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we thank you!

From Isidra Person-Lynn:

Media Director

I would like to sincerely thank Harold Hambrick for his perseverance and stepping out on faith and completing the mission of Expo 2004. Were it not for your big heart and deep media connections, who knows where we would be?

Thank you to Arelettia Jones for being a partner in the struggle. Thanks to Ruth Williams, Ernestine Dixon and all of the staff of the Expo for handling their posts professionally and with love.  Thanks to Sharon Edwards for her spiritual guidance.

Thanks to my walking partner Rene Cross Washington, Expo Graphic Designer, for pulling together the ad campaign and allowing us to have Evan and Erin be our Expo Kids once again. (Thanks, Kids!) From the tickets to the flyers to the ads to the fashion book and much much more, your artistic touch makes us all look good.

Michael Riddick, thank you for your crystal clear photography and organizing the photography load.  Stan Thomas your writing, photography and your ear were most appreciated. Mikel Kilgore, my homie, you came to cover the fashion show although you were about to keel over.  Thanks for persevering.  Thanks to Sabir Majeed for those backstage shots and thanks to Malcolm Ali for sharing his photos.  Thanks to Greg King for pinch hitting this year and sending out the post release when I left for DC the day after the Expo. 

Alberta McCoy, thank you for loving the children.  Thanks to Maurice Kitchen for expertly writing this year's commercial, Roland Bynum and Wendy Raquel for voicing it and thanks to Mike Mann for producing it. 

 Thanks to all of our media partners for carrying the Expo message but a special thank you to Emma Pullen and Wave Newspapers under the guidance of Robert Bush for the special Expo insert. (Also thanks to Cynthia Griffin for the Joe Dudley Story!)  Thanks to Joe Nazel at LA Watts Times for your ear and the entire Los Angeles Sentinel Staff for your coverage and your creativity.  Thank you Jarrette Fellows for carrying the message and Gloria Zurveen thanks for going above and beyond.  Inglewood Today's Willie Brown and Cynthia Manker--thank you for that cover and Meg Roi thanks for chipping in the resources of the California Crusader. To the good folks at the South Bay News Observer, thanks for your wrap up stories. And Alphonso, that color ad was right on time. Say Freedom!

 Thank you so much to Wendy Raquel Robinson for being the best spokesperson in the world who truly cares about the Expo and the youth.

Myra Wallace, how you do it and look so cool doing it is beyond me, but thank you for your energy and powering us through.   Thanks to all of your staff for helping us get through the model calls, the Urban Idol competitions,  the fashion book (Have you seen it?  Rene outdid herself) and the show.  You did a superb job. And thanks for turning us on to Studio 63--and the genius of Marcus Redd  and Eric Glenn.  They did a great job shooting everything, especially when Nancy Wilson came to do the voice over for DeanZign.

Thanks to Eric Johnson and Joe Batten over at L.A. Business Printing for churning out all of our flyers and fashion books.  Hugs go to Aundrae Russell at KJLH.  With the excitement driven by Roland Bynum and Ken Taylor  we were able to make a great showing. Greg Johnson thanks for that beautiful email blast and allowing us on Front Page and Gayle Corn we appreciate you for keeping us in The Loop. Eurweb.com stayed on point and Lee Bailey, Cynthia and staff, we thank you. And Ron Turner, Leonard MCGee and Janice Salgado at KKBT, thank you so much!

No one gave us more time than KJLH's Jacquie Stephens and we appreciate Jacquie Stephens for letting L.A. Speak Out.  Jacquie also is the over head voice you hear at the Expo.  She and Kathy Williamson, Entertainment Editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel handle that role so professionally!  Thanks to Prince Zaire too!

Reginald Utley and all the good folks over at KTYM THANK YOU!

Thanks to Gayle Anderson from KTLA for bringing the power of the morning news to the Convention Center. And thanks to the L.A. Weekly, Pennysaver, Riverside Black Voice News too.  And Rolling out, did you see that full color back page ad?  Wow!  Thank you!

Special thanks to Gail Parker, William Byers and Wazir Aziz for your support and advice.   And Leroy Hamilton, thanks for shooting the Expo kids for your digital magic and pitching in with "how-to" advice wherever you could. You just don't know how much I appreciate you guys.

LaSandra Stratton is one tough sister to coordinate all those seminars.  Thank you for all the late night emails. Lonzo Williams and Josef Stephenson thanks for the posters and your personal promotions.

Nicole Chase, thank you so much for your hard work and digging deep--and for letting me catch up with you once in a while.

And down in Will Call where I seem to spend most Expo days, thanks to Leyonna Walker for your organizational skills and thanks to all the volunteers who come in and help.  We see each other once a year and may not know each others' names, but they camaraderie is so warm and wonderful. And to Stevenson Williams, your healing hands got me through Opening Ceremonies when my back locked up and since your prayer I have been fine.  Thank you!

A special thanks goes out to the ExpoUpdate staff--Stan Thomas, Associate Editor, Michael Riddick, Photographer, Susette Fisher and Mosi Pascha, writers and special correspondent Mikel Kilgore. and thanks to all of you who read it when it comes to your email box.

Thanks to my family:  Especially my sons Jarim for exhibiting and catching the entrepreneurial spirit and thanks to So for being the best stage manager ever. Thanks to my husband Kwaku, for helping out in a big way and to Jaaye, Ayo, and Ravi--thanks for putting up with my extended absences. And to my daughter Steja--thanks for being there when in the middle of the expo rush I covered for your real mom, Jacquie Stephens.

Finally, thanks to all who came because we gave them free tickets. But thanks also to those who purchased a ticket because we know you all patronized our exhibitors.  Your contribution ensures that this phenomenon we call the L.A. Black Business Expo and Trade Show will be well and alive in 2005.

Take a bow, y'all!

PS:  I know I forgot someone and I really really really beg your forgiveness.  Still unlike others, I believe in naming names even though you are most assured to forget someone because hard work is hard work and it should be recognized.  If you were a big part of our media effort and I forgot you, just let me know and I will be happy to include you on the next go 'round.  Your patience is appreciated.

PPS:  Please take a moment and view the photo albums. (Not just because a lot of work went into shooting, organizing, sizing and uploading and captioning them.) Maybe they will remind you to hook up with someone you forgot you met or maybe you will see a product you want to buy.  Your effort to support African American owned businesses will go a long way to stabilizing our communities.  Moreover, in these days when everyone has a camera it seems, perhaps you will begin to appreciate professional photographer and include them in your budget for your special events, brochures, head shots, etc.  They are available!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It takes a cast of thousands to put on the Los Angeles Black Business Expo. 

Everyone who participates has signed on to the concept "We can strengthen the infrastructure of our community when we patronize our own businesses, turn our dollars over more times before they leave our neighborhoods and partner with other communities for income streams."

That is why the Expo Movement has really committed people working long hours and pitching in in any way possible to make this event a success.

Sure, it would be easier on a lot of people not to host  it at all. We all have our own businesses to run.  But, the reality is, not to have it would send the wrong message.  It would reflect on the larger community just as having it reflects positively on us all.

Thank you for seeing the vision.  Together we are the champions!

Harold Hambrick,

 

Executive Director

Pictured above:  Will Call Volunteers, Leyonna Walker, Isidra Person-Lynn plus some from West L.A. College mentioned in the thank you below.

At right:  Harold Hambrick, Executive Director of the Expo and Heavyweight Champion of the World, Lamon Brewster.

 

 

"Thank you from West Los Angeles College Student

 Volunteers"

 Professor Gwen Thomas of West Los Angeles college wishes to thank all of the entrepreneurs and corporate representatives who took the time to talk with the Business and Management students. You have encouraged and empowered our future and for that I am thankful.

Sincerely,

Professor Gwen-Marie Thomas

 

A reply:

Dear Professor Thomas:

No, THANK YOU, for bringing your students each year to the Expo.  They are friendly and smart and committed and even though they are from various backgrounds, they work as hard as if it were their very own event.  You are always warm and stately and we appreciate you and all you do for us.  Please tell your classes how much we appreciate them! --Editor

 
 

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