The Business Council's 25th Annual Strategic Partnership Luncheon (Keynote Roland S. Martin) The Business Council's 25th Annual Strategic Partnership Luncheon is an annual fundraiser honoring the TBC’s local corporate partners and diverse business members as they come together to support the economic growth and sustainability of southeastern Wisconsin. The event was held on August 24th, 2023 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The event was hosted by Leadership Expert and Culture Strategist Deirdra
“Dee” Kendrix. Dee is a highly respected thought
leader and inspirational speaker obsessed
with creating authentic spaces of growth and
transformation. With nearly two decades of
senior leadership and executive experience,
Dee’s inspiring leadership journey includes
delivering success at some of the Nation’s most notable financial institutions in key roles such
as Retail Bank President and Global VP/Director of Inclusion.
Dee leads a team of Culture Gladiators as the CEO of DC Global Group, a boutique consulting
firm with niche expertise in Leadership Development, Executive Advisory, and Organizational
Culture.
Described as a natural communicator and transformational speaker, Dee is known for
high-energy keynotes and interactive dialogues that take participants across industries and
sectors through an engaging journey of practical yet inspiring content, leaving every audience
awakened and moved to proactively step forward for change.
Joining Dee, was Keynote Speaker Roland Martin. Over the course of a journalistic career that has
seen him interview multiple U.S. presidents to
the top athletes and entertainers in Hollywood,
Roland S. Martin is a journalist who has always
maintained a clear sense of his calling in this
world. Many have bestowed upon him the
moniker, “The Voice Of Black America.”
Martin is the host and managing editor of
#RolandMartinUnfiltered, the first daily online show in history focused on news and analysis
of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an explicitly African American perspective.
It launched on Sept. 4, 2018.
On Sept. 4, 2021, Martin launched the Black Star Network, an OTT network that features a
variety of shows focused on news, culture, finance, wellness, history and wellness. For the last two years, Martin produces a twice daily commentary on iHeartRadio’s Black
Information Network, heard on nearly 40 stations nationwide.
Martin is the author of four books. His latest is “White Fear: How The Browning of America
Is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds.” His other books are: Listening to the Spirit Within:
50 Perspectives on Faith; Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America; and The First:
President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S.
Martin.
He has been named four times by Ebony Magazine as one of the 150 Most Influential African
Americans in the United States.
Martin is also a four-time NAACP Image Award winner, including being named Best Host for
the last two years.
When Jet Magazine readers voted in 2012 for who is “King of the Hill” in terms of who they
turn to on issues of concern to African Americans, Martin came on top, ahead of the likes of
the Rev. Al Sharpton and Donna Brazile. NewsOne.com named him as the number one Black
pundit in the country; and he has been named several times to The Root 100, their annual list
of influential African Americans.
In October 2022, Martin was named a Fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists, the
organization’s highest honor. In December 2021, he was inducted as the youngest living
member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall Of Fame.
Martin spent six years as a contributor for CNN, appearing on numerous shows and earning
accolades worldwide for his no-holds honesty, conviction and perspective on various issues.
In 2009, CNN was awarded the Peabody Award for its outstanding 2008 election coverage.
From 2008 to 2019, Martin was a senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, where his
daily segment was heard on more than 100 stations and 8 million people daily.
Martin has been named one of the top 50 political pundits by the Daily Telegraph in the United
Kingdom, and has appeared numerous times on a variety of American networks, as well as
media outlets in Canada, Columbia, Italy, Australia and South Africa.
Throughout his career, Martin has been showered with more than 40 awards for journalistic
excellence, graced with honorary degrees with a variety of institutions and has been a
contributing author to several books and publications.
Mr. Martin is a life member of the National Association of Black Journalists; a life member of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc; and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Martin a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates High School-Magnet School of Communications, and
a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in
journalism.
He is married to the Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin.
