Genma Holmes Speaks to Women's Council of Realtors

Genma Holmes will speak to the Nashville Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors on October, 7th 2009 @ the Richland Country Club on Granny White Pike. Holmes will discuss Cultural Diversity in the marketplace.

Holmes will share her experiences working in a non-traditional industry as a woman of color and ways one can grow a business through multicultural marketing and outreach.

Holmes speaks to thousands nationally and is the owner of Holmes Pest Control and GSH Consulting, LLC. Holmes has been featured in countless magazines and is a syndicated writer.

For more info about the WCR got to: www.nashville.wcr-tn.com

Blogging While Brown 2009 Scholarship

I was looking forward to attending the Blogging While Brown 2009 Conference in Chicago next week. But due to circumstances beyond my control, I will not able to attend. I have spoken with Gina over at www.WhatAboutOurDaughters.com and told her I would be happy to help send someone in my place. If you are seasoned blogger and want to save a few dollars, or a newbie that wants to meet others or anyone in between, let me know. I want you to go!
www.bloggingwhilebrown.com

New Realities, New Rules, New Opportunities

When I am asked advice about how to grow a business, I always reference my experiences at the Black Enterprise Entrepreneur Conference (BEEC). As I plan my business strategies at the beginning of the year, BEEC is always at the top of the must do list. Even when times have been lean, I have managed to find a way to attend the ONLY entrepreneurial conference that helps make me money.

For the last few years, I have been able to get my fellow brothers in the pest control industry to the conference as well. Each passing year, we have become more determined to work together on larger contracts and grow our companies together. What I have learned the most by attending the conferences is the power of collaborating and working together for the greater good. Being in an industry where there are few women in leadership roles and even fewer minorities as key influencers, it is even more evident to me the power of connecting with others who are visionaries and rain makers.

When you are in the presence of those who want to see you succeed, who teach you to think successfully, and who create venues to help you not only network but to close the deal, you are affected in a positive way. You leave the conference WANTING to be successful. And when you are hungry enough and have drive and ambition, you will walk in your destiny no matter what the economic barometer says.

When I started Holmes Pest Control, there were no black mentors for black pest control operators. I mentioned this to several editors at Black Enterprise one year and the response was what’s stopping you from getting an organization started to help others? I thought for a second and asked the same question. "Minorities in Pest Management" was founded shortly after that conference. The idea to network with other pest control operators of color across the country seemed farfetched back in 2000 but now we are not only networking and sharing our business knowledge with one another but actually doing business with one another. We are steadily building a network of small companies working together to bid on larger national accounts, one contract at a time.

The idea had been discussed often but we needed creditability and resources to make it happen. Implementation and being able to move forward from great ideas to actual contracts were fostered by many contacts met through a series of meetings held at events sponsored by Black Enterprise. Black Enterprise helped open the door to large corporations that usually take years to cut through because of all the diversity/small business/minority/certification alphabet soup jargon.

Networking and building solid relationships with giants like David L. Steward of Worldwide Technology and learning the art of negotiating from hotel builder R. Don Peebles has helped me bring pest management from the back of the room to the forefront. Being able to share resources with other pest management firms, large and small, helps me leverage those relationship to help change the rules on how business is done with minority owned businesses, especially pest control companies.

Another valuable tool I have learned from attending the Black Enterprise Conference is the power of micro lending. Micro lending is often the only way businesses in third world countries get credit to finance their companies. Several businesses loan small amounts to help a company get started, work as a bridge for slow cash flow, or to help avert a crisis. Micro lending was first introduced to me by another pest control owner in 2005, when a young man wanted to start a company but was short on capital. A larger pest control company loaned him the start up capital and mentored the PMP for one year. The lender invested $3,500 and had two other friends to invest $1,500 each. All were paid back in full with a nominal loan fee.

Three years ago, several pest control companies wanted to not only attend BEEC but exhibit as well. Not everyone was prepared mentally or financially to take off a week and attend the conference in the middle of swarm season. After much discussion, e pooled our monies to cover the exhibition and accommodation fees for those who wanted to attend. We worked relentlessly to help each other rearrange our schedules to make sure our customers were covered for that week.

Surprisingly, the trip paid for itself for many very quickly and was a boost to our psyche to be in an atmosphere that was very supportive and encouraging of our efforts to network with national and international conglomerates. The companies that participated in the endeavor in 2005 were the same companies that have funded other ventures to help support and mentor new pest management professionals and have also raised thousands in scholarships dollars for minority students interested in fields related to the pest control industry.

The conference has helped us face the realities of business. We faced our realities; we were not going to grow our companies if we did not work together. We saw that the rules for doing business with minority firms had changed; diversity is not a department and it must start with the CEO and the board of directors. We had to look for new opportunities to bring business to the table; going to local events that attracted only your neighbors, being referred to anonymous websites, and waiting for government agencies to hold a meeting s for minority firms had become a bit dated and mundane. We are shifting gears and driving our businesses into larger markets with greater profit margins.

This year at the conference, many favorites are back and some new faces are being profiled. Brandon and Lorielle Broussard, Simon Bailey, R. Donahue Peebles, Chris Bryant, Chares J.Ogletree Jr., Judge Glenda Hatchett, and Genma Holmes to name a few. BEEC is being hosted by General Motors and Exxon Mobil May 17-20 in Detroit Michigan.

Some of the event highlights this year will be; the Town Hall discussing President Obama’s Economic Agenda, Small Business Boot Camp, B.E. 100s Awards Gala, the ever popular Elevator Pitch and more than 16 sessions on growth and development, securing capital, new trends, social technology, and more.

The conference promises to teach attendees how to be more innovative in a down economy. When times get tough, people become smarter is what Daddy taught me. With as many small companies in Tennessee that are tier 1 and tier 2 companies to the auto industry, I would think that many folks from the volunteer state are already in Detroit. But if you are considering going and your wallet is crying, I thought I would kick some stimulus money your way. Use code EC2009 when registering online to save $100 off the early bird special. Look for me, I will be there because I cannot afford to miss this one.

www.blackenterprise.com

"The State of the Black Union" sponsor is sued by the NAACP

While I was reading over the lawsuit filed by the NAACP for predatory lending practices, my eyes kept returning to Wells Fargo. My something-smells-funny nose kept sniffing until I looked across my desk and saw the program guide from the recent State of the Black Union (SOTBU). In large font was the Wells Fargo logo, title sponsor of the event. I wondered if the NAACP had any dialogue with Tavis Smiley prior to the lawsuit being filed. The bank that is being sued for institutionalized racism sponsors a think tank for black folks. (You cannot make this stuff up.)

Wells Fargo has sponsored the SOTBU for several years. SOTBU was the brainchild of Tavis Smiley and birthed from his weekly commentary on the Tom Joyer Morning Show. Tavis Smiley quit the TJMS in April of last year and moved on to other projects that needed more of his attention. One of those projects is to hold President Obama accountable for his political record and campaign promises made on the campaign trail as outlined in his recent book.

From his book:
“During the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, while I was still the resident political commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, I caused quite a stir among the listeners, who are largely African-American, by insisting that we hold then Senator Barack Obama accountable for both his political record and his campaign promises. I wasn’t singling him out, but rather applying the same standard to him that we should apply to all.

I feel now, as I did then, that it is our responsibility as engages citizens to expect now-President Barack Obama to live up to the promises that made him an appealing candidate… As Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail reminds us, ‘Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes from the tireless efforts of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.’

So, let us take Dr. King’s lead… and go forth and make real the promise of our democracy.” -- Excerpted from the Foreword (pages xii-xiii)

The SOTBU website states "Some of the most influential thinkers, entertainers, and political leaders of our time gather each year to discuss the State of the Black Union during Black History Month. Presented annually in February by Tavis Smiley Presents, the symposium was created to educate, enlighten and empower America by bringing people together and engaging them in thoughtful dialogue, leading the way to constructive action."


The man who has written a book titled Accountable, has accepted sponsorship for years from a bank that is being accused of forcing blacks into subprime mortgages while whites with identical qualifications got lower rates. Class-action lawsuits were filed against Wells Fargo and HSBC in federal court in Los Angeles. Los Angeles was also the host city for the State of the Black Union.

My words may anger some but this is equivalent to a child molester opening up a neighborhood daycare center. It is this type of irony in the black community by leaders and organizations that keeps folks from getting ahead. "Leaders" play nice and accept money from the very organizations that causes the most harm and perpetuate media stereotypes. This happens in many communities but it is perverse in the communities of color.

Does this means Tavis is going to turn his journalistic intuition on Wells Fargo and hold them accountable? I hope so. These are serious charges being leveled at a time when banks that are behaving badly are receiving TARP bailouts. Is he going to compile the number of loans that were given to blacks vs. whites and research the information and give it to the board of directors of Wells Fargo? Will he ask for their resignations? Now that is taking action. Will he help them be a better bank by helping them exam how they conduct business with people of color? Will he turn down their sponsorship next year and take their logo off his website with a link to their mortgage department? That would be worthy of an NAACP Image Award! Is this not what several of the panelist ask often when others accept sponsorship or advertisement from organizations that do not toe the line when allegations or perceived racist misconduct occur? All the time.

Tavis has always asked his listeners and viewers to be watchful and test everything and everyone. How did Wells Fargo allege predatory practices get around Tavis who would not allow then Senator Obama to campaign without a thorough scrutiny of the issues and his character? President Obama who has been on the national political scene less than ten years is being exam microscopically by Tavis. While SOTBU, Tavis and the same panelists year after year have held meetings with very loud megaphones on radio and television turned blind eyes to the practices of Wells Fargo and others. Practices that have gone on much longer than President Obama has been in the White House according to the time line stated in the NAACP lawsuit.

Many of the speakers at Tavis'2009 SOTBU event were the same faces sitting in the audience for the 2009 NAACP Image Awards. The award show was televised on the Fox Network, which was the subject of a boycott. (You cannot make this up.) Some body's PR people are not talking to the other folks' legal department and the legal department is surely not talking to the marketing representatives. In the fragile world of sponsorship and raising dollars for mega events to show accountability, this sounds like a church split or at the very least biting the hands that sponsor/televise your events. This is enough to leave one confused and bewildered.

Before I am accused of being a hater, my beloved grandfather started the NAACP in our town in Mississippi. He stepped out on faith and held meetings when it was considered a death wish to do so. He stood by his principles and gained the respect of everyone including his critics. Not one sponsor paid for meetings that enlightened, encouraged and empowered his fellow man. He received numerous awards and accolades for his work in the field of civil rights. Daddy received letters from Presidents, Governors and other notables as well as those that made a difference that wore no title at all. "Fair is fair," he said often. "Don't have a rule for one that you can't have for the other," would be his cry. Daddy's motivation for working hard to ensure others had the right to vote was based on his love for mankind. Daddy was all about fair play, even if it meant ticking off folks who sat on panels. (I learned from the best.)

I like Tavis and his work. My critique is exactly what Tavis asks of the public. I will be the first to say he has done much for many. But elusive sponsorship dollars have a way of making folks look the other way. Demands cannot be made of one and not hold everyone else to the same standards. That include corporations who sponsor think tanks regarding accountability. As "engaged citizens", we need to hold each other accountable, seek transparency and make sure we are doing due diligence with everyone. Since Tavis has rightly challenged everyone to hold our President accountable for promises made, let us make sure Tavis does not stop with the President who has resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue less than six months.

I do hope that Tavis get back to us with any research on Wells Fargo and the outcome of the lawsuit by the NAACP. I think his findings should be included in the next State of the Black Union or at the next NAACP Image Award Show. I suggest getting Jon Stewart from The Daily Show to be host. Now that I would pay to sponsor, no questions asked.

NFL Great, Brig Owen, Speaker for Minorities in Pest Management

Richard Diggs, Brig Owen, and Ka Tsu at Legislative Day 2009


NFL record holder and DC philanthropist, Mr. Brig Owen, shared his success on and off the field with members of Minorities in Pest Management(MPM) at Legislative Day for NPMA. Brig Owens, Esquire, is a partner in The Bennett Group, a sports management and real estate development firm. In addition to representing a number of professional athletes in football, basketball and hockey, the firm specializes in developing and managing commercial office buildings in Washington, D.C.

Prior to founding his own firm, Mr. Owens, served as assistant executive director and associate counsel to the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) from 1979-1984. While with the NFLPA, Mr. Owens was a member of the negotiating team that developed a new collective bargaining contract with the National Football League. In addition to his responsibility in the operation of the Players Association, he developed the Association’s Financial Planning, Career Counseling and Employee Assistance Abuse Programs. Mr. Owens also created the Professional Athletes Youth Foundation and Community Service Department of the NFLPA where he raised over $10 million to implement a Youth Development Programs in ten cities across the nation. This program developed by Mr. Owens, was selected by the Department of Education as one of the top exemplary program in the United States.

Brig Owens is a former thirteen year veteran of the National Football League and seven year player representative and defensive captain for the Washington Redskins. After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1965, Mr. Owens was traded to the Redskins in 1966 to begin his twelve year career as a Redskin defensive back. Mr. Owens holds the number two spot for most passes intercepted (36) by a Redskin, holds career records for most yards on interception returns (686) and most interceptions returned for touchdowns. In addition, he was selected as one of the 70 Greatest Players in the Washington Redskin history.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Owens served a s a member of the Central Caribbean Task Force and served on former Vice President Mondale’s Task Force on Youth Employment. He presently serves on the Lombardi Foundation, NFL Players Agent Advisory Board, NFL Players Tryst Foundation, National Board of Medical Examiners, Visual Greens.com Board, Venture Philanthropy Partners Board and Greater Washington Community Foundation Board. He also developed a highly recognized Leadership Drug Prevention Program in Washington, D.C. middle and high schools called Super Leaders. In addition, he and his partner are sponsors of the “I Have a Dream” program which guarantees a student a college education if they stay in school, maintain their grades and graduate from high school.

Brig Owens, who is a published author, graduated from the University of Cincinnati (where he was an All American football player), attended Antioch School of Law, and received his Doctorate of Juris Prudence from Potomac Law School.

(MPM members would like to thank Richard Diggs, CEO of Alexandria Pest Services, for securing Mr. Owens for this engagement.)

Photo credits Brig Owen and Ka Tsu

Getting a Book Published in 2009

For several years I have promoted a few authors. I am asked often how I got into the business and to give input on how to get your book in the media. Since today is a day off for me, I thought I would share with you some success stories and give you a few pointers on how to get media attention for your book.

I started my career many moons ago as a swimwear model for Carol Wior. I learned from her the grass roots of marketing and branding. She gave me advice that I will never forget and I it took to heart. "Learned every aspect of the business, don't be a pretty face with an empty head." That advice took me from in front of the lens to PR. Not public relations, but PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. Every contact became a source for building relationships with others. And most relationships that I have in the media today have spanned my two decade career. The girl with the southern drawl speaks often with reporters in New York, LA, and DC and every city in between. With the rise of social media, those relationships have become even more important as we recall the phone pitch and complain about the number of emails that often get deleted after reading the first sentence.

My first big dive into the world of publishing and authors was with David L. Steward, author of the Doing Business by the Good Book. Mr. Steward is a quite billionaire entrepreneur in St. Louis who is the founder of WWT. I was introduced to him by Earl Graves, Sr. in Dallas at a conference. Mr. Steward was named the number one Black owned business that year (2001) and I was impressed with his humility and compassion for others in spite of the title that was bestowed on him.

He taught a Sunday school class, every Sunday, called Doing Business by the Good Book. He taught his class to everyday business owners and showed by example how he modeled his company based on biblical principles. After meeting him, I attended his class and knew he was on to something. The book deal was brokered by a member of his class,and I was asked to help promote it. His words to me were "promote me like you do Holmes Pest Control!" He had done his research on me and knew how passionate I was about my environmental pest control business. My company was successful despite all of the odds of me not succeeding in the pest control industry.

George H. Bush was asked to write the foreword to the book. At that time, the Bush name carried much clout, and this was considered a home run in the publishing world. DBBTGB was not only promoted in the faith community but was a leadership manual for servant leadership study within many large corporations like Dell, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson to name a few.

DBBTGB tells Mr. Steward's story of being a 'nobody' top sales person working for FedEx and with no prior knowledge of the technology biz, to his thirteen year journey through tough economic challenges to becoming the largest Black owned business in the country. Not Oprah folks, David L. Steward. He was ranked in Forbes and Fortune magazines. I still refer to him as my gentle giant. He is soft spoken and never allowed his billionaire status to corrupt his values. I am still learning from him.

Because of his humility, he was easy to work with and did not come with a list of demands. Coordinating his schedule for promoting the book was the tricky part but the first year was a learning curve. He gave away more than he sold as the case with most first time authors. After a few book signings with George H. Bush and several bookings on local TV and radio stations, the book sales started to rise significantly. Being around such powerful individuals got me in front of many and led me to work and promote others who had similar books or was transitioning from CEO corporate leadership to faith base and marketplace ministry.

We hit our target market by booking him for speaking engagements at business conferences and several large business schools where he was the keynote speaker. He is booked six to twelve times a year for fundraisers for non-profits and business conferences and a minimum book order is required. Books are shipped two months in advance so that organization can sell the books as part of their fundraiser. Prepaid Legal ordered several thousand for one of their annual conferences one year. This helps the group cut costs and promotes his visit as well as the book. The buzz about the book is built ahead of time and it makes for good discussions if you have Q&A time set aside.

Press releases are sent eight weeks in advance as well as contacting local radio and TV stations. This doubles the sale of the books as well as builds the name of the charity. (Make sure the charity or organization is worth the work.)

As a promoter of the author and the book, follow up is essential. Most authors do not have a promoter but there are some things you can do yourself.

1. If you agree to speak for an organization, make sure they order a certain number of books up front. I often find if they are serious about you coming, they will order the books.

2. Contact local radio and TV yourself. Do not leave the promoting of you to another person. Send a signed copy of the book to the show host as well as the producer, AND the person who takes the call. The assistant to the host has the power folks!!

3. List your upcoming engagement, in every paper in the town or city. Do not expect others to do it. The difference between selling a book and a hundred books is making sure you hit the daily as well as the local weekly community papers. Community papers will often give you more detailed study so do not leave them out.

4. With the rise of blogs, bloggers are an excellent choice for book reviews. Ask fellow bloggers to mention your book on their blogs. Give the JPEG of your book to those who are willing to write about it. A picture is worth a thousand words. Do not ask someone to pay for a book that you want to have reviewed. You will not get a review, I promise you. (Ask me how I know that?)

5. Be consistent. I find it frustrating to deal with on and off authors. If you are going to write a book, 'Just do it'. Talk is cheap. I know several authors who have been writing a book for ten years. When I see them at business conferences, I try to find the nearest exit. They want to talk about their imaginary book that they want me to help them promote for free! In my office, we call them ‘Gonnas’. "I am going to" (fill in blank.)

6. If you are not journaling or blogging every day, I would make that one of my top goals in '09. My favorite journal is from www.journalsunlimited.com. Great for making sure you get all those great details out of your head. Tell them I sent you.

One of my favorite authors is Henrietta Anne Klauser. Her book Write it Down, Make it Happen should be a requirement for anyone interested in publishing a book. On my desk is my journal, my study bible and her book. Following her suggestions helped me get into the publishing business myself. Remember the advice I was given by my first boss, Carol Wior, "Learned every aspect of the business, don't be a pretty face with an empty head." After pitching Mr. Steward to countless magazines and writing for numerous publications on various subject topics, I took the plunge into the world of magazines and started a new career.

Now, if I can go from skinny swimwear model, to environmental pest control, to flying around with a billionaire to a magazine, all with a southern drawl that someone from the Philippines would immediately know I was from Mississippi, what is stopping YOU from publishing your book?

Overcoming doubt and finding the funds to publish is what I hear the most from potential authors that keep them from publishing their baby.

I think everyone has a book inside of them waiting to be birthed. Why? We all have stories that have shaped our lives and our world view that can impact others in a positive way. I am not in the business of being a dream crasher but for the thousands that have heard me speak and ask how to get their work published only a few actually follow through on getting it from thoughts to paper and from paper to book.

I challenge you to not allow circumstances deter you from achieving your dream of being a published author. It takes work and research but I do believe with forums like www.48Days.net, several authors can be birthed in 2009. Good luck and I will share more in future posting.

Genma Holmes Luncheon Keynote for 2008 Summit for Sunstainable Tennessee

Nashville, TN - Many voices, one vision at the 2008 Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee
Listen and learn from the chorus of voices coming together for a sustainable Tennessee, November 13-15, at the second annual Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee in Nashville. Sponsored by the Tennessee Environmental Council, Tennessee Conservation Voters and Greener Tennessee, the event will unite participants to bring a common vision for generating a practical
and sustainable plan for all of Tennessee that re-establishes the connection between an improved quality of life, a healthy economy and our natural landscape.

Gathering at the Lipscomb University campus' Ezell Center, Summit organizers have invited citizens from a broad array of backgrounds to participate in three days of breakout sessions, guest speakers (including Mayor Karl Dean and entrepreneur Genma Stringer Holmes) and opportunities to exchange ideas and solutions and
forge new partnerships while finding common ground. Summit participants will focus on sharing best practices, successful working models and case studies to demonstrate the most effective and environmentally sound practices, products and programs in Tennessee. Attendees will include concerned citizens, representatives of private industry, conservation groups, scientists, engineers, environmental policy experts, elected officials, educators, students, artists and community leaders from across the state. Summit participants will identify and prioritize
issues facing Tennessee and outline strategies for addressing them as a unified body. This statewide plan - Thee Sustainability Agenda - will create everyday action items that every Tennessean can use to positively impact our economy, quality of life, environment and natural landscapes. The goal of this year's Summit is to build upon the process created at the 2007 inaugural gathering and to focus on conservation and sustainability as an opportunity for our economy and our state's
health. Protected green space, sustainable land use practices, green energy, transportation, and other technologies and green building methods save money, earn profits, create green jobs and make Tennessee a green place to live and work.
We hope you will join your fellow Tennesseans in discovering how to create a sustainable future.

To read more about this year's Summit and the successes of last year's inaugural gathering, visit www.sustainabletn.org

Photo credit: Blair Morgan

Genma Holmes will speak at The 5th Annual ESSENCE Leadership Summit

Our annual Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit is one of our signature events and every year we strive to make it more meaningful, inspiring and informative for you. We want to bring you the best speakers and the most relevant seminars, motivating you to make positive changes in your life. You have the potential—we can help you discover the inner strengths that will lead you to the success you deserve.

We know you have a busy life, which is why we created Women Who Are Shaping the World as a 9-to-5 day packed with information. We guarantee this one event will deliver limitless possibilities—for your career growth, entrepreneurial goals and personal relationships.

You’ll be inspired by the success strategies of highly accomplished women (and a few good men). For example, in today’s challenging economy, an important theme of this Summit will be how to gain the insight and skills you need to recession-proof your life. You can customize your day by choosing workshops that are most relevant to you. And you will network with other women who can become valuable business associates or even lifelong friends.

To truly move forward in our lives, we have to put down the heavy baggage that keeps us from living our dreams. Women Who Are Shaping the World is an important step forward to help you Connect to Success!
No matter what your career path or life stage, this is the Summit to transform yourself. Welcome!


Angela Burt-Murray
ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief

Genma's Bio http://www.essence.com/microsites/summit/speakers-stringer.html