Government Coins

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In this episode meet Dr. PJ – Porscha Jackson, PhD – a powerhouse in Houston’s small business ecosystem! As the Business Development Manager at the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), she's not just managing programs; she's the secret sauce for small businesses hungry for success. Picture her as a go-to mentor, helping entrepreneurs navigate the business labyrinth and representing OBO with flair at community events. Beyond her city role, Dr. PJ is an author, penning "Pursuing Legacy" and contributing her brilliance to academic texts and anthologies. With a heart for the underdog, she's not just a professional rockstar but a community champion, fighting for inclusivity and brighter futures. Learn more about the City of Houston, TX, and the work they do: https://www.houstontx.gov/

In this episode, we will be interviewing Keel Russell a serial entrepreneur, veteran, speaker, and founder of The Olab Group LLC. d/b/a Orange Lab Media is an award-winning boutique-style marketing laboratory specializing in marketing & communication services. Keel leads a diverse group of marketers, scientists, chemists, astronauts, strategists, designers, writers, influencers, and creative thinkers, who all share a love and passion for creating unique marketing experiences.

Since its inception, Orange Lab has consistently grown each year, almost doubling its revenue year over year. The company has several contracts with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies such as Starbucks, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Royal Caribbean, Mary Kay, JM Family Enterprises, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Justice, General Service Administration, and several others.

Orange Lab is certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), SBA HUBZone, Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Keel is an alumnus of Florida International University, where he earned a Master of Science in Management Information Systems and a Master of Science in Marketing. Keel served 12 years in the United States Army, where he served one tour in the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

One of the remarkable takeaways from the journey of 26-year-old Akil Alvin is that he began to achieve his dreams as he grew up — not when. From creating programming that revitalized his local library at 7 years old, to getting himself a job on the UniverSoul Circus marketing team at age 10, Akil tapped into his calling at a young age. It was a surprise to no one when, at 18, he launched his own company and took his place among the 3% of Black men who serve as the faces and founders of ad agencies throughout this country. It’s clear the millennial media visionary felt it when he heard these legendary lyrics by the late Christopher Wallace: “Stay far from timid / Only make moves when your heart's in it / And live the phrase ‘Sky's The Limit.’”

As Founder and Global Chief Creative Officer of Detroit Digital Media (DDM), Akil leads a multimedia content creation company that empowers ambitious brands to thrive in contemporary culture through a unique mix of storytelling, insights, and technology, with a dash of irreplaceable #DetroitHustle. Since its launch in 2013 with the help of one of Akil’s teachers at the renowned Detroit School of Arts, DDM has grown to work with some of the world’s leading brands and municipalities. Their undeniable client roster includes McDonald’s, Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, the North American International Auto Show, and Coca-Cola.

The hustle hasn’t been in vain. In 2019, DDM was one of 10 millennial-led companies around the nation to be honored by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and Akil was recognized as an Emerging Young Entrepreneur, landing a one-year advisory partnership with Warner Media. In 2020, DDM became the first company in history to be advised by the iconic Walt Disney Company. And under Akil's leadership, DDM recently embarked on a full circle and historic moment as the first on record ad agency to sign an exclusive multimillion-dollar agreement with a municipality in the country, handling high-level messaging and rebranding for the CIty of Detroit.

In 2022, Akil was named one of Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30, as one the top 30 advertising executives in North America. Akil has embedded the importance of giving back into DDM’s core, and together the team developed a community engagement program called The Mentoring Loft to mold the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives. The initiative is one way the self-described “unstoppable dreamer” can help ensure that youth are empowered to grow up as he did, believing that the sky's the limit, and creating opportunities to Authentically. Impact. Culture

Follow Digital Detroit Media on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: @wearedigitaldetroit

Learn more about Digital Detroit Media and the work they do: https://www.digitaldetroitmedia.com/

Mr. Marcos possesses close to 30 years of public procurement professional experience, with 25 years at the executive/managerial level. He is known to be a transformational organizational leader, a subject matter expert in his profession, and recognized for his leadership in attaining organizational excellence in procurement. Throughout his career, he has implemented new technologies and software programs; re-engineered business practices; mentored employees and changed the organizational culture by encouraging employees to be innovators and forward-thinking; drafted laws, policies, and procedures all in an effort to achieve best practices and high performance in the various organizations he has worked for.

Mr. Glenn Marcos is the Chief Procurement Officer/Assistant Finance Director for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Before serving in his current capacity, he was the former Assistant Director of Purchasing for Broward County; Assistant Director and Director of Purchasing for the City of Miami; and Assistant Director of Purchasing for the City of Coral Gables. Some of Mr. Marcos's career highlights include forming the Lauderhill Police Department in 1994 and both the City of Aventura and the Aventura Police Department in 1996. He also assisted in drafting the City of Miami’s current Procurement Law and authored the City of Coral Gables’ first Procurement Law. Mr. Marcos has also been involved in successfully implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Financial Integrated system at the City of Miami, City of Aventura, Broward County, and Fort Lauderdale.

He has served as an expert witness and testified in legal matters of dispute and controversy in Court, interrogatories, and depositions. He also has been a speaker, moderator, and presenter for national, regional, state, and local public sector professional associations and chapters. Under his leadership, guidance, and stewardship his various procurement organizations have been recognized and bestowed with over 25 major awards for optimizing procurement practices, technology, professionalism, and efficiency.

Mr. Marcos holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science with a Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Mass Communication from Florida International University. He also attended law school at Nova Southeastern. He is currently nationally certified as a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), and state certified as a Florida Certified Purchasing Manager (FCPM) and Florida Purchasing Agent (FCPA).

https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/