Today we’d like to introduce you to Debert Cook.
Hi Debert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
It all started when I began my event management company, Event Planners Plus (http://www.eventplannersplus.com) In 1998, where I organized corporate meetings, programs, events, seminars, and workshops as an independent planner.
Shortly after opening my event business, I began receiving invitations to attend golf outings. Reflecting on my previous corporate position at BusinessWeek Magazine (which I held prior to opening my own business) I recalled how my former boss would receive invites such as this. She would have me RSVP for her to attend, and afterward, she would return to the office after the golf outing with a BIG stack of business cards–which I had to enter into the database for her to later follow up on for generating sales leads and business development. Reflecting on this,
Now, as a business owner myself, I RSVP’d for MYSELF to attend and signed up at New York’s Chelsea Piers for 6-weeks of golf lessons to prepare for my participation. My aim was to use my newfound skills in golf to generate new business and networking opportunities for my OWN company. After 6-weeks, I attended my first golf tournament, held in Las Vegas, hosted by a group of Meeting Planning industry professionals. I had a wonderful time, enjoyed the event, met some fantastic new colleagues, and, just as my previous boss had some, I returned to MY office with a STACK FULL of business cards. Following up, I was able to generate many new businesses leads all from attending just this one golf outing.
Growing up as a youth, I was involved in many sports: basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, and track and field. Now, I was enthralled with golf! It gave me a challenge that was addictive, and I wanted to play more, and learn more. So, I headed over to the magazine rack of a local store, to purchase some golf magazines. As I flipped through the pages of several publications, I could not help but notice that Black faces were missing from the massive content of magazine articles and features. This sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, and I said to myself, “I’ll create a golf magazine that showcases the participation of Black people in the sport. Thus, in 2003 I launched the African American Golfer’s Digest, Inc. Today, 18-years later, I am a PGA of American Supplier and the nation’s only wholly Black-woman-owned golf publication in America.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest challenge has been in gaining public awareness for the existence of the publication.
My other biggest challenge has been in receiving advertising from major golf companies, bureaus, and organizations that Black golfers support through their purchasing power, memberships, frequent travel, and golf lifestyle.
As you know, we’re big fans of African American Golfer’s Digest. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are the nation’s only golf magazine this is a PGA of American Diverse Supplier -the magazine is published quarterly
-the magazine is published digitally 2-times a year (Spring & Fall)
-the magazine is published in PRINT 2-times a year (Winter & Summer)
-the magazine is 48 pages
-the magazine is full color
I am most proud brand-wise of how we feature golfers in many categories: pro golfers, amateur golfers, men/women/youth. Black golf organizations & clubs, African American charity fundraisers, tournaments.
-I want readers to know that we host our own Group Golf Travel Programs & Getaways to worldwide to a variety of exciting destinations throughout the year, and have included ANNUAL trips to Ghana and South AFRICA.
-We have conducted group trips to Alaska, Dubai, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Martha’s Vineyard, and several others.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up as the granddaughter of a West Virginia coal miner. My grandfather lost both of his legs in a mining accident when he was 22 years old but never let that stop him from having a productive life and raising his family. He was a strong believer in education and business ownership and stressed this in the household. I am proud to say that I have always been exposed to ‘running a business and I come from a family of successful entrepreneurs.
My number one role model is my MOTHER who owned a hair salon in Ohio for 45 years, is currently the Pastor of her own church and she will earn her Doctor of Divinity degree this year. I volunteer my time in helping her with marketing efforts and social media to announce the ongoing distribution of food and clothing which benefits the homeless, physically challenged, and single-parent households,
I love music. I played trumpet, clarinet, and alto saxophone in high school and minored in Music in College. I played in various R&B bands around Ohio and auditioned at MOTOWN. I majored in Music Business at Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA), I earned a Certification in Radio & TV Broadcasting from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in (Detroit, MI) and hold a B.A. degree in Communications from Youngstown State University (Youngstown, OH), I earned an M.A. Degree in History/Liberal Studies from City University of New York (CUNY).
Pricing:
- Annual digital subscription is $12
- Annual print subscription is $48
- Single copy price is $8
Contact Info:
- Email: debertcook@aol.com
- Website: https://www.africanamericangolfersdigest.com
- Instagram: @AfricanAmericanGolfersDigest
- Facebook: @AfricanAmericanGolfersDigest
- Twitter: @AfricanAmericanGolfersDigest
- Youtube: African American Golfer’s Digest
