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UX designer Roderick Wilkins strives to make the tech industry more inclusive. Tech Journey The Quincy, FL, native has always had a deep interest in technology and began fixing computers at a young age, which guided his educational pursuits at Florida A&M University (FAMU). He earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology in 2019 and went on to Louisiana State University, where he earned a master’s in digital media art and engineering with a focus on UX in 2021. “When you open that app and you see the first screen, you’re scrolling and you’re interacting with it, I always say someone had to design that,” Wilkins told AFROTECH™. “So I would say, within UX, there are designers, which is what I am, and someone designed that whole page that you’re seeing and you’re interacting with.” While UX includes various verticals one can explore — such as research and accessibility — Wilkins’ interest in graphic design aligned with his goal of becoming a UX designer, which was affirmed...
Snoop Dogg and his son Cordell Broadus are winning in business together. Among their shared ventures is Dr. Bombay Ice Cream. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the brand was inspired by a moment of frustration Snoop Dogg experienced while trying to mix different flavors during a bout of the munchies. Now the ice cream brand, which hit the ground running in July 2023, comes in countless flavors such as: Strawberry Cream Dream Baked Blueberry Muffin Tropical Sherbet Swizzle Peanut Butter Jelly Time Iced Out Orange Cream Syrupy Waffle Sundaze S’more’s Vibes “Ice cream is more than just a snack to me; it’s a way to chill, relax, and get happy. That’s exactly what I want Dr. Bombay Ice Cream to do. Bring a smile to your face and ease your mind. I’ve poured my heart and soul into perfecting these first seven flavors…,” Snoop Dogg said when launching the brand, according to Dairy Foods. Blavity reports that the company has expanded into Walmart and convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and...
Brandon and Shaleeza Collins have received special recognition as IHOP franchisees. The couple are proud owners of an IHOP restaurant in North Baton Rouge, LA, through an opportunity made possible by Brandon’s parents, Ella and Larry Collins. The two had been the original owners before selling the location to Brandon and Shaleeza in 2023, a news release mentions. “There were no sit-down restaurants, and they wanted to make sure that that need was fulfilled and to create a legacy for their family,” Shaleeza told Black Enterprise. Brandon added, “This legacy wasn’t just for the kids; it was a legacy for the community. We’re in North Baton Rouge; there’s not much here. There’s no economic development that happens here. Our IHOP is still the only national franchise, sit-down restaurant in North Baton Rouge — to this day.” Since taking on the restaurant, Brandon and Shaleeza have provided mentorship and career pathways for both the surrounding community and their family members. The...
Nadia Rawlinson believes in investing in women’s sports. Rawlinson carries executive experience with tenure at companies that include Live Nation Entertainment, Slack, and American Express. It’s her collective experience that has emboldened her involvement with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky along with her deep appreciation for the city of Chicago, IL. “It’s having a level of understanding of how things can be done in an elite way,” she explained to Market Watch. “You have players, you have 22-year-old rookies who are moving to a new city to have their first job out of college. I care a lot about Chicago. I was here during the Bulls years when Jordan was here, which was epic. How can I recreate that here with the Sky? We are the future of Chicago and Chicago sports.” Rawlinson’s commitment to the team is exhibited in her decision to purchase equity in it. She now serves as co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky. “I’m also operating chairman, but I lead and manage our board of...
April Anderson left a comfortable job to bet on herself. According to The Detroit News, the entrepreneur exited a corporate finance role that paid her six figures to pursue entrepreneurship and become a baker. Since age 9, Anderson envisioned this career path, making treats for her family, ILITCH Companies News Hub mentioned. “I have always loved doing things with my hands. I think that’s why I love working with doughs like yeast rolls, cinnamon rolls, and biscuits. I am a hands-on learner,” she told Food & Wine in 2019. Anderson launched Good Cakes and Bakes, alongside Michelle Anderson, her spouse and co-owner, in 2013 in Detroit, MI. Their joint efforts earned the shop national recognition for its organic desserts and baked goods. By July 2023, they launched a second store in Detroit, MI. “We are thrilled to expand our presence [in] Detroit,” said Anderson at the time, per ILITCH Companies News Hub. “Columbia Street is a great opportunity to expose visitors and locals to our...
Dwayne Johnson is working toward another win for his tequila brand. Dwayne Johnson, better known by his professional wrestler name, “The Rock,” is an actor and the proud owner of Teremana Tequila, a spirits venture he co-founded in 2020. Within its first year in business, it found immediate success. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, it was on track to sell over 300,000 nine-liter cases. Forbes notes that this accomplishment set a new record in the spirits industry. “I am so grateful and humbled to receive this mind blowing news – but I’m in this for the long term, and my goal is to build a MANA fueled legacy for generations of Johnson’s,” Johnson said, at the time, on an Instagram post. Since then, the American oak barrel-aged tequila brand has continued to reach new heights. In June 2023, detailed by AFROTECH™, the company had sold one million cases in one year, an achievement shared by just 10 other tequila brands. “The launch of Teremana Tequila has been an unprecedented and...
From movements like #OscarsSoWhite to constant stories about pay inequity in the entertainment industry, it is no real surprise that when Forbes released a list of the 2023 highest-paid actors in Hollywood, CA, there was a lack of diversity. The lone Black indigenous person of color (BIPOC) named on the list at number 10 was veteran actor Denzel Washington. Financial earnings for marginalized groups compared to their white counterparts is not a new social justice issue. However, due to some public knowledge regarding celebrity salaries, it is hard to ignore the significant differences in pay that Black actors receive. The most noticeable pay gap is the gender inequities between actors who identify as men or women. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, Black actresses typically make an estimated 64 cents for every dollar white, non-Hispanic male actors make. This number increases to 68 cents for Black women producers and directors. While advocates for Black...
The date Oct. 1, 2023, holds weight for the Beyhive for two reasons. One, it’s the day that Beyoncé closed out the “Renaissance World Tour” in Kansas City, MO, and two, that same night she shared a teaser for “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” Released on Dec. 1, fans lined up to watch the documentary concert film at AMC Theatres. And while the impact was already felt within that limited time of its showing, a new report shares the true magnitude of it all. According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMC Theatres announced that its fourth-quarter revenue for 2023 was $1.10 billion with a net loss of $182 million. In 2022, it had revenue of $990.9 million and a net loss of $287.7 million. The outlet details that AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron said “literally all” of the company’s increase in revenue was due to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s concert films. “What is particularly noteworthy is how much AMC benefited from our trailblazing industry leading efforts with our highly successful distribution...
Imagine a life free from the hassle of dealing with a flat tire. Well, this is now closer to possible thanks to Earl Patrick Cole and Brian Yennie. In 2020, Cole and Yennie were among those who participated in the FedTech NASA Startup Program. There they were exposed to airless tires that NASA engineers had created for the agency’s moon and Mars rover missions using Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology, or SMART . The tires, which are made with nitinol — a combination of nickel and titanium — cannot be punctured and will not require air to operate, Fast Company reports. Spurred by this technology, The SMART Tire Co. hit the ground running that same year, with the aim to revolutionize the transportation industry “from the ground up,” as stated on the company website. Its current benchmark is focused on bicycles, which was intentional as there are less regulations in comparison to the automotive industry, the outlet notes. The SMART Tire Co.’s first product is the airless bicycle...
According to the Associated Press, Atlanta, GA-based venture capital firm Fearless Fund “faced tough questions from conservative judges” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, as it fought for its grant program to further support Black-women-owned businesses. As AFROTECH previously told you, Fearless Fund was hit with a lawsuit by Edward Blum and his American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) group in August 2023 on the basis that the fund was carrying out “explicit racial exclusion” and violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
