http://www.facebook.com/HondaJamaica

Contents

Message from the EditorThe past 10 months have been a whirlwind of activity as we have counted down the days to the 50UnderFifty Awards on November 29. Much work has gone into this important programme, from the selection of the business leaders to promotional activities like Conversations with 50UnderFifty on Flow and the profiles in The Gleaner and this eZine, plus the preparations for the black tie gala on November 29, where the 50 will be honoured.

As we draw closer to that day, we are pleased to present the final five groups of leaders: ‘The Financiers’, ‘The Educators’, ‘The Entrepreneurs’, ‘The Leisure Tycoons’ and ‘The Imaginators’. Each of these 25 individuals has already made significant contributions to our country, from early childhood development to retirement planning and various areas in between. As we honour them and their peers on November 29, we look forward to their future contributions to nation building as they work to keep Jamaica moving forward.

On the subject of nation building, we also celebrate the induction of Lorna Myers into The PSOJ’s Hall of Fame. The 20th inductee, Lorna is also the first woman to receive this honour. We are delighted to honour her for more than 30 years of hard work, dedication and leadership in building Restaurants of Jamaica, owners and operators of the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut franchises, into one of the most successful companies in the country.

Inspiring stories like Lorna’s, in addition to those of our 50UnderFifty awardees, keep us motivated that Jamaica has the talent, creativity and perseverance to climb our way out of the economic hardships we currently face. As we have said many times before in this publication, entrepreneurship is the key to our future prosperity and we must do all we can to support and encourage our people to continue innovating and creating.

Sandra AC GlasgowCEOThe Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ)

Page 3NEWSLorna Myers becomes first female inductee into The PSOJ’s Hall of Fame

Page 7 COVER STORYMeet the 50UnderFifty awardees

‘The Financiers’

Page 13‘The Educators’

Page 19‘The Entrepreneurs’

Page 21‘The Leisure Tycoons’

Page 32‘The Imaginators’

37

5

3614

4

4

istory was made on Wednesday, November 14, when Lorna Myers, chairman and co-founder of Restaurants of Jamaica Ltd, owner and operator of the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises, became the

first woman to be inducted in the PSOJ’s prestigious Hall of Fame. Myers is the 20th inductee and takes her place in the Hall of Fame among the finest and most celebrated business leaders in Jamaica.

Restaurants of Jamaica was developed by Myers and her late husband Anthony in 1975. After Anthony’s untimely passing in 1990, she became chairman and CEO. Persevering through challenging economic times and many other obstacles, Myers continued to lead Restaurants of Jamaica through rapid expansion, maintaining leadership in the industry and achieving great success for the company. Working with her son Mark and daughters Tina and Michelle, she continued to captain the ship and motivate her team through tough times, expanding the KFC brand in Jamaica exponentially, more than doubling the number of restaurants and adding the Pizza Hut franchise. Restaurants of Jamaica currently employs more than 1,300 persons islandwide.

In her acceptance speech, Myers said, “I am delighted to be considered for this recognition, induction into the Private Sector Hall of Fame. I never dreamt this would happen. Although I have worked diligently these many years, I never expected to be recognised in this prestigious

manner. Therefore, it is with deep sincerity, that I accept the honour of being the first businesswoman to enter this august hall of the PSOJ.”

Each year since 1992, the PSOJ pays tribute to a private sector leader who has made innovative and sustained contributions to the development of the private sector over a minimum of 25 years. The honouree should demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the industry in which his/her company operates and an unswerving commitment to the advancement of this industry and to national development.

H

Lorna Myersbecomes first woman inducted into PSOJ Hall of Fame

Upper left: PSOJ President Christopher Zacca (right) presents the Hall of Fame citation to Lorna Myers at her induction ceremony. Above: Lorna Myers (in red) and her family. (L-R): Daughters Tina Matalon and Michelle Myers Mayne and son Mark Myers.

News

“”

I never expected to be recognised in this prestigious manner. Therefore, it is with deep sincerity, that I accept the honour of being the first businesswoman to enter this

august hall of the PSOJ.- Myers

Meet ‘The Financiers’, five leaders who are working to revolutionise the island’s banking and investment sector, from micro-finance to retirement planning.

The Financiers

50u50

6

7

50u50

Imani Duncan-PriceAge: 36Title: Group Marketing Manager/SenatorCompany: Jamaica Money Market Brokers Group

She has been called a restless innovator, relentless in her drive. Imani Duncan-Price has been group marketing manager of the JMMB Group since April 2009, with responsibility for the design and execution of marketing strategy for operations in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic (DR) and, more recently, Trinidad & Tobago, as the company has successfully expanded to offer a wider range of offerings in keeping with ‘having the client’s best interest at heart’.

Four years with the Boston-based OTF Group grounded Duncan-Price’s experience in strategy, consumer analytics, marketing and product positioning as she worked with companies and governments in Bermuda, DR, Rwanda and Jamaica. She garnered wide knowledge of financing options, deal structuring and regulatory bodies to facilitate business development and expansion as a former director of the Development Bank of Jamaica. She is a founding member of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute, the Caribbean’s first independent think-tank.

As Miss Jamaica World 1995, Duncan-Price focused on sustainable environmental practices as well as violence reduction in schools and was the first spokesperson for Peace And Love In Schools (PALS) Jamaica. Her unique combination of entrepreneurial spirit and passion for social transformation were indelibly shaped by her parents and life experiences. Her son and husband, the two men in her life, definitely keep things real.

Duncan-Price was appointed senator in January 2012. She says this opportunity is in line with her passion for impacting the systems in Jamaica to enable citizens to have choices. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics, Philosophy, Government and History, with a minor in Environmental Policy from Wesleyan University. Duncan-Price also holds a Master’s in International Development, with a focus on economic development and growth, from Harvard University. She is currently a board director of the Kingston Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Jamaica as well as a core executive member of Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) programme.

MarcusJamesAge: 40Title: Chief Executive OfficerCompany: Access Financial Services Limited

Marcus James is the founder and CEO of Access Financial Services Limited, one of the leading microfinance institutions in the Caribbean and the first company to list on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. With a background in banking and finance and an entrepreneurial desire, James started Access in 2000.

Under his leadership, Access has grown exponentially with more than $5 billion in loans disbursed to the micro-finance sector. In addition to solid financial performance under James’ leadership, Access has received regional industry awards. In 2011, Access was the recipient of the CARIB-CAP Good Practice Incentive Award in recognition of outstanding performance in capacity building and, most recently, the 2012 Citi Award for Excellence in Microfinance for the Caribbean. In 2006, James received the Jamaica Employers’ Federation Young Entrepreneurs Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Enterprise and Business Development. He was also named the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year and received the Young Entrepreneurs’ Association Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.

James’ journey to Access took him through the banking sector. In 1994, he joined Corporate Merchant Bank as a credit officer and in 1997, assumed the position of officer in charge of merchant banking. A brief stint in a family-owned business as operations manager followed in 1998. This gave him hands-on experience and valuable insights in entrepreneurship and management, which he would later employ at Access. James credits his parents for instilling the importance of hard work, integrity and dedication as the key tools to success.

James is an avid tennis fan and sees it as a sport that fosters discipline, commitment and focus. He still finds time to indulge as a player and supports the development of youth tennis through the sponsorship of competitions and programmes organised by Tennis Jamaica.

8

50u50

Patrick HyltonAge: 49Title: Group Managing DirectorCompany: National Commercial Bank

Although he leads the number one bank in Jamaica, Patrick Hylton, Group Managing Director of the National Commercial Bank Group (NCB), will be the first to tell you that he was an accidental banker. Fresh out of Glenmiur High School, the former head boy applied for a holiday job at Scotiabank May Pen West. Young Hylton got the job unexpectedly and, at the end of summer, decided against taking up two dream offers in engineering at Jamaica Public Service and Alcoa (now Jamalco).

That was the beginning of a long odyssey that included being a rotten trainee teller (cash out of balance taking lodgements only), a materially struggling but determined banking student and man of integrity, brave enough to blow the whistle on a bank – Blaise Trust & Merchant – that he found insolvent only days after being installed in a cushy job. The story would continue with his landmark stint at FINSAC where, at age 34, Hylton was left in charge of an organisation about which the history is still being written. He took charge of NCB and in 2004 boldly predicted number-one status. By 2010, that was a reality.

Hylton is regarded as an inspirational leader, a necessary trait to be able to turn around a bank that was rescued from the 1990s financial meltdown to its number one status today. His primary source of influence was a hard-working disciplinarian father who was a policeman and a cheerleading, inspirational mother, Tekla Hylton, a teacher. He recalled how his father would be revving up the family car and leaving any straggler stranded at exactly 7:15 every morning. Once on the journey, Tekla would hand the budding leader a piece of paper with a quote or an inspirational verse for discussion later.

Those same quotes have been poured out lavishly on people who have come under Hylton’s charge. He gets them to stick to the objective by reminding them that, “it’s not where you’re coming from, it’s where you’re going and how you get there.” He demands high performance standards by insisting that “success requires no explanation; failure presents no alibis”. Therefore, while Hylton is known for a hearty laugh or a witty comment, he changes like the weather when it is time to deliver.

9

50u50

Rezworth Bains BurchensonAge: 39Title: Managing DirectorCompany: Prime Asset Management Limited

His friends and associates call him Rez. Work colleagues and those in the industry call him Mr Pension. Rezworth Burchenson started his finance profession at Sigma Investments Ltd in 1995 as an investment analyst, with subsequent promotions to equity/research manager and to vice-president and general manager at the merged Pan Caribbean Asset Management Limited, managing Jamaica’s largest unit trust valued at over J$6 billion (US$100 million).

In early 2006, Burchenson joined Prime Asset Management Limited as its managing director, responsible for the strategic development of Prime, which currently manages more than $20 billion (US$220 million) of pension assets. He regularly contributes pension and investment articles to The Gleaner and has done various speaking engagements on these subjects over the years. Burchenson lives and breathes pension matters.

Those around him at work tell of a caring, accommodating leader who never compromises when it comes to getting the best for pension funds and his clients. He is aggressive at maximising returns, often going the extra mile. That makes him a hard taskmaster who relies on results and accepts no excuses. Many describe him as being knowledgeable and passionate about sharing this knowledge and its benefits.

Burchenson speaks excitedly about the Sigma days. His early job influence came from a group comprised of Sandra Shirley, Colin Steele, Allan Lewis and Jason Abrahams, who made sure that his exposure was broad, his immersion deep and his passion penetrating. That group and others made sure that the young Barclays Bank scholar was fully exposed and his talents utilised. Questioned about the source of his appetite for high standards, Burchenson points to the influence of lawyer father Oswald and school principal mom, Valerie Burchenson. They made sure their young son was focused and high-achieving in their Dallas Castle home. A report card with 6 As and one B would still attract questions from an enquiring father while mom’s ‘rod of correction’ was never far away.

Burchenson finds time to serve with the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), Pension Funds Association, the Jamaica Stock Exchange and others. He also mentors boys at his alma mater, Wolmer’s Boys School. Being a caring husband and a doting dad to the three women in his life helps to make this passionate, driven, Jamaican man complete.

10

50u50

Philip ArmstrongAge: 46Title: Deputy Chief Executive OfficerCompany: Pan Caribbean Financial Services Limited

He studied avionics, but Philip Armstrong ditched the volatility of the field of aviation for the financial industry. He began that journey 19 years ago as an equity derivatives trader at the European bank, Société Générale. Five years on, he returned to Jamaica in 1998 to join Citibank as a manager in the treasury division.

During his four-year tenure at Citibank, he was promoted to resident vice-president and led Citi’s derivatives business, closing some first-of-its-kind transactions in Jamaica. In 2002, he joined Manufacturers Sigma, now PanCaribbean Financial Services (PCFS), as a vice-president, and has been the deputy chief executive officer since 2008. He was asked to lead PanCaribbeanBank as its managing director in 2010 and, in 2012, was appointed a director of PCFS.

Armstrong is a goal-oriented, trailblazing, inspirational leader who encourages self-determination and innovation among his team members. One famous last quote from Armstrong as he fires up the team is: “You are complaining to me about the absence of a path for you to travel; I’m telling you to create your own.”

Still, Armstrong is the biggest cheerleader as he guides his team towards accomplishments. He emphasises health above all else, noting that once there is health, his team will win.

Armstrong can name many persons who have inspired and influenced his accomplishments, chief among them being Dennis Cohen and Peter Melhado for helping him develop his emotional intelligence, a vital tool in any modern leader’s kit. He is constantly looking for new heights to climb and new boundaries to cross. In the last year, he has climbed 14,000 feet above sea level and has done a three-day basic training programme fashioned around United States Navy Seal principles. With that accomplished, Armstrong maintains that no task is too daunting and no goal is unattainable.

11

50u50

Meet ‘The Educators’, five passionate individuals who are changing how children are taught in a variety of areas and helping to develop entrepreneurship in Jamaica.

The Educators

12

50u50

13

50u50

Lisa LakeAge: 33 Title: Chief Entrepreneurship Officer Company: The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean

Lisa Lake says opportunities often pop up when you least expect and her introduction to the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship happened completely by chance. She was invited to a cocktail party one evening and, while there, she met a representative from Virgin Unite who told her about the plans Virgin had to launch the Branson Centre in the Caribbean.

“Given my interest in entrepreneurship and private sector-led development, I was immediately interested and volunteered to help out as a mentor once the programme got running. As it turned out, they also needed help to get the programme running and the rest is history,” Lake said.

Lake’s entrepreneurial aspirations began when she was only a student, selling her mother’s shoes to neighbourhood passers-by without permission. This unique venture would foreshadow the distinctive initiatives she would one day take on as a manager, director, graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School and business owner.

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Caribbean is a not-for-profit organisation that was launched in Montego Bay in September 2011. The centre supports the development of early-stage entrepreneurs in the Caribbean by offering training in practical business skills, access to coaches and mentors to guide and share their experiences and networks to enable opportunities and growth.

Prior to joining the Branson Centre, Lake served as the director of operations for Brand Extensions at Sandals Resorts International, where she helped launch the successful resort chain’s newest brands, Sandals Lifestyle and Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours.

“As a child, I was encouraged by my family to be self-motivated and entrepreneurial. I wanted to do my best at the things that I liked doing. I think motivation needs to come from within, but inspiration comes from others. I’ve been lucky to come into contact with people who continue to inspire me,” Lake said.

“[My] father often said, ‘No matter how good you are at something, there is likely to be someone, somewhere who is better.’ That taught me humility,” she added. “I also know that I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunities that I’ve had in my life and with that comes responsibility to make the most out of each of them – not just for me personally, but for the benefit of others.”

Marvin G HallAge: 38 Title: Founder and Chief Educational RevolutionaryCompany: Halls of Learning

For the past decade, Marvin Hall has been on a mission to bring robotics to Jamaican children.  As a trained math teacher and educational technology advisor, in 2002 he began dialogue with Professor Mitchel Resnick of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) about bringing robotics education and MIT Media Lab’s Computer Clubhouse concept to the island. Later that year, he visited Singapore to observe robotics projects at primary schools and, through a collaboration with Lim Cheng Pier of LEGO Asia, implemented a robotics course and club at the American International School of Kingston (AISK).

In 2003,  Hall  left the formal classroom to dedicate himself to helping children ‘lego their minds’ and explore technology through robotics workshops. “My parents encouraged me to do well. They had high standards and their influence stuck with me,” Hall said.

Since then, through his company,  Halls  of Learning, he has embarked on a series of projects that saw him collaborating with institutions such as the Berkman Center at Harvard Law School, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, DigiPen Institute of Technology and corporate partners such as NCB, Vickers One and Scotiabank to deliver educational experiences that equal, or exceed, international standards. 

To date, Hall has taken six teams to compete in robotics competitions overseas, winning three awards. Halls  of Learning has also awarded scholarships to more than 600 inner-city youth to attend workshops in their communities.

More recently,  Halls  of Learning, with the support of corporate partners PanCaribbean, JMMB, WISYNCO and MICHI SuperCentre, conducted a series of one-day robotics workshops at 12 high schools, enabling more than 500 students to build and programme an autonomous robot. In August, sponsored by JSIF through the World Bank, the company delivered a seven-day robotics camp that targeted youth from Whitfield Town, Jones Town and Federal Gardens.

For his pioneering work, Hall has been previously awarded

a Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship at Stanford University and recognised as a TED Fellow by the prestigious global conferences on Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED), both firsts for any Jamaican.

“I have been able to stand on the shoulders of giants,” Hall said. “Pursuing your dreams is a tricky thing – in order to become accomplished you have to work on it every day.”

14

50u50

Yaneek PageAge: 34Title: Founder and Managing DirectorCompany: Future Services International Limited

Yaneek Page is a pioneer in litigant support services and enterprise-wide risk management in the Caribbean, having founded Future Services International Limited, the first company in the region to specialise in legal funding and helping companies manage enterprise risks.

Page is widely regarded as one of Jamaica’s most dynamic young entrepreneurs. Interestingly, she describes herself as a late bloomer. “I’m not sure I would describe myself as a driven or highly motivated child. I wanted to make my parents proud, so I used to have ambitions of becoming a doctor or a lawyer. I would definitely say I was a late bloomer who didn’t come into my own until university,” Page said.

At university, Page distinguished herself as an outstanding scholar, receiving the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) Scholarship from the Ministry of Education in Jamaica in 2003.

Page went on to create history at the institute by graduating at the top of her class and winning all the awards for that year. “I entered the University of the West Indies by the skin of my teeth and five years later I had completed two degrees, received a full academic scholarship and created history,” she said.

Page has a BSc in Management Studies and Psychology and a MSc in Social Policy. She is also a certified trainer in entrepreneurship, a certified business resilience manager and trainer in enterprise-wide risk management and business continuity planning. Page also won a regional NCB Nation Builder Award in the Women in Business category last year. “My passion is to help others live better lives and self actualise. Being boastful will never advance those objectives. I’m from a family of entrepreneurs and I have seen riches go to rags with the change of an industry or economy. That keeps me grounded,” she said.

Page is the creator of The Innovators, Jamaica’s first business-focused reality TV series, which aims to help struggling entrepreneurs and skilled professionals revamp their businesses and make more money.

She is also the creator of Camp Millionaire, the Caribbean’s first entrepreneurship summer camp for teens, where they are taught the fundamentals of business management and wealth creation.

Last October, Page was invited to a special Women’s Entrepreneurial Network event hosted by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

15

50u50

Kellie Magnus Age: 41Title: Caribbean Author Company: Jackmandora

Kellie Magnus is a Caribbean author and journalist who, after an eye-opening conversation with her young niece, decided to write and publish children’s books relating to Jamaica. Magnus was appalled that there were insufficient Jamaican children’s books available to inspire children about our culture. 

She decided to take action and later, published her first book Little Lion Goes To School, which led to a series of Little Lion stories. She now operates the small publishing house Jackmandora and is a specialist in children’s literature. 

“I live in a vibrant country that is energetic and colourful. We don’t put this on the page enough for our children. Children in the USA can find books that relate to them and have so many choices. We do not see that range in Jamaica on the page in a way that Jamaican children can understand,” Magnus said. 

Magnus is the daughter of radio disc jockey Alan Magnus, who has more than 40 years experience in the business. “I’ve always wanted to be involved in media and education. I learnt from my father early on that I should only work on things that I really love. It’s not hard to find motivation to work on books because that’s what I really love to do,” she said. 

She holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and an MBA in entertainment and media management from Columbia University. She has worked on a series of children’s books and parents’ manuals that formed part of a multimedia programme, Max and Friends, specially designed for children with autism and related developmental disabilities.

Magnus also writes feature articles on Caribbean entertainment and media and has been published in The Daily News (New York), The Jamaica Weekly Gleaner (New York), Caribbean Beat (BWIA in-flight magazine), The Ticket (Trinidad) and The Caribbean Review of Books (Trinidad).

Her latest milestone is the publication of A Book For Baby and Trixie Triangle, the first Jamaican-published board

books for babies. The first she penned (with art by Rachel Moss), while Trixie is entirely the creation of frequent collaborator Michael Robinson. 

Magnus is a member of boards of the Early Childhood Commission, the National Library of Jamaica and the Book Industry Association of Jamaica.

16

50u50

Gordon SwabyAge: 21 Title: EntrepreneurCompany: EduFocal

Gordon Swaby has turned his passion for computers and the Internet, plus his desire to achieve the best at everything, into a career. Surprisingly, Swaby did not receive formal training in web design but developed his skills from age 13.

Those skills evolved from a passion for web design to learning to build websites, beginning with ROM sites. By January 2005, at 15 years old, Swaby started his own website: Advance-gamers.com, which grew into one of the largest gaming sites in the Caribbean.

“The initial intention was not to make money, but to offer reviews to the gaming industry. So we would get a video game, review it and keep it,” Swaby said.

That same year, he designed and completed a website for a Rotary club that rewarded him with cash and by 2007, he was commissioned to do a real estate website. He also completed his own blog in 2006. Swaby has also designed websites for many institutions and started his own programming, concept and design company, Iconictouch.

At 21, the Holmwood Technical High School graduate is chief executive officer of EduFocal, an online social learning platform started with a $5 million bank loan and a partnership with two web developers who offered their services free for two years.

In August 2010, Swaby’s cousin suggested starting an online social learning company. Together, they worked on the idea, aiming to get the company registered and the site up. The cousin, however, pulled out to study, leaving Swaby on his own.

By November 2010, EduFocal was incorporated and launched in March this year. “For a fee of $200 per month or $2000 per year, Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) students can register on EduFocal,” Swaby said.

Swaby is passionate about entrepreneurship and declared, “I like creating opportunities for people; that’s what drives me. My mantra is: ‘always an employer, never an employee’.”

EduFocal, located at the Technology Innovation Centre at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), markets itself through referral contests. It will be offering a $60,000 scholarship next year to the student in the system who consistently ranks number one on the leader board. Swaby is also in the final year of a BSc in Computer Engineering at UTech.

17

50u50

Meet ‘The Entrepreneurs’, five leaders who have transformed their visions into powerful brands.

The Entrepreneurs

18

50u50

50u50

Marsha Smikle Age: 38 Title: Chief Executive Officer Company: Efficient Delivery Solutions Ltd 

Sitting at work one day and observing a bearer, it dawned on Marsha Smikle how much the service he offered made life easier for people in business.  Labouring at a job that wasn’t challenging her enough and having a great desire to start her own business, a light bulb soon glowed in her head.

“I always loved logistics and project management and I felt it was a perfect idea to combine my education and training in that area with a courier service, so I decided to take the plunge and start my own business. I wanted to challenge myself,” she stated. 

Five years later, her company, Efficient Delivery Solutions, has turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life. Offering logistical solutions to corporate companies and individuals, the chief executive officer has managed to carve out a niche in the courier market, providing bulk mail delivery service with an automated sorting system. Customers have come to appreciate the company’s automated approach, great customer service, efficiency and always going the extra mile.

Today, Efficient Delivery Solutions employs approximately 150 full-time and contract workers and has two locations in Kingston and one in Montego Bay, St James, with plans to open an office in Mandeville, Manchester later this year. “My hope for the company, which will in turn be beneficial to the country, is to establish a one-stop mail house in Jamaica, offering the best rates, with overnight services, employing several Jamaicans,” stated Smikle.

A firm, professional businesswoman, Smikle also has a soft side, according to those who know her best. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights and serves on the board of the Rural Electrification Programme. She also devotes time to a number of outreach programmes. “I want what I do to leave a lasting legacy for my daughter and the children of my staff,” she said.

19

Oliver McIntoshAge: 41Title: President and Chief Executive Officer Company: SportsMax Ltd.

It’s not surprising that  Oliver  McIntosh, president and CEO of SportsMax Limited, is a sports fanatic but to close friends, he’s an ‘introverted socialite’ - as much as he is a ‘limer’, he is very private  and prefers to be locked away at home. “I enjoy being out and around good company, but I enjoy being home more, watching a sporting event or reading a good book,” said McIntosh.

Watching or playing sports consumes most of his life. He especially loves to play golf or football and attending major sporting events is always on the cards, locally and overseas. He actually schedules his travel plans around world sporting events and never misses Trinidad carnival.

The idea for SportsMax was born in 2002 during a football match in London with a friend from Jamaica (one of the founding members and a shareholder of the company). They discussed the idea of having their favourite international events broadcast in Jamaica, allowing them to enjoy it from the comfort of their home. “The concept was to acquire sports content that could be sold to broadcasters in Jamaica,” he stated.

He left his job as an investment banker and vice president with Merrill Lynch in London and returned to Jamaica to manage the company. Eventually, they had more content than broadcasters to supply, so they decided to start a sports channel. It was a novel idea for which the sports hungry region was clamouring and SportsMax took off like a rocket. Today, the subscription-only channel broadcasts in 23 Caribbean countries and employs more than 60 persons.

SportsMax, whose parent company, International Media Content Ltd, is based in St Lucia, launched a second channel, CEEN, in the USA in 2011 and will launch in Canada by year-end. “The naysayers at the start thought Jamaica or the Caribbean were not ready for SportsMax in light of the many pirated signals broadcasting sports events, plus persons weren’t necessarily in the habit of paying for it,” said McIntosh. “Offering good, live content

that people would buy, we knew our business model would work. We looked into its future possibilities as well as world-wide trends. We knew that if we did our job right, people would respond, and they did, hence the tremendous growth of the brand.”

Since inception, SportsMax has consistently played its part in the promotion of sports, athletes, the development of media and the creation of jobs (including over 100 jobs created for the Olympics).

20

50u50

Enola Williams Age: 35Title: Manager, Redbones Blues Café & Co-Founder, Kingston On The Edge (KOTE) Urban Art FestivalCompany: Redbones Blues Café

With an immense passion for using creativity to enhance the dining pleasure of her patrons, Enola Williams has been working tirelessly with her family to maintain the reputation of Redbones Blues Café as one of the best restaurants and cultural watering holes in St Andrew. 

The jazz and blues-themed restaurant and bar was started 15 years ago out of the passion to create an interactive experience by intertwining food with music and entertainment. “There is a cosmopolitan and eclectic feel from the diversity of cultures that mix at Redbones, making it an extremely special place,” said Williams.

“What makes Redbones special is the importance of maintaining a high level of service while making sure that the quality of food is consistently excellent. Redbones has a very laid-back ambience and friendly atmosphere with a welcoming staff. A restaurant is not just the food you serve. It’s like theatre and people come in to have an experience, so the atmosphere and music are important, the lighting, décor, service – all of these things come together with great food to create the dining experience,” she explained. 

Hosting some 100 shows per year with live music and entertainment on different themed nights, the restaurant employs 20 persons. Williams started working with her family’s restaurant after exploring the field of international relations, before eventually discovering that this was what she wanted to do. 

Always a problem solver who believes in helping others  shine, Williams is also one of the founders of Kingston On The Edge (KOTE) Urban Art Festival that started in 2007. The eight-day festival promotes studio and performing arts in Kingston. With more than 450 artists having participated, KOTE highlights the idea that art can be accessible by anyone, irrespective of background.

“There are many positive and creative things that happen in Kingston and we are glad to be a part of them,” said Williams.

21

50u50

Jason McKay Age: 45Title: Owner and CEOCompany: McKay Security

With a solid background in martial arts, Jason McKay brings a strict disciplinary approach to business. In 1989, when he started his firm McKay Security, he proposed that it would stand out not just for its level of service, but also the types of services offered. 

Offering a unique form of security service in Jamaica, McKay’s company primarily focuses on contract security, but also conducts forensic investigations, as well as hostage negotiations and recovery. The company directly employs some 100 persons, but provides employment indirectly for several others. “What makes us novel is the areas of security that we offer,” he noted. 

With a master’s degree in criminology and a forensic investigator by profession, McKay was influenced in this field by his father who was in the security business from the 1970s. The Calabar High School graduate is a member of the Jamaica Martial Arts Squad and the coach of the Jamaica Female Martial Arts team, competing in a number of international tournaments. 

A father of two, McKay is also chief coordinator of the Jamaica Taekwondo high school non-violence programme, focused on instilling discipline and pushing the non-violence agenda.  “Among my aims is to use the resources generated from the business to push a number of social endeavours that I strongly believe in. Being a martial artist, I really believe that what we need to push in Jamaica is discipline,” said McKay, who is also a district constable and a member of the St Catherine South Fugitive Apprehension Team. 

“Among the things that I invest both time and resources in is martial arts in schools, scholarship programmes and teaching non-lethal self-defense to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF),” he said. “I strongly believe that having a business, outside of providing employment, should enable me to use the income generated to further the society in one way or the other.”

22

50u50

Garth WalkerAge: 37Title: ChairmanCompany: Creative Media and Events/Wealth Mag-azine

‘If you know how to boogie, boogie’ was the life-changing advice from a friend in 2008 that propelled Garth Walker and his partner Leighton Davis to launch Creative Media and Events. “That piece of advice triggered us to delve into the area that we now are in and we have never looked back,” said Walker.

Walker and Davis are the pioneers behind the High Society brand, the number one party scene for many years in Jamaica, for which they have been credited with re-defining the all-inclusive and themed party experience.

“We have always loved doing events and when we started Creative Media, we diverted from the party scene and started focusing on corporate events,” Walker stated. A year later, during the heart of the recession, Wealth Magazine was born under the tag line ‘Educate, inspire and empower’.

Despite being discouraged by some persons, they worked assiduously and today, the magazine has grown from a quarterly publication to a 100-page bi-monthly with a circulation of up to 5,000 and its own TV programme, Wealth Magazine’s Business Access. They also recently launched the first real estate show in Jamaica, Wealth Magazine Home Sweet Home.

Creative Media currently employs 20 persons. “We rely heavily on creativity and we believe in pushing the wheel. Some of the things we do are not unique, but it is unique in the way we do it,” said the married father of two. “Through our Wealth brand, we believe that we are setting a foundation for the next 50 years by educating and empowering younger aspiring entrepreneurs. We want Jamaica’s youth to think about entrepreneurship when they leave university, as opposed to just getting a job.”

Jamaica will always be favourable to entrepreneurship. Through every crisis, there is an opportunity. We started a business in the heart of a recession and look where it is now. It has grown tremendously from then to now,” he said.

23

50u50

Meet ‘The Leisure Tycoons’, five innovators who are forging a new path in Jamaica’s vital hospitality industry.

The Leisure Tycoons

27

50u50

24

50u50

Noel Sloley, JrAge:  42Title: Vice President, Sales & Marketing Company: Jamaica Tours Limited

Noel Sloley, Jr places a lot of value on good relationships, the personal touch and delivering the best at all times. Growing up in a tour operations business, he learned from his mid teens that the key to success is the focus on quality bearing in mind the needs of clients working with vital stakeholders.

Sloley has been a part of Jamaica Tours Limited for 20 years. The company was started by his parents and has grown from a 15-member team to the largest tour operator in Jamaica, employing more than  300 persons and touching all aspects of Jamaican tourism. It is true that Sloley grew up in the family business, but some will say he needed more than a little persuasion to put his vibrancy, analytical skills and personal touch to something he does naturally.

Cornwall College should take credit for shaping Sloely’s early life, but when the late Dr Dudley Stokes moved to Belair in Manchester, that institution and the late intellectual’s pull was too great. Despite the change of environment and the strong influence of Dr Stokes, Sloley only knew that he wanted to make a difference, he just did not how. That answer came when he read for his first degree in Hospitality Management at Florida International University (FIU). That was where the dream of growing a first class tour company with a wide reach and deep market penetration began.

For the last 15 years, Sloley has applied his knowledge, experience and available guidance to do his part in reconstructing Jamaica Tours’ operations, applying appropriate technology, building the right team and scaling up for growth. That growth has put Jamaica Tours at the forefront in a vital industry.

Looking at it all, Sloley gives a nod to his father  as the mentor with the greatest influence. In him, he has found the formula to improve on success, avoid pitfalls and negotiate monumental challenges. Nothing pleases Sloley more than to win the trust of clients who travel thousands of miles and leave the tours and transportation aspect of their enjoyment to the team with Jamaica Tours.

25

Jason Henzell Age: 43Title: General Manager/ChairmanCompany: Jakes/Breds, The Treasure Beach Foundation

Jason Henzell is the general manager and an owner of Jakes Hotel, Villas and Spa, located in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. A social entrepreneur, Henzell is also the founder and chairman of Breds, The Treasure Beach Foundation, which promotes education, sports, environmental awareness, emergency health care and small business development.

Henzell’s emphasis on grassroots development is anchored by his ties to the Treasure Beach community. Jakes itself was founded in 1993 after his mother started a small restaurant in 1995. Henzell added two rooms for overnight visitors and the family opened the hotel side of the business. Under his hands-on watch, Jakes has grown to 50 rooms. “Jakes is building Treasure Beach one guest at a time,” Henzell said. Along the way, the hotel has won numerous awards, including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) Hotelier of the Year 2003 for Most Distinguished Service; Environmental Ambassador - Hotel Sector for outstanding contribution and efforts in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable development and the Nation Builder Award from the National Commercial Bank in 2010.

Henzell began his career with Hyatt Regency Cayman in 1986 as a night auditor, leaving two years later as the youngest front desk supervisor for Hyatt worldwide. He plunged into Jamaican finance and banking, managing Lion Finance Company for two years, before moving to the Pan Caribbean Merchant Bank.

Henzell founded and chairs Breds, the project dearest to his heart. It is a registered not-for-profit organisation dedicated to community projects in the area. These include the building and equipping of a computer lab in the basic school, training a volunteer corps of emergency response personnel, installing a radio system and Global Positioning System (GPS) for local fishermen and sponsoring local football and cricket teams.

Currently, Breds is developing a 15-acre sports park, academy and community centre comprising a cricket pitch, football field, tennis courts, basketball and netball courts and children’s playing area. The community centre already

makes available computers, training programmes, space for workshops and community meetings and support for small businesses in the area. Most recently, Breds received the support of UNICEF to expand their EduSport programme that provides coaching to 1350 students in 11 schools in the Greater Treasure Beach area.

Henzell and wife Laura have two children: Seya Rose and Max. Henzell was last seen returning from South Africa excitedly pursuing ideas and developing the prospects of sports tourism in Jamaica.

26

50u50

Jacqueline Sinclair Age: 38Title: Chief Executive Officer Company: Juicy Chef

Thomas Edison said that necessity is the mother of invention and so it was when a chef ‘invented’ herself because she was hungry. It was while at the University of Miami that Jacqueline Sinclair did what came as a surprise to many friends and to her family. She became very good at cooking. Sinclair recalls the poor cafeteria food that motivated her to start cooking her own. The problem was that she hadn’t really taken an interest in cooking when she lived at home, so she had no idea how to do it, even though she apparently had a highly developed palate. She couldn’t even boil water!

This crisis was quickly overcome after a few calls home to mother, much experimentation, some singed fingers and burnt food. Soon, everyone around her was enjoying delectable dishes. This association with food was deepened when, on a break from her masters degree studies, Sinclair enrolled as a Cordon Bleu chef. With a diploma in hand and masters complete, Sinclair toured the world working with the United Nations and uniting everyone through food, one kitchen at a time.

Sinclair has dreams of taking Jamaican food international in the same way that Jamaican music has made its mark. That is why she goes by the moniker ‘the Juicy Chef’. It is more than just a name, it is a testament to Jamaican food, its benefits and taste.

The Juicy Chef is associated with a weekly newspaper column and her entrepreneurial spirit has been poured into a bottled flavoured water line. Island 62 is more than just bottled flavoured water, though. It is the essence of Jamaican June plum, lemon grass and otaheiti apple. It is the sweetness of Jamaican sugar cane and the refreshing quality of Jamaican water.

Sinclair is a chef by force of circumstances, a ‘juicy chef’ to the bone by choice and an entrepreneur at heart.

27

50u50

Gregory Burrowes Age: 34 Title: DirectorCompany: Dolphin Cove

Everybody’s searching for a hero, or so says a line of a popular song, but Gregory Burrowes stopped searching long ago when his hero asked him to make a sacrifice. “If I can end up being half the man my father has proven to be, then I’d have accomplished a whole lot,” he said.

That is the testimony of a young man who sat contemplating his goals and accomplishments in below-freezing Canadian temperatures. He must have thought about the great time he had at Algonquin   College and the way he successfully did all that was required of him at George Brown University. By his own words Burrowes asked a question that everyone asks ever so often, starting with the words: “What the...”

The weather conditions were enough to fill in the blanks. His hero, Stafford Burrowes, posed a simple question: “Can you come home? Your mom and I need your help in the new family business.”

The younger Burrowes’ star was shining for all to see. His adroit, steady, young mind brimming with ideas was glued to the task of managing a chain of seven shops called Bruno’s. Business owner Vince Mila had every confidence in the young man. Burrowes remembers almost having to make a case for leaving a first world management job, even with adequate notice. His former boss used all his powers of persuasion. He relented only by offering to hold the job for three months. That was eleven years ago.

Since that time, Burrowes has applied a steady hand, a level head, boundless energy, right-fit innovation and first world know-how to growing the Dolphin Cove business to the point where one to three new activities or attractions are added every year. His dream is to have Dolphin Cove,  Lucea in Hanover, be the largest dolphin park in the world, offering value and giving visitors a memorable experience. There is also a desire to expand Dolphin Cove to every Caribbean island.

Burrowes heaped praises on his father, who is his eternal hero and his mom Marily, who is his biggest cheerleader. He also had a grateful word for mentor to many businessmen in Jamaica, R Danny Williams, and acknowledges the

insight and guiding experience of William McConnell. In these people,  Burrowes finds inspiration and wisdom, leaving valuable lessons for years to come.

28

50u50

Adam Stewart Age: 31Title: Chief Executive Officer/Deputy Chairman Company: Sandals Resorts International

It was only six years ago that Adam Stewart took over the reins of Sandals Resorts International (SRI). At 25, he was among the youngest CEOs on this side of the world. Since then, his frenetic pace and passion for change has put him at the centre of a whirlwind of activity that has left a revolutionised, expanded and upgraded hotel chain in its wake. Stewart’s wind of change and expansion have been felt in Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas, St Lucia, Antigua, Cuba and most recently, Grenada.

Not satisfied, Stewart has made a habit of venturing into new areas and executing projects in his ‘out of the box’ style. He is enthused about an evolution taking place across Sandals, Beaches and Appliance Traders Limited, which is epitomised by the forging of extraordinary partnerships with world leading companies and spanning a multitude of diverse industry sectors such as Sesame Street, Xbox Kinect, Panasonic, Audi, Land Rover and more.

At the same time, Stewart has an eye for sharing and caring. He established Island Routes Adventure Tours, which is a way of offering unique island experiences throughout the region. Island Routes has transformed from a small island outpost to a multiple World Travel Award-winning company of 200 people offering hundreds of adventures in eight islands in just two years. This is the sharing.

The caring comes from the establishment of the Sandals Foundation, a non-profit organisation that Stewart founded in 2009, which aims to unite the region under one common goal: to elevate its people and protect its delicate ecosystem. The foundation harnesses the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the SRI brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the region and has raised more than US$2.5 million through guests, travel partners and team members.

Stewart’s restless passion has also come out in the expansion of ATL Automotive, reviving brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, Jaguar and Range Rover and Honda and raising the bar of motoring in Jamaica with the introduction of a state-of-the-art sales and service centre in Montego

Bay, the first of its kind in Jamaica. An even bigger facility is scheduled to open in Kingston in January 2013 and he has made sure that the world knows about his excitement through the launch of the ATL Racing Team.

29

50u50

Meet ‘The Imaginators’, five leaders in the creative industry who are doing their part to take Brand Jamaica to the world.

The Imaginators

31

50u50

50u50

Alex Morrissey Age: 24  Title: ConsultantCompany: jamaicansmusic.com

With an eye for innovation, Alex Morrissey has taken the promotion of Jamaican music to new heights. His website, jamaicansmusic.com, is world famous, with fans stretching to the Far East. The 24-year-old said it was an honour to be grouped among some of Jamaica’s most accomplished business persons and entrepreneurs.

“Being such a young recipient of this type of award is a huge motivation to continue on my path,” he said. Asked if it’s happening ‘too fast’, Morrissey said his life was fast-paced generally, as he moves with the quickly evolving trends in technology and social media. “I am always thinking of ‘the next big thing’. As soon as I come up with that unique idea, I get started on it right away, either by thinking it completely through using my white board or by sketching it out.”

“Sometimes I don’t sleep because I want to spend a few more hours improving my site or coming up with solutions for my social media clients to drive interaction or build up their fan base,” he added.

The site now has 2.1 million Facebook fans and he aims to increase numbers in countries already with a large fan base (all of North America, United Kingdom and Indonesia). “Another approach is to focus on reaching countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and Kenya, where reggae and dancehall music are popular,” he shared.

“That was the milestone where I felt like all my hard work paid off,” he recalled of the day he achieved one million fans. “A few months earlier, my page became the largest Facebook page in the website category in the Caribbean, but reaching one million was really special.” For the first time this year, Morrissey’s website also won awards. These made him “extremely proud” to be promoting Jamaican music and doing innovative things with technology while strengthening brand Jamaica.

Morrissey draws motivation from the number of emails expressing users’ appreciation for the site. In the works are interactive apps for the website, for both computer and mobile devices, which should be released to the public by December. “I am building and growing my social media consulting company,” he said. “Initially, it was focused on providing solutions for music entities, but now it has expanded and has a diverse portfolio of clients and companies.”

32

SolomonSharpe Age: 43Title: Chief Executive Officer Company: Main Event Entertainment Group Limited

Having played football at every level except national, it’s clear Solomon Sharpe loves the game and he has used that passion and those preparation skills to make Main Event one of the top entities in the local entertainment industry. “Every major project, I call together a huddle. We plan our strategy, map out what we want to do and the end result we want to achieve,” he said. He likened a football team’s performance to the product they deliver; it has to please the fans. “I think football – sports in general – is what has made me who I am in business today.”

As a racehorse trainer, owner and breeder, Sharpe said there are similarities in trying to understand horses and consumers. “A horse can’t tell you it’s hurting because it can’t speak, but there are signs, just like there are signs with consumers. It’s how you bring all these things together to make sure that you deliver that optimum product, value and service,” he said. His first foray into the industry was forming RAS Promotions in 1990, with current Boys’ Town coach Andrew Price and Main Event’s ‘bean counter’ Richard Beir.

“We revolutionised the whole party business. We like to boast that we brought Stone Love uptown. We changed the platform and the landscape,” Sharpe said. He is serious on loyalty and lauded Beir, whom he’s known for 25 years. Still using football analogies, he called him ‘the goalkeeper’, client services department being ‘the midfield’ that keeps everything connected. “We work for our clients. We submerge ourselves into their brand. I feel like we’re representing them.”

Sharpe’s mantra has always been to help people and he was a keen organiser early in life. “I never shy away from a leadership position,” said the Campion College grad, who also studied at Tiffin University in Ohio. Despite advice not to, Sharpe returned home, taking his first job at Desnoes and Geddes. He spent nine years, his last post as display and sponsorship manager. “That set me up for what I’m doing today.”

A degree in management, specialising in marketing and sports management, was also quite handy. Main Event was officially started eight years ago, the name coming from a former employee, the late Monique Geourzoung. Sharpe said it’s more than an event planning company: “I want Main Event to be a legend. We don’t see boundaries, we have an undying approach to continue to deliver.”

33

50u50

Keneea Linton-GeorgeAge: 30Title: Chief Executive OfficerCompany: KTL Group Limited

Marketing and video production company KTL Group Limited is best known for its most recognisable product, Mission Catwalk. Behind it all is fashion designer/TV producer Keneea Linton-George, who made her name first as a fashion designer, a career she chose during tertiary studies after a friend advised her to do something she would really enjoy.

“This led to my entrepreneurial venture, while at The University of the West Indies (UWI), producing Pulse’s Caribbean Model Search elimination. I had to fill in for a no-show designer using pieces I had made for friends and myself as a hobby,” she explained. Pulse boss Kingsley Cooper later invited her to show at Caribbean Fashion Week and dress the then Miss Jamaica Universe.

“After seeing the press features and receiving copies of international magazine features in the mail, I figured, ‘this could be it’,” she shared. She spent almost a year in New York trying to “make it”, but it was difficult with so many emerging designers. “The international fashion industry can be ‘cut-throat’ without the right connections. The key is to get the right foundation, training and internship.”

Mission Catwalk has undoubtedly taken off, but there were many behind-the-scenes challenges early on. “It is difficult to get the kind of sponsorship needed to fund a reality show production in a market like Jamaica and getting corporate ‘buy-in’ for a pilot season is beyond difficult,” Linton-George said. “We believed in the show and took the risk knowing that once the show was produced, corporate Jamaica would see the potential marketing value.”

Subsequently, the season two winner, Gregory Williams has returned from a course in Paris and is now at the London College of Fashion. Meanwhile, season three is in the pre-production stage with auditions in December. Applicants are coming in from across the Caribbean and as far as Africa. “Season three will still focus on designers from the Caribbean islands and we hope to cast the right balance of talent and personality to keep viewers excited about the show,” Linton-George noted.

She is currently working through the Designers Guild, a non-profit organisation aimed at improving the local fashion industry. The Guild is embarking on a new project with Kay Davitian, former quality control expert at Ralph Lauren and Jones New York. “We are particularly excited about how this venture will potentially impact the industry,” Linton-George mused.

34

50u50

Gary Matalon Age: 38Title: Chief Executive Officer Company: Kingston Live Entertainment (KLE) Group

The KLE Group is redefining entertainment with the popular Fiction Lounge and Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records under its banner. As the group’s CEO, Gary Matalon is driven to always raise the bar. “Being number one is where everybody wants to be. We’re making an effort to change the game. You have to figure out what is going to make you unique and make sure whatever that is, it’s relevant to the market you’re going after,” he said.

Financing and operational challenges haven’t deterred them and Matalon believes in the product. “The beauty for me in getting into an organisation from the beginning is that you have control over what type of culture you want to introduce. That, for me, has been huge because I’ve always had in my mind that this is how I would want my organisation to be,” he said.

But before KLE, Matalon did construction, returning to Jamaica in 1992 after his immediate family moved to the United States during the ‘70s. He did not lose touch with Jamaica, spending holidays with his paternal grandparents. Grandfather Moses Matalon was a major influence. “Growing up, it was always in my head that I would join my grandfather and work with him. He was my idol; I tried to emulate him as much as possible,” he shared.

However, around the time that he left high school, Moses died and Matalon, who admitted that he didn’t like school, worked with the family business WIHCON, in various roles. “None very elegant,” he joked. But having no college degree was a “wake-up call”, so he did tertiary studies, even earning a Master’s degree. After a brief stint at Redimix, he returned to WIHCON, assisting on various projects including Angels Estates. With experience came more duties leading to his own project, Old Harbour’s The Aviary. “I was very nervous but excited. I always had ideas that I wanted to implement and ways of approaching things differently, but because it was never my show, it was always difficult to get that through.”

Over time, along with former WIHCON executive Deighton Levee, Matalon started Neustone Limited, now a renowned international project management firm. That

kind of big thinking led him to join the KLE Group, which recently added new board members, listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market and has numerous projects coming. “We’re not losing sight of the formula that got us to here,” he assured.

35

50u50

Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell Age: 44Title: Chief Executive OfficerCompany: Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation

He is known globally as a dynamic performer and charismatic personality, but there’s also a philanthropic side to Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell.

Through his Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation, Burrell has significantly impacted the care provided at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC). He had always helped out, donating cash or kind, but on one visit, he saw a little girl with a bullet in her head, being kept alive by one of the machines he donated. “From that, I felt I had to do something else,” he recalled. He wanted to do a show to raise money and, from that, it was suggested he start a foundation. But convincing people to come on board for that first Shaggy and Friends show was difficult.

“I invited potential sponsors into my home, something I don’t do,” said Burrell. “I wanted them to see that I was a serious person. People have this concept of DJs. I wanted them to realise I could be taken seriously.” Another challenge was planning the show in only eight weeks. Dr Lambert Innis of the BHC was the one to sell the cause. “Potential sponsors didn’t know the number of children who died per day. Hearing the numbers shocked them. Those things touch people’s heartstrings,” he said.

Burrell solicited help from expert show organisers Walter Elmore and Sharon Burke and, through his own marketing efforts, the foundation was started. Bringing in foreign acts with big names was a way to convince corporate Jamaica and the public to pay top dollar for tickets. “The challenge was to get the acts to perform for free for a hospital that doesn’t benefit them,” he said. Juggling the sponsors’ needs can also be challenging. “Among our greatest accomplishments to date is that Shaggy and Friends is the only concert where competing brands come on board together,” he added, noting that ‘the cause’ is still the main focus.

“We have raised the awareness. You can’t lose sight of what needs to be accomplished,” Burrell said. He and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle have plans to take the fund-raising global, especially to the Diaspora, as there are persons willing and able to donate the kind of cash necessary to ‘make a difference’. “If we all get together as global celebrities, we can come up with millions of dollars that can be useful. That is where my focus is.”

36

50u50