Meet Jurena G. Cantrell of J. Glass Communications in East

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jurena G. Cantrell.

Jurena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved to Atlanta in 1991 from Birmingham, AL to attend Clark Atlanta University. Going into my junior year, my classmate/friend, Marco “Blue” Johnson, had an idea to create a healthy eating eatery called Marco’s Pita. He asked me to work with him. It was a new concept as well as a new establishment in the Atlanta market. Therefore, we had to wear many hats. As the work evolved, I gravitated to operations management and marketing and public relations.

A love for marketing and public relations was born. My first job after completing my degree was with Atlanta Olympic Broadcasting as a PA/runner in addition to being a freelance writer for print publications. From there, I worked in local TV as a master control operator and PR assistant while simultaneously working in entertainment on R&B and hip-hop music videos as well as a few films. Sometime after that, I moved into sports management as a marketing coordinator and executive assistant for professional athletes while also consulting others on their marketing and PR efforts. Around the end of 1999, I began working as a media assistant for an Atlanta based broadcast publicity firm with offices in New York and Chicago. After a year of pitching news stories, writing draft media releases and alerts, working with ENG crews in the field, and building a library, I was promoted to Project Manager/Producer. For the next few years, I traveled, managing cross function teams in the production of broadcast PR initiatives for corporate brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, USPS, Chick-fil-A, and others. In 2002, I experienced a health scare, so I took a leap of faith, quit that job, and launched J. Glass Communications.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not been a smooth road, and I’ve had my share of struggles. In the early days, I saw being in the south as a big struggle on the entertainment side. What we were doing in Atlanta was new for the south; we didn’t have definitive titles. People didn’t understand it. My self and others like Dee Dee Hibbler (Murray), Denyse Parks, and Marsha Meadows were among the people working behind the scenes that you don’t see. People just didn’t understand what was happening, but we pushed through. Now, they call us the architects or OGs, which is hilarious to me!

On the corporate side, the struggles were a bit different. Quite a few times, I found myself as the only African American woman in meetings, and I would have to speak up about things others didn’t notice. At one point, my colleagues called me “Sister Souljah” because I was so vocal when things weren’t right. I was never really the type to be cooped up in an office all day sitting behind a desk, so after the health scare, I realized I had to do things differently, I had to do what Clark Atlanta’s motto says and find a way or make one that fit me. I did exactly that and founded my consulting agency.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the J. Glass Communications story. Tell us more about the business.
The name of my business is J. Glass Communications and we provide direction/support for creative, media & communication initiatives.

We specialize in creating and supporting media campaigns, productions, and events. We are known for building brands, getting creatives exposure, and producing events that resonate with the target audience, thus our tagline “magnifying brands & creatives since 2002.”

As a company, I am most proud of the results from the work performed on behalf of our clients and our longevity. On any given day, I will hear a song, buy a product, or see someone on TV or social media and smile. It’s a great feeling to know I’ve been able to contribute or be a driving force in the success of many brands and careers.

I think what sets me apart from others is that the experience spans both the entertainment and corporate space. I’ve been able to learn then apply the strategies and solutions from both to help more succeed.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe in faith and working smart.

Contact Info:

• Email: jglasspr@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jglasscmc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JGlasscmc/
• Twitter: twitter.com/jglasscmc

Image Credit:
J. Glass Communications

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