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Meet CJ Bland of Minority Professional Network

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Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Bland.

CJ, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was raised in a single parent home in a housing project in New Orleans. My childhood environment gave me motivation to not only have more for myself as an adult but to provide for others as well. Teachers, counselors and others detected there was something different in me from early childhood. They could not determine specifically what, but knew that I was not the average child. Great things were predicted and expected of me many years ago. However, among the most important things I learned and have always retained is to “treat all others the way I want to be treated.”

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Dillard University and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern University. Additionally, I earned my MBA from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. I worked as a technical program manager at NASA. I worked at AT&T in various roles and worked my way up to Sales Director. I have also been a consultant for various clients including SBC Telecom, Johnson Controls, Verizon Wireless, and The Home Depot.

I have managed, led or met with countless highly distinguished, renowned, and accomplished business, political, and religious leaders across the U.S. and other parts of the world. I served on the Atlanta Regional Commission Board for ten years working with mayors from the 10-county Atlanta region.

For years I’ve been viewed as one who’s been passionately committed to (as well as engaging others in) service and coalition building. I picked up the label of “Mr. Network” years ago while being actively involved with various volunteer, community service, business, and networking organizations while living in various U.S. areas – New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Newport News/Hampton, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta. The aforementioned factors coupled with launching prior business endeavors, having a very robust educational and business background, and keenly understanding technology were driving factors in launching Minority Professional Network (MPN).

MPN evolved from the InfoConnection electronic communications publications, which were launched in 1998 as a medium for communicating information about events, meetings, news, announcements, jobs, and resources of relevance and benefit to diverse professionals in the Metro Atlanta area.

I decided in early 2001 that the timing was right to take the InfoConnection e-News publications (MPN’s building blocks predecessors) to another level, develop an online presence, and provide expanded resources to a wider audience. Minority Professional Network (MPN) launched its web site, providing Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans and other minority groups with the first national online “Career, Economic and Lifestyle Connection”™ for progressive minority professionals.

Employers utilize MPN to post job openings that are accessible by the more than 500,000 subscribers to MPN publications and over 1 million professionals in our extended network via online and social media platforms. We have evolved our business model over the years and expanded our offline offerings to include diversity and human capital consulting, training, corporate event planning, and professional development.

Key principles that guide my business acumen are professionalism, integrity, commitment, quality and mutually beneficial partnering and alliances.

Has it been a smooth road?
Any business owner will tell you that launching and running a business is no easy feat and that holds especially true for the small business owner. An individual entrepreneur and his/her few employees have to wear many hats including Strategy, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Accounts Receivable and Payable, Technology, and Tax. The list goes on and this is all before I have even mentioned Client Delivery, which is the most important aspect of running a services oriented business.

Of course, one major struggle was the Great Recession which began in 2007. During an economic downturn, corporations reduce or eliminate recruiting and that really hurt us as a recruiting company. Additionally, diversity teams are some of the first teams to go during corporate layoffs so there were fewer HR clients for us to provide services for and advise.

One of our challenges is retaining talent, which is ironic because we are a human capital firm. We have our team of core consultants who remain steady and provide client service. However, we need focused, visionary, and talented individuals who can handle the autonomy and flexibility of being a MPN team member. Sales and business development team members are always welcomed. A good portion of our work is virtual so we need people who are self-starters and able to be productive in a self-governing environment.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Minority Professional Network – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Minority Professional Network (MPN) is a human capital firm. We specialize in diversity recruiting, marketing, and consulting services. We can help your organization get results by delivering integrated HR solutions. Our network encompasses interactive web portals, social media networks and e-publications that serve millions of users, subscribers, followers and partners based in all U.S. States and 50+ other countries.

MPN market offerings include:

Recruiting:
• Online Job Board
• Corporate Event Planning
• Career Fairs

Marketing:
• Online Advertising
• Newsletter Publication
• Integrated Marketing Campaigns

Consulting:
• Diversity & HR Strategy
• Training & Professional Development
• Cultural Transformation

Since 1998, we have attracted 1000+ clients and partners, including the U.S. Department of State, Walmart, AT&T, FDIC, Travelers, Dell, JWT, Bernard Hodes, City of Portland, Valmont, Freddie Mac, American Diabetes Association, and many others.

We are very proud to have our longest continuous partner as The US Department of State. We have provided services to them since 2004 and have planned and supported 60+ “Diversity Career Networking Events” held in 40+ U.S. cities for The US Department of State.

Our customer service is what sets us apart. MPN focuses on providing the same level of customer service, value-add and thought leadership to all clients. We are very proud as a small business, that we have been able to attract Fortune 500 corporations as clients. It is all due to our excellent customer service and attentiveness to detail.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta has many corporate headquarters which creates jobs for our region. Atlanta also has the world’s busiest airport which creates easy access. I do not like the lack of transportation options in Atlanta including the lack of trains. Atlanta is projected to grow by the millions and transportation options including commuter trains need to be available to be competitive and attractive for more businesses to call Atlanta home.

Pricing:

  • $125: 30 Day Job Post Package
  • $525: (Quantity 5) – 30 Day Job Post Package
  • $1000: (Quantity 10) – 30 Day Job Post Package
  • $1,200: Featured Company Profile

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Shelley Bland

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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