Nelson Davis
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Nelson Davis was born in Andalusia, Alabama (near Montgomery) and grew up in Niagara Falls, New York. From the age of fourteen on, his burning desire was to get into radio broadcasting. Nelson's career began with a high school internship program and part-time announcing job at a local radio station. From Niagara Falls he moved to a larger station in Ottawa, Ontario, where he continued his formal education with business courses. In addition to disc jockey duties, he became a program director and host of various television shows. Eleven years later found Nelson in Los Angeles with his hopes of becoming a game show host transformed into learning the production side of television. Freelancing as a discussions show host and producer, he produced and/or directed such diverse projects as a series for PBS, commercials for presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, and a film in Africa. Mr. Davis joined the NBC TV Network in 1980 as Manager of Mini-series, eventually becoming Director of Daytime Programming. One of his early jobs at NBC TV was Censor for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Between NBC and starting his own production company in 1988, Mr. Davis was involved in many interesting projects as a producer. He was hired by Merv Griffin to produce the pilot episode of Jeopardy to bring it back to television; he was Executive Producer of Name That Tune for its rebirth in 1984; and he helped launch the Fashion Channel. Mr. Davis began Nelson Davis Television Productions with the idea of bringing together special television programming with sponsors who wish to reach a niche audience. His first weekly series was "MAKING IT! Minority Success Stories". The show has been on the air since March 1989 and has received over twenty-five awards and citations from all levels of government and business organizations, including two Emmys as Best Public Affairs series. "MAKING IT!" is broadcast in several California markets and is seen by satellite and cable viewers across the country. In 1989, Nelson Davis TV Productions also created and co-produced Campus All-Star Challenge, a quiz series for historically black colleges. Sponsored by Honda and broadcast on BET for five years, the program has enabled cash grants of over $2.3 million to be awarded to participating schools. Nelson Davis TV Productions is also proud to have produced children's specials built around oral storytelling, and Black History Notes, which celebrates Black History month. Nelson is committed to combining his knowledge of television production and marketing to use TV as a medium to communicate positive messages and enable economic empowerment. Among community organizations, Nelson serves as: Los Angeles Area Vice President of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; Board of Advisors member for the National Association of Women Business Owners; Board of Directors member of the Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation; Member of Santa Monica College Associates. Mr. Davis has also been active with Big Brothers. RECENT AWARDS Media Advocate of the Year Award- U.S. Small Business Administration Supplier of the Year Award - Southern California Regional Purchasing Council Entrepreneurial Dream Maker Award - Women's Enterprise Development Corporation Minority Advocate of the Year Award - U.S. Small Business Administration Two Emmy Award winner - as Executive Producer of "MAKING IT!" Entertainment Award - Los Angeles Mayor's Minority Business Committee
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I'd hoped that Breakthrough would offer people some tools to paint themselves a more positive and hopeful picture. I wanted tall Tony with the big smile to succeed in reaching those of us who suffering great stress and pain. I'm sorry that Breakthrough broke down before Mr. Robbins reality medicine could really kick in.
I do hope you take your entrepreneurial self to Washington and when you do you'll notice that the literal distance between the congressional offices and the congressional library is only a few hundred yards.
Food for the soul and human spirit is perhaps the hardest meal to find, consume and fully digest. I believe that entrepreneurial thinking is the plate on which that meal is well served. Everyone has dreams and yearnings that can be turned into goals to be passionately pursued. When we as a nation learn how to care for and feed that hunger, we become truly unstoppable.
As my flight instructor said when I was granted my first pilot's license many years ago, "Congratulations Nelson, you now have a license to learn." After the proud graduation walk and the loving hugs of parents and friends, I hope you know that the freshly printed diploma offers no guarantees but it is a license to learn.
But this year you're really serious-whether it's because your boss is getting on your nerves or because you're just feeling the urge to be your own boss.
In a week when the big media stories have been about disasters involving an oil spill off Louisiana, immigrant legislation in Arizona and bomb plots in Times Square, my "story of the week" was quite different. It was written in a San Francisco newspaper on April 29th, 1852.
"No matter how carefully you plan your goals they will never be more than pipe dreams unless you pursue them with gusto." That is your call to action.
If I’m paying, being treated like a customer would be a fine idea.
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