Meet Ted R.H. Cummings of Onyx MS Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ted R.H. Cummings.

Ted serves as the President/CEO of Onyx Media Services, Inc. (ONYXMS). He was elected to the Board of DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. He describes serving the community as not just a duty but a rewarding experience and encourages his employees to volunteer within their communities as well. He is a tireless supporter of minority businesses and was the recipient of the GMSDC 2013 Eagle Award a testament to his efforts and success in teaming with and promoting minority businesses. He also spearheaded his company Onyx Media Services, Inc. to win the Apex Small Business of the Year Award in 2012 out of a field of 50 nominees.

He comes from humble beginnings, born in Kingston, Jamaica the family of thirteen migrated to Bronx, New York, there amid a gang-riddled environment he carefully searched for a path in life that was better than what he was experiencing in his environment. He often talks about education and an inquisitive mind saved his life. He continuously strives to educate himself and his employees, he views that lifelong learning is key to being a good businessperson. With that in mind he has graduated from Tuck School of Business – Building a High Performing Minority Business program and completed The Coca-Cola Company MWBE Supplier Mentorship program. In 2012 he was selected for and completed the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection program. He was recently completed the Goldman Sachs – 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

He has extensive experience providing management and consulting services within the competitive National and International Audio/Visual and Exhibit Services arena. Over an extended career, he has gained an in-depth understanding of core business processes, including service negotiation, provisioning, billing and repair/maintenance. He has a successful record of leading teams in the development of high-quality deliverables. In addition, he has demonstrated an ability to define and fulfill goals while breaking complex issues into manageable parts. His work shows the ability to collaborate with team members to achieve common objectives while maintaining responsibilities and commitments. As a leader, he fosters professional growth, negotiation skills and client relations.

He believes in the FUMIFU approach to business ‘First Use Must Inspire Future Use’. He always sees room for growth and is open to change.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been ups and downs, but the two most difficult things for any business are; finding the right people and financing your business.

Please tell us about Onyx MS Group.
Onyx Media Services, Inc. (ONYXMS) provides advanced Production Management Services and communications services for the enhancement of meetings, general sessions, special events, and exhibit displays. With over 30 years of combined experience managing various events, we provide you with the solutions necessary for the best presentation while maintaining control of your budget.

ONYXMS offers a wide range of services, which include:
• Event Production & Management
• Audio Visual Services
• Video Production & Presentation Video
• Virtual Meetings
• Digital Signage
• Information Technology Architecture
• Technical Production Design
• Graphic Design
• Sound Reinforcement
• Theatrical Lighting
• Exhibit Design
• Exhibit Fabrication
• Installation & Dismantling
• Logistics Planning
• Exhibition Consulting

With a diverse range of capabilities and extensive knowledge of the industry, ONYXMS can support you with all aspects of planning and produce your event. We will help to ensure the most successful event possible for everyone involved. As a provider of communications services, our purpose is to connect staff and clients and enrich lives. All our actions are premised on our company values, which we believe to be essential and enduring convictions: integrity, service, quality, relationships, pride, professionalism, and people.

Project Management & Consultation – experienced project managers and technical consultation for your event, which helps reduce your workload.

Corporate Managed Services – provide on-site operation and maintenance of audiovisual and event technology systems for corporate facilities.

Convention Events Services – ONYXMS is an established production company with state of the art video, audio, and lighting equipment capable of implementing large events.

Cost Control – ONYXMS will work with you to ensure that the event is implemented within Budget. This helps ensure that your needs are met, the event runs smoothly, and costs are controlled.

Event Project Management – Event Project Managers will make sure your event runs glitch free. We believe in 100% client satisfaction, therefore it is our obligation to meet your on-site demands.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would’ve not deviated from the original structure. Let me explain, at the beginning the company was structured with Fortune 500 company organizational chart. It was meant to fill in the positions as needed in Orchard Road into a Fortune 500 company. I deviated from that and started worrying only about the immediate bottom line and not future growth. The next time I will follow the Amazon model where they concentrated growth and not just profit immediately.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.onyxmsgroup.com
• Phone: 404-420-0030
• Email: [email protected]

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