UpwardAction Salutes Janice Bryant Howroyd

UpwardAction Salutes Janice Bryant Howroyd

Janice Bryant Howroyd holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to build a billion dollar company.  She is the founder and CEO of Act 1 Group. Under her leadership, Act 1 Group has transitioned from its humble beginnings of a single office operation to become the largest…
UpwardAction Salutes Don H. Barden

UpwardAction Salutes Don H. Barden

Detroit business executive Don H. Barden holds the honorary title as the first African American to own a Las Vegas Casino. He was the first to hold a major cable television franchise, as well. Born December 20th 1943, the ninth of thirteen children, Mr. Barden would go on to become…

UpwardAction Salutes Byron E. Lewis Sr.

Advertising CEO Byron E. Lewis Sr. was born on December 25, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey. He is the founder of UniWorld Group, Inc., the oldest multicultural advertising agency in the USA and also the  American Black Film Festival, formerly known as the Acapulco Black Film Festival. Thanks to the…
UpwardAction Salutes Business Mogul Reginald Lewis

UpwardAction Salutes Business Mogul Reginald Lewis

It's Black History Month in the US and we're celebrating by honoring the achievements of African American business giants. Let's get started with highlights from the extraordinary life of Reginald Lewis. Reginald Lewis grew up in Baltimore, MD. He won a football scholarship to Virginia State College (an HBCU) where…