-informed framework for documentary filmmakers that emphasizes care, consent, and collaboration as a pathway to ethical storytelling. Natalie was the StoryShift Strategist for Working Films, where she guided the organization’s work in promoting accountable documentary storytelling.Natalie was also a regular guest and contributor for #BackChannel, a monthly segment on North Carolina public radio’s The State of Things. And for nearly 12 years, Natalie was an assistant professor of film and broadcast media in the Department of Media & Communications at Saint Augustine's University. She also served 12 years as co-host of Black Issues Forum, a public affairs program on UNC-TV, North Carolina’s statewide public television network. Natalie was also an associate producer on documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ 10-part PBS series, Jazz. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northwestern University. Natalie is a native Chicagoan but a New Yorker in her heart.Natalie Bullock Brownhttp://www.NatalieBullockBrown.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Dwight Vick.  Vick shares how life took him from Tidewater, VA to helping others.  How from the gridiron to counseling.Dwight is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, Dwight played for the legendary Coach Frank Beamer as an offensive lineman from 1994-1999.He helped lead the Virginia Tech Hokies to five consecutive bowl game appearances and two consecutive Big East conference championships. As a senior in 1998, Dwight was selected All Big East and served as team captain. Dwight was also a three-year letterman and received numerous athletic team and individual awards. In May 1999, he earned a B.S. in Sociology and a B.S. in Family and Child Development. Upon graduation, he attended the Baltimore Ravens mini-camp as a free agent before returning to Virginia Tech as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the football team.In August 2010, Dwight graduated from Liberty University with two Master’s degrees: one in Marriage and Family Therapy, and the other in Human Services with a Specialization in Family Therapy. Dwight is a columnist for 247 Sports VTScoop.com where he writes a weekly column covering the Virginia Tech football team. In 2017, Dwight became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and now working on earning a Doctorate degree.Over the last 27 years, Dwight has conducted motivational presentations and workshops focused on empowering youth and their families to become successful in all their endeavors. Dwight is committed to assisting with the educational, spiritual, mental, and physical development of all young people. In an effort to help youth achieve their dreams of becoming successful, he created Victory Life in 2018 and works as the Director of Student Development. In this role, he provides therapeutic mentoring to at-risk youth focuses on goal setting, career development, time management, and life skills.Vicktory Lifehttp://www.vicktorylife.comContact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Vonda Paige.  Paige shares her ups, downs, and opportunities that allowed her to thrive.Paige has over 25 years of experience in non-profit management, marketing, social media, and public relations. She is an award-winning journalist and the founder of The First Black Woman, a digital media project recognizing the historic contributions of Black women.She is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Vice President of the Virginia Tech Black Alumni Society. She is co-founding member of 2CHi Entertainment, an independent film production company. She is the executive producer of the independent short film, “UH-OH” (2018) which was selected by the Pan African Film Festival and the Roxbury International Film Festival. She is also the executive producer and producer of The Woodstock of House (2021), a documentary that tells the story of Chicago house music. The film has won 9 awards and has been screened in 17 film festivals.More Info:First Black WomanThe Woodstock of House (2021)Contact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Melissa Jackson Holloway.  Holloway shares how her pivots took her from Niagra Falls, NY to the largest HBCU in the United States where she serves as General Counsel. Holloway serves as General Counsel and Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs, Risk, and Compliance for the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the nation’s largest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Greensboro, N.C.  At N.C. A&T, Melissa oversees Legal Affairs, Enterprise Risk Management, and Compliance, Internal Audit, and Title IX functions. Her legal practice focuses on employment law and student issues, employment litigation, student affairs and disciplinary procedures, policy development, employment contracts, immigration, and sponsored research. Prior to her current position, Melissa served as Deputy General Counsel at Ball State University, as General Counsel at North Carolina Central University, and as Chief Legal Affairs Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.  Prior to entering higher education, Melissa spent four years as an associate at the law firm of Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Melissa earned her BA in business administration from Syracuse University, her MA in political science from Binghamton University, and her JD, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. Melissa currently serves as Chair-Elect of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is a current participant in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI).  Melissa is a national speaker on higher education legal issues. Contact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

The theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes William T. Sutphin.  Sutphin shares his story of pivots and how they took him from a small town in southern Virginia to film school in New York and then to Los Angeles, California.  William Sutphin is a former 2008 DGA Winner for his thesis film "Uncle Killa", which he later licensed to HBO/Cinemax. He is a graduate of Columbia University's Film MFA program and has gone on to place as a Nicholl's Quarterfinalist and a finalist for the 2020 Universal Writers Program. He is a Member of the WGA's IWC and lives in Los Angeles with his wife Jocelyn.To find more information on William T. SutphinHoodwinked PodcastContact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Carnela Renee Hill.  Hill shares her story of pivots and how she arrived at where she is today.  She explains how she maneuvers this life to serve others and to live a life of faith and obedience to God.Carnela Renee Hill, successful interior designer, CEO, public speaker, author, and coach, has many gifts and talents. She has a diverse background. Carnela has won many awards in various areas. She is a women-owned business and interior designer. She is a community leader serving and/or have served on many boards. She is an ICF Certified Coach, licensed chaplain, and minister.Carnela has an electric way of attracting people to her across various platforms nationally and internationally by keeping her audiences laughing with her engaging tone, comedic spirit, and storytelling style. Carnela is known for being vulnerable with her stories.While in seminary, she was asked to deliver a TedX-style talk. She shocked her classmates with a talk on racism and inclusion. The talk opened the door for a much-needed discussion, days after the George Floyd murder.In 2020, Carnela was selected to participate in the North Carolina discussion on “Our Stories-Brave Conversations on Race”. Carnela does not shy away from challenging topics on inclusivity, race, and faith.In a 2021 interview by Triangle Business Journal (TBJ), Carnela speaks candidly about having to pivot during the pandemic in the article “Her Faith in Business and Leadership”.Ms. Hill is an avid reader, loves family time, and is a champion for helping others SUCCEED. Her motto is “Be purposeful with your passion, and passionate about your purpose. Seek after godly wisdom!”To learn more about Carnela Renee Hill, visit her websites, www.carnelareneehill.com for books, speaking engagements, and coaching, or www.crhilldesigngroup.com for interior design.Contact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes DeLeon Gray, PhD.  Gray shares his story of life pivots and how he arrived at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Gray is CEO of Black and Belonging (www.blackandbelonging.com) and an associate professor of educational psychology and equity at North Carolina State University, where he has developed three new doctoral courses on School Belonging, Equity-Focused Quantitative Methods, and Community-Engaged Approaches to Educational Research. He is enthusiastic about working jointly with education stakeholders to disrupt structural aspects of schooling environments that leave historically marginalized student groups vulnerable to anxieties about belonging.His research is recognized by prestigious honors, including the Research on Socially and Economically Underrepresented Populations Award (RISE-UP) from the Association for Psychological Science and a 2018 Best Article Award for his collaborative publication, "Black and Belonging at School: A Case for Interpersonal, Instructional, and Institutional Opportunity Structures," in Educational Psychologist. Gray has been establishing a national presence for his research, mentoring, and outreach activities. To date, he has secured more than $2.5 million in federally funded research grants as principal investigator or co-principal investigator. The overarching aim of his grant-funded community work is to amplify the voices of young people and support their motivation to achieve for the sake of racial progress and social uplift.For Gray and his team, centering community engagement has resulted in several (intended and unintended) impacts for both his partnering schools in Durham, NC, including:Developing new equity-focused methodological approaches for assessing belonging-centered instructional practicesDeveloping a graduate recruitment pipeline of equity-focused graduate students who were attracted to our community-engaged activities and who have chosen to support their same school district as community-engaged scholars while pursuing doctoral degreesBlack Enterprise featured Gray as one of 100 men of color who are "living up to a standard of excellence and using their talents and influence in their respective industries to shift the perception of men of color to create and encourage a positive narrative."He previously received the Change Agent Award of Appreciation from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, for his community-engaged scholarship in predominantly Black K-12 schools. He recently served as a Scholar in Residence in the College of Education, Michigan State University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.Contact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.comMusic Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Cece Jones-Davis. Jones-Davis shares her stories of how she allows God to force her to pivot and complete the work he would have her do.   Jones-Davis works at the intersections of faith, art, and social justice as an award-winning faith leader, facilitator, public speaker, and impact strategist to point people to the All-Powerful and the least powerful. For the past 20 years, Cece has partnered with national organizations and brands such as Levi’s and Tampax, organized and led dynamic grassroots movements, and used her voice to address issues of equity and inequity. Her activism ranges from fighting to abolish the death penalty to advocating for menstrual equity—work that she does both on the ground to create immediate impact and in high-level rooms to drive policy changes, awareness, and education. She served in the historic Obama Administration under Ambassador Ron Kirk, the first African American U.S. Trade Representative. She is known most recently for her work in creating the #JusticeforJulius campaign that saved Julius Jones in Oklahoma just hours before his scheduled execution in 2021. Born and raised in Halifax County, VA—the home of the legendary Henrietta Lacks and the once-largest slaveholding county in the state—Cece’s life experiences have given her a unique perspective on the work she does every day to combat racism and advocate for people living on the margins of society. Her impact has been recognized and celebrated throughout the United States, including an Emmy nomination for a KFOR News conversation on racial (re)conciliation, receiving the 2021 Change.org Changemaker of the Year Award, and Special Congressional Recognition for her efforts in civil rights and social justice. When Cece’s not advocating or speaking, she’s creating worship music. As a professional vocalist, she has performed across the country and is featured on Stephen Hurd’s “The Overflow” and “Times of Refreshing,” as well as Grace Covenant Worship albums. Her latest album, Alive, is available on all digital platforms. Cece is an ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ denomination and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is also a wife and mother of two children whom she is raising in Washington, D.C.Ordained Minister, Artist, Speaker, and Advocate - Cece Jones-Davis (cecejonesdavis.com)Contact the show info@theforcedpivot.comWebsite:  http://www.theforcedpivot.com Music Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Sulaiman Mausi.  Mausi is a husband, father, entrepreneur, author,  and philanthropist.  He joins the show to share some of his ups and downs and how Covid-19 forced pivots in his work.  The pivots ultimately made him a better father, husband, and businessman.Sulaiman Mausi, a 6th generation Entrepreneur, is the Founder and President of The DOME Group, LLC, an entertainment producer of first-class concerts, festivals, and tours. He serves as VP of The Right Productions, Inc., a family-run business that operates The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, a 6,000-seat venue in Detroit, Michigan. He is SVP of The Black Promoters Collective (BPC), a coalition of 6 of the nation’s top independent concert promotion and event production companies.Sulaiman holds a B.A. in History from North Carolina Central University, and he is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.Music Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM

theforcedpivot Podcast welcomes Keith & Belinda Shannon.  The Shannon's are a dynamic couple with successful careers. They successfully raised 3 dynamic children that have grabbed the world by the horns and made their own lives and careers a huge success.The couple has been married for 31 years and they have known each other since they were 18 years old.The couple shares their story of seeking career success and family success both with the help of faith and mindful strategy.  Both Keith and Belinda are proud graduates of Florida A&M University and have helped hundreds of young people find their own spaces on college and university campuses all around the globe.  They have not only worked to expose their own children to the world but so many others as well. From college tours to international excursions, the Shannons have proudly provided their reasonable service to the world.Keith Shannon served our nation as a US Army Paratrooper, while Belinda Shannon has spent years as a corporate attorney.Music Credits:Interlude 2 (KillMyVibe) by Dj DCM