Black Enterprise CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Names Derek T. Dingle, Alfred Edmond Jr. Co-Chief Content Officers

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Enterprise (BE) President and CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. has named Derek T. Dingle and Alfred Edmond Jr. as Chief Content Officers, a new role for the multi-platform media company launched 44 years ago by Founder Earl Graves Sr. as a single-magazine publishing company serving African American entrepreneurs and professionals. Dingle, Editor-in-Chief of Black Enterprise magazine, has been charged with leading content strategy for print and event properties of the company. He joins Edmond, named a chief content officer earlier this year and also a former editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise, who is now tasked with leading content strategy for Black Enterprise's digital and broadcast television properties, as well as the company's marketing efforts. Both Dingle and Edmond will retain their status as senior vice presidents and members of the Black Enterprise senior management team.

Both Dingle and Edmond will report to CEO Butch Graves. In addition to continuing to run Black Enterprise magazine, Dingle will lead content creation for an expanding roster of national and custom events, including the Women of Power Summit, the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit, the Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge, the 20/20 Vision Forum series on supplier diversity, and the newly added American Black Film Festival and Baltimore African American Festival. Edmond is responsible for content strategy for digital properties, including BlackEnterprise.com and Black Enterprise social media platforms, and for broadcast properties such as the Women of Power and Our World with Black Enterprise nationally syndicated television shows, as well as content marketing across platforms.

"As our live-events business continues to expand to become a true revenue driver for our company, and for the media business in general," said CEO Butch Graves, "it just makes sense to have proven leadership to ensure that we continue to create and produce best-of-class events to extend the reach and impact of the Black Enterprise Wealth for Life mission. Derek, who has provided leadership on content creation for our nationally recognized events, and Alfred, who's led the company's transformation from a print-centric to a digitally focused business, are ideally suited to partner as our chief leaders across all of our content platforms. Together, they bring more than 50 years combined as ambassadors of the Black Enterprise mission of economic empowerment and solution-oriented media for African Americans."

Dingle has authored countless Black Enterprise cover stories throughout his tenure with Black Enterprise and has appeared as a business expert on numerous television networks and radio programs, including CNN, CNBC, NBC's Weekend Today, and National Public Radio. Prior to becoming editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise magazine, he served as the publication's executive editor from 2000 to July 2008, and managing editor from 1987 to 1990. Prior to rejoining Black Enterprise, Dingle was a senior writer at Money magazine, covering mutual funds and small business issues. An award-winning editor, Dingle is the author of Titans of the B.E. 100s: Black CEOs Who Redefined and Conquered American Business, and he received the 1999 International Reading Association Award for his book First in the Field: Jackie Robinson, Baseball Hero. Dingle also founded and served as president and CEO of Milestone Media Inc., the nation's largest black-owned comic book company. Dingle is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the American Society of Magazine Editors. He also serves on the board of Norfolk State University's School of Communications. Dingle graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He also holds a diploma from New York University's Magazine Management Program.

Prior to accepting his current position, Edmond was Sr. VP/multimedia editor-at-large of Black Enterprise, overseeing content and circulation marketing for the company, while also providing brand and content leadership across media platforms. From 2008 through 2010, Edmond held the position of Sr. VP/editor-in-chief of BlackEnterprise.com. From 2000 through 2008, Edmond held the position of senior vice president/editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise magazine. Edmond appears regularly on television and nationally syndicated radio, including serving as host of WVON 1690 Chicago's The Urban Business Roundtable weekly radio show (2010-2012); host of Money Matters, a daily radio feature syndicated by American Urban Radio Networks; commentator on PBS' Nightly Business Report; contributor to American Express OPEN Forum and The Doug Banks Show radio program; and guest expert on MSNBC's Your Business. A nationally recognized expert on business and economic trends, Edmond is a highly sought-after public speaker, live-event interviewer and moderator, and judges several annual business competitions. He is also an influential thought leader on several social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook. Together with his partner, personal growth expert and individuality advocate, Zara D. Green, Edmond leads A2Z Personal Growth Enterprises and co-hosts the weekly Grown Zone Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio.com. Edmond is also a co-author, with Green, of Loving In The Grown Zone: A No-Nonsense Guide to Making Healthy Decisions in the Quest for Loving, Romantic Relationships of Honor, Esteem and Respect from Balboa Press. Edmond graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in studio art and economics (marketing concentration), and is a member of the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame.

BlackEnterprise.com is the leading website for Money, Small Business and Career development. Providing executive and entrepreneurial resources, information, and profiles on the topics of money management, employment, career and start-up development, BlackEnterprise.com features expert resource articles, original video packages, and blogs, customized to empower its niche audience while consistently providing universal resource-value.

Black Enterprise, your ultimate source to build Wealth for Life, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, Black Enterprise magazine provides 4 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media.

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