What's Happening!

Here's a feature from AllHipHop.com that covers NABFEME President Johnnie Walker moderating the Future of R&B Seminar at this year's Essence Fest.

Recording Academy: The Future of R&B

We snatched this directly from JOYA's Facebook page following Detroit's SISTERS BEHIND THE BEAT!  Do you understand social media yak?? Well, Read on .... :-)

@iamladyceo #beastmode thank you so much for your hard work and dedication! You did that! @ebonycochran @twanatells @chaneldomoniquemgt thank you ladies so much for showing you were simply phenomenal! Chanel, thank you so much for the gift bag. We love our shirts @mbthelight thank you Monica thank you so much presence was much needed and as always you were amazing! @pipercarter i'm so proud of you! Thank you so much - u truly spark the light! @toya Hankins thank you so much Toya❗️ your dedication is crazy! @belizeangyrl ur a sweetheart thank you so much for showing up U ROCK!! @bijouglamstar straight in from the radio station! And we were so glad you made it @search4herexist I found you! ReeJade Ur a powerhouse! We were so blessed to have you all and thank you so much for your contributions! @drudada U ROCK BRO!! With your help we were able to pull it off thank you so much Drew @thewrightgram A huge thank you to Megan Pouncy! Yeah hey rockstar! TU MISH -#DetroitCHE AND THE SQUAD TY Taylor Desiree #WSI @chilepeppa_ecj TY love -- feel better special thanks to DJ HENHOUSE DJ STARRSTRUCK TY you both so much! @pam_perry #thewright  Thank you and we appreciate you!  TY #PVlounge for the afterglow! TY #Ogletreats for donating your delicious cheesecake bites! We loved them! TY Eryka @thewrightgram and a huge HUGE TY 2 @nabfemeprez WORK IT LADY!! We thank you for being such a great inspiration, and a great mentor. TY 4 believing in Detroit! Our city has so much to offer and you saw the vision! S/o to DJ #PROOFS MOM 4 coming out and supporting us! #SALUTES TO EVERYONE!

Wendy encouraged me to ask her for her package and contact information.  I told Wendy I was just getting started and felt I needed more experience. I was not sure if I wanted to go in the same direction as her with my career in the entertainment industry. Although I wasn’t sure I took the chance and introduced myself to Lady Te and her parents.  After having the package for two weeks, I finally opened it to discover she was more than just talented but also professional and passionate about her music career.  Immediately I contacted her mother to learn more about Lady Te’s project and her mom was so impressed she was ready to sign the contract right away!  I remember when I sent my first press release/email blast Johnnie Walker emailed me and gave me a critique and I couldn’t believe that someone of her caliber took time to reach out to me.

August 2005 Matthews Entertainment Group & Associates was born and from our work with Lady Te more notable artists started calling. Karen Taylor Bass is now my mentor/sisterfriend and she has emailed and called me after every major milestone in my career. Now in 2014 we are managing Steven Russell Harts lead singer of TROOP who is also a Grammy winning songwriter and producer.  My company could not have been successful had it not been for the contacts I made at the NABFEME Summit.  Those ladies introduced me to a world of people that I would have never known.  Most importantly, I would never have been known as Dr. Renee had it not been for my interaction with NABFEME.

Happy Thursday NABFEME Sisters! :-) 

“High Heels in High Places” represents strong, cutting-edge career women who through courage, resilience and wisdom have helped to redefine the positioning of women in the workplace. “High Heels in High Places” was created to showcase typical career women who represent untypical career advancement circumstances. You will be inspired, shocked, amused and amazed by their stories.

Avery Sisters Entertainment and Theatre N welcome the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME) to the Delaware area. NABFEME will be celebrating the success of Delaware’s own female “movers and shakers” and “trailblazers” by presenting the “High Heels in High Places” seminar series.

The professional seminar/panel discussion will have some of Delaware’s premiere professionals in entertainment discussing strategies on career advancement and their personal stories of success. Panelists include: Demia Avery of Avery Sisters Entertainment (Talent Agent/Publicist), Cynthia Tyre of Front Stage Entertainment (Music Promoter), Emylyn Q. DeGannes of Mejah Books (Author, Entrepreneur), Keiko Myrtrice of Divine Fashion (Fashion Stylist, Entrepreneur), Patty Harris of Hilton of Delaware (Sales Manager), Tracy Shy of Tracy Shy International Ministries (Recording Artist, Vocal Coach), Trineka Tucker of Gordesi Fashion (Fashion Designer, Stylist), Tywanda Howie of Naturally Redefined (Author, Entrepreneur), Katrina Banks of Life Line Coaching and Empowerment, LLC (Life and Motivational Coach).

“We are so excited to have such a wonderful organization such as NABFEME visit our dear city of Wilmington, we deserve it!” “Although we are small, Delaware is “booming” with entertainment and it is about time we get recognized for it,” says Demia Avery of Avery Sisters Entertainment.” She also adds “we have a dynamic panel of professional women of color that are willing to openly share their stories to give encouragement, strategies and advice to aspiring career-minded men and women. We are looking forward to building a local NABFEME  Network."  

Powered by deep-rooted desire, immense talent and powerful voices, the WOMEN WHO JAM! "live" music showcase is a strategic marketing tool that offers artist-to-fan-to-consumer engagement, plus we provide the most favorable conditions for women to promote and market their creative energies. Celebrating talented, ground breaking female musicians and entertainers, the WOMEN WHO JAM! showcase also functions as a platform and outlet of expression for women in entertainment.  Upcoming dates:

We are extremely excited to take our mission back to Detroit, home of Motown undefined Hitsville USA!! Making an impact on the entertainment industry, NABFEME is a community of female executives, business owners and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to building meaningful relationships and career opportunities while encouraging professional growth and business success. We've pulled together a great power team, developed a targeted strategy and believe we are in the right city to enhance our mission! On March 15th at Centaur in downtown Detroit, we'll find out!!

Adding sparkle to the evening with our famous NAB-tinis, we'll connect, share and unload double doses of Sisterhood! Make plans now to join us for this groundbreaking meet-up

We continue to expand the NABFEME Brand as new opportunities are presented to us!  We recently embarked on a relationship with Birmingham City Councilwoman Sheila Tyson and solidified a partnership with her for an upcoming empowerment event. Ms Tyson is hosting a power-driven discussion group entitled,  "The Evolution of Black Women in the Media."  NABFEME will serve as a partner and the event is being presented Thursday Feb 27th 7:30 PM at Matthew's Bar & Grill, 2208 Morris Avenue in Birmingham, AL.. 

What's NEXT in your life and career? What is your purpose? What and where is your passion? How do you define your Power? Would a "Life-Coach" be useful as you strategize? How do you navigate through life's challenges? To help you understand your goals and how to better reach them, we called Life Coach Kim Thomas!

When it comes to boosting your self-confidence and self esteem, a Life Coach can do this and more, that's why we created THE NEXT FACTOR! The primary focus of this seminar is YOU! We hope it will help you determine your next move in creating strategies for improving the outcomes of your work and/or personal life. RSVP now for our March 6th session with Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Kim Thomas.

Presented by NABFEME Toronto 

Hello Everyone!

For every venture, every success and everything that you are currently engaged in or working on...  please allow me to congratulate each of you with a Happy Prosperous 2014!  Much success to you and there is greater in store for us in 2014! I look forward to the organization’s continued growth and adding value to our membership by presenting to you more programs, events and professional development seminars.

While our local networks initiate the majority of our events and activities, we are a body of inspired and very active women.  Our 2013 initiatives would not have enjoyed success without the input, involvement and support of our members and the local leadership. Please feel free to contact us if you have any ideas that you would like to share; if you have an interest in being a part of a committee or workgroup, or if you would like to participate in a specific project or event.  When we work together... amazing things happen! Contact the Network leader nearest you, or contact our national office at (901) 236-8439 and NABFEME@gmail.com.

Brand WOMEN WHO JAM! experienced a boost and tremendous growth in 2013  with increased outlets airing the radio program, thus increasing the number of opportunities for women making music to be heard.  For a list of stations that air our program, visit  www.WOMENWHOJAM.com.  SESAC, the fastest growing performance rights organization in the US, joined our operations by hosting 7 dedicated Women Who Jam! showcases in their Atlanta showroom!  Stage 72 in New York joined us as a showcase partner; and Philadelphia picked up steam by adding a Women Who Jam! showcase in the market every first Tuesday in the month at the Mezzanine Super Club.   The next partner to join our efforts to promote women in music was KISS-104 FM in Atlanta.  Through a 6-week campaign that featured live performances and social media voting, we delivered the opening acts for the station’s annual Family-Fest concert in the park, headlined by the legendary all girl band, KLYMAXX!  Implemented through a partnership with Victory in Christ Christian Church, Women Who Jam for Christ was introduced.   This faith-based showcase featuring performances by Gospel and Inspirational artists was extremely successful.  It opened the door for the creation of a radio program by the same name featured on the LMB Network.

2013 saw various meetings with the leadership of the organization to plan goals and objectives.  Overall we decided to

• Continue to promote the value of the organization
  
• Implement programs and events to stimulate membership
• Review the potential return of the Women’s Leadership Summit
• Review the By-Laws to promote good governance
• Improve our outreach via new technology & social media
• Continue to provide quality programs & events for our members

In 2013 we implemented NABFEME Connect, an “open” monthly conference call as a means of communicating with the membership and those considering membership.  We believe that initiative did not deliver the desired results because it was open.  NABFEME Connect was delayed with a planned return in 2014, but utilized as a planning tool for the local leadership.  Open calls will be presented only at the discretion of the local leadership.

In 2013 NABFEME Headquarters also engaged in the development or re-development of new or established regional networks, We believe this will increase our strength and overall presence in the marketplace. This action included markets like Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Toronto, Canada.

Greater in 2014 ...  I look forward to seeing you or meeting you at our coming events.  I look forward to your continued involvement and encourage you to invite others to become a part of our mission to empower women of color in music and entertainment!

Yours in Success,

Johnnie Walker, CEO  (Chief Empowerment Officer)