Tell us about the businesses you own and what inspired you to
be an entrepreneur?
Most people know me as the founder of HBCUConnect.com the website, but I actually own several companies. The HBCU Foundation, which is a non-profit that donates money to HBCUs; HBCUConnect.com which is the #1 black college related website on the internet, and also Grandlin Interactive, which is a software development company mostly dealing with internet community portals.
I guess I have had an entrepreneurial spirit ever since I graduated from college and realized that most folks don't become wealthy by simply working for a company until they retire...
Tell us about some of your entrepreneurial accomplishments to date?
Wow... I would say the biggest accomplishment has been the development of HBCUConnect.com into a business that not only supports me personally, but also supports a great team of folks that now work with me towards the goals of the company.
From a partnership perspective, I'd have to say that partnering with Dante Lee of BlackNews.com has been a major plus.
What are some of your business goals you have yet to achieve?
I'd like to take both of my companies to the 8 figure range from an annual revenue perspective and be able to use that financial power to give back to the community via strengthening the black colleges to serve and educate black people...
What advice do you have to offer to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Well, I'll keep it simple... Figure out what it is you want, and ACT accordingly... I mean if you want to be rich, do what rich people do. If you want to be successful, do what successful people do. Act like you want it and don't rest until you get it... Pretty much literally.
Also don't let anyone discourage you from your dreams. Associate with people that are headed in the same direction as you, or better yet, hang with folks that are already there!
