Shelonda Stokes of greiBO Media thought the state?s Minority Business Enterprise Program was so helpful to her and other entrepreneurs that she made a video about it ? for free ? for the release of the MBE report Tuesday.
This was no homemade tape, since greiBO is a full-service production company that makes commercials, videos and interactive media. Even a short video can cost a client $5,000 or more.
Stokes had no trouble enlisting seven other business owners to appear on camera. “There were so many businesses that wanted to be part of the video,” Stokes said. They included several African-Americans like herself, women, an Asian and a Hispanic.
Stokes also participates in the governor?s mentor-protégé program, which links established corporations with younger firms run by minorities, women and the disabled. Mentors include big names such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Office Depot, BGE and EDS.
GreiBO is hooked up with Grey Direct, a New York-based direct marketing firm that has a contract with the University of Maryland?s University College. “It?s a great partnership,” Stokes said.
Bob Traino of Grey Direct said his company has also benefited from the relationship. “Shelonda has helped us do a lot of work locally,” Traino said. “It?s been a great experience.”
Like many Democrats who did not support the Ehrlich-Steele ticket, Stokes said, “You tend to be a little skeptical” of a Republican administration. Yet she was appointed to the commission headed by Lt. Gov. Michael Steele that revamped the Minority Business Enterprise Program and became vice chairman.
“We gave them an opportunity and they delivered,” she said.
