2. The Marcus Graham Project is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and national network
of diverse professionals that have purposed themselves in developing the next generation
of thought leadership within the advertising, media and marketing industry.
Our mission is to identify, expose, mentor and train ethnically diverse young men and
women in all aspects of the media industry, including advertising, entertainment and
marketing.
The vision of the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) is to provide long-term access to
information, technology, financial and people resources that will strategically develop a
viable pool of talent and leadership within the industry.
Founded in 2007 / Incorporated 2009
HQ in Dallas, TX with over 850+ members nationally

3. FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS
NANCY HILL, President and CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA)
GINA BIANCHINI, Co-Founder and CEO of MightyBell.com
BILL SHARP, former VP/Advertising Manager, Coca-Cola USA; former SVP & General Manager,
Burrell Advertising; Retired President & Founder, Sharp Advertising
CALVIN W. STEPHENS, Chairman and President of SSP Consulting, L.C.
CATHY BROWN, SVP, Director of Client Services at TPN
CYNTHIA NEVELS, President of CynthiaNevels.com
DR. JASON CHAMBERS, Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JONATHAN P. HICKS, Sr. Correspondent at BET.com
LARRY POWELL, CO-FOUNDER, MOJO AD @ The University of Missouri – School of Journalism
2
BOARD MEMBERS

4. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS (2011-2013 Council Term)
RICK BOYKO, Former VCU Brandcenter Director/Professor
TRACEY D. BROWN, EVP, Managing Director at RAPP
NAKEISHA S. FERGUSON, Ph.D Assistant Professor of Marketing at University of St. Thomas
MALCOLM GILLIAN, SVP Branded Entertainment at Relevent
HEATHER JAMES, Business Manager, Macy’s
HOWARD R. JEAN, Executive Director at Communities In Schools of Georgia
GEORGE MEDLAND, Resource Allocation Manager, JWT (Retired)
BUFF PARHAM, President, Parham & Associates
SCOTT PERKINS, Assistant Vice President – Policy Advertising at AT&T
KEVIN SWANEPOEL, President of The One Club
TIFFANY R. WARREN, SVP, Chief Diversity Officer at Omnicom Group and Founder of ADCOLOR® and The ADCOLOR® Awards
JASON WHITE, Managing Director, Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai
3
BOARD MEMBERS (CONT’D)

5. • The need for more people of color to be adequately
represented at all levels in the advertising industry, in an effort
to develop strategies and communications that reflect a diversity
of mindset and life experiences.
• The mentoring of junior, mid and senior level talent of color and
women to ensure a healthy means of inclusion, retention and
promotion through the ranks of the ad industry.
• More promotion and exposure of career opportunities in the industry
for communities of color earlier in their academic career
• Develop a larger pipeline and talent pool and paint a truer, more
balanced picture of today’s global customer
5
INDUSTRY CHALLENGE

6. 5
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
BOTTOM LINE: OUR INDUSTRY DOESN’T REFLECT THE CHANGING
LANDSCAPE OF OUR COUNTRY.

7. NY TIMES:
Advertising Companies Fret over a digital talent GAP
WALL STREET JOURNAL:
Why Companies aren’t getting the talent they need
FAST COMPANY:
Stumbling Up The Ladder: Ad Agencies Neglect Their Brightest Prospects
6
THE TALENT ISSUE IN THE NEWS

8. THE MARCUS GRAHAM PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ITS
MISSION OF ADDRESSING INDUSTRY CHALLENGES BY:
• Building out management staff to run all programs as well as operational funding
• Continue Summer Boot Camp program and grow the curriculum to activate
program in multiple markets
• Build out mentorship model and relationships with HR, hiring managers and
managers of agencies/companies where MGP graduates have been placed
• Develop program into future-focused laboratory (agency/school)
with a year round focus on entry to mid level talent
9
FUTURE OF MGP

9. • Continue to host online and offline network building opportunities
for members and emerging professionals
• Career spanning developmental support (Post Graduate)
- Mentorship
- Seminars/Workshops
- Creative Boot Camps
- Global Travel Opportunities
• Influence S.T.E.A.M education (K-12+) while creating awareness of the
breadth of career opportunities in the marketing, advertising & media
industry
• Develop a sustainable model that furthers the success of MGP in the
advertising/media industry
10
SOLUTIONS

10. • As an extension of the Marcus Graham Project,
Locomotus is a hybrid advertising marketing & media
training ground, consultancy and laboratory
• Locomotus (latin – locos-motus): a place & movement
of progress, operation, passion, impulse, disturbance,
revolt and rebellion
• Locomotus will operate under a hybrid for non-profit/
for-profit MBE, supporting the mission of the
Marcus Graham Project
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LOCOMOTUS OVERVIEW

11. • Dallas (Test Market – Q 2014)
• Los Angeles Launch Market (Anticipated launch Q3 2014)
• Cincinnati (Launch TBD)
• Atlanta (Launch TBD)
• Chicago (Launch TBD)
• Detroit (Launch TBD)
• London (Launch TBD)
• Johannesburg (Launch TBD)
12
REGIONAL MARKET OVERVIEW

12. • Provides opportunities on the west coast to connect the
dots between Madison Ave., Hollywood and Silicon Valley
(Advertising, Entertainment & Technology)
• Expands Marcus Graham Project to West Coast
• Market is culturally diverse, with a large enough
advertising community to provide an extremely rich
learning opportunity, as well as access to TV/film studios
13
LOCATION/RATIONALE LOS ANGELES, CA

13. The Locomotus curriculum will be centered on meeting the existing and emerging needs
of today’s advertising and marketing landscape. While focusing on thought leadership,
implementation of current best practices, development of new best practices and the
creation of processes, methodologies and techniques that allows for a globally, culturally
inclusive execution of communications and ideas that spark innovation.
As the world continues to get smaller and the need for a high cultural aptitude grows,
Locomotus will partner with the world’s leading national and global Executive Creative
Directors, Creative Directions, Account Directors and recruiters to construct a program
that will develop the best digitally centered, brand management, brand strategy, media
services innovators and creative architects of color the industry has even seen.
14
CURRICULUM COMPONENTS

14. Month 1: Foundation
- History of advertising, marketing and media
- Exercises to build student group culture: Teamwork, open mindedness, resilience
Month 2-3: Group deep-dives into each particular discipline
- Brand Management
- Strategy
- Writing
- Art Direction
- Digital
- Production
Month 4-9: Immersion into real work on real client objectives
- Intermittent 24-hour “academic” assignments
- Workshops/Speakers begin
- Field trips begin
- Students choose discipline
Month 10-11: Personal website and body-of- work development
- Outreach to agencies for employment opportunities
- Graduation Ceremony
15
SAMPLE CURRICULUM

15. The “services” that Locomotus + MGP will provide will include :
Students / Members
• Intense training
• Portfolio development
• Job Placement
• Career spanning mentorship
Brands/Corporations (function as MBE where requested)
• Brand Strategy / Management
• Creative Concept Development
• Content Development
• Research / Insights Development
• D&I Consulting
16
SERVICES

16. • MENTORSHIP COMES FIRST
Dedication to true talent cultivation through the program and afterwards
• UNAPOLOGETICALLY DIVERSE
Will focus primarily on attracting talent of color
• AFFORDABILITY & ACCESSIBILITY
Will provide experience to talent through sponsorship, making it available to
those who find other programs cost prohibitive
• REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
Our students will have the opportunity to work on actual client work, while
building a robust portfolio and managed by experienced professionals
17
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT THAN
THE TRADITIONAL AD SCHOOL?

17. • SOCIAL MEDIA
• AFFINITY GROUP PARTNERSHIP
- National Association of Black MBA, MAIP (4As), AAF Most Promising Multicultural
Students/Alumni, CODE2040
• DEEP DIVE MARKET VISITS
- Don’t forget to go where your average recruiter will not go (i.e. art shows)
• PUBLIC RELATIONS
• ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN (TRADITIONAL & NON-TRADITIONAL)
• DOCU-SERIES
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RECRUITMENT

18. The uncommon. The unexpected. The thirsty. The one that needs
the break. The one who is pushing at the gate and needs that one
shot. Someone with amazing energy. Passion over pride. Purpose
over process. Disposition over position. One who knows that
practice makes perfect.
“Perfectly imperfect is my dimension’s definition.”
– Cee Lo Green
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OUR STUDENTS - EXCURSIONISTS

19. Our objective is not to produce talented people who can simply get jobs. Our
mission is to develop talent in every discipline that will excel far beyond
expectations, and we have a staff that has proven they can do this.
Locomotus shall begin Q3 2014 with our goal is to raise $2.5MIL by Q2 2014. This
allows focus solely on the admissions process and select students by Q3 2014
this give all involved time to prepare for the Q4 2014 pilot term.
From the partners invited into our consortium, we are asking for a minimum
investment of $300,000.
This is an investment in people who have not only earned an opportunity to hone
their craft, but ultimately shall gone to improve your agency, its insights, work
product and most importantly our industry.
21
THE LOCOMOTUS CONSORTIUM

20. The iCR8 boot camp provides the next generation of advertising, media marketing talent
with the exposure and experience necessary to solidify careers within the industry.
The boot camp is a summer long internship program, where nearly a dozen team
members are selected annually for an exclusive opportunity to provides pro-bono
consulting services, developing a marketing campaign for pre-selected non-profit
organizations or social causes, the opportunity to work on actual client projects,
providing experience across multiple segments and categories.
The success of the boot camp program has served as the proof of concept for our
expansion and has also been featured in several national media vehicles.
7
THE iCR8 BOOT CAMP

21. OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS GRADUATES OF THE iCR8 BOOT
CAMP CAMP AND OUR NETWORK HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
FOUND JOBS AT SOME OF THE COUNTRIES LEADING
COMPANIES
8
SUCCESS STORIES

22. MGP NETWORK - Online Social Networking Site
The MGP social networking site, powered by NING, provides an online
community and forum where mature professionals and emerging young
professionals connect and forge a support system to assist in the
guidance of career & leadership skills. We currently have over 500
members signed into the network nationally, as well as abroad.
http://network.marcusgrahamproject.org
2
OUR PROGRAMS
ICR8 Summer Boot Camp
The boot camp’s primary purpose is to provide diverse aspirants in
the field of advertising & marketing with the exposure and experience
necessary to solidify careers within the advertising, media & marketing
industry. The summer long program consists of relevant topical
case study and development of marketing/media concepts in response to
selected topics. Boot camp initiates are chosen through application,
portfolio review and in-person interview held during the spring.

23. MGP Radio - The Drum
The online program will give MGP members the opportunity to connect
real time with guest hosts who will provide helpful information on industry
topics and trends, as well as offer any helpful advice to those who tune in.
3
OUR PROGRAMS (CONT’D)
MGP Fund - GO Fund & Sharp Award
The GO travel fund is organized as a financial scholarship for MGP
members to attend the often cost prohibitive industry
conferences, training seminars, networking functions and educational
courses.
Financial awards are given upon application and require that a report
be submitted upon completion of the activity.
The Sharp Award, sponsored by JWT Atlanta and administered by
The Marcus Graham Project, honors excellence in marketing, advertising
and media by recognizing one (1) student with a $3,500 award.

24. MGP Speaker’s Bureau - The Sound Bite
The purpose of the program is to connect high school and college students, as
well as recent graduates with working professionals in the industry in an in
depth “lunch & learn” style forum. Guest lecturers, will address the audience
on core values & trends that undergird the level of leadership that MGP seeks
to develop.
4
OUR PROGRAMS (CONT’D)

25. LINCOLN STEPHENS | CO-FOUNDER
Lincoln is a former Advertising Account Management Executive (Carol H Williams, Martin Retail, and
TracyLocke) turned activist, muckraker and entrepreneur. In his professional career, Stephens has worked
with top brands such as Frito Lay, Quaker, Pepsi, Cadillac, Hummer, Chevrolet, and Coca-Cola.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Lincoln is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a
Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus in Strategic Communications and recently completed his Master’s
Degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University.
22
CREATORS
LARRY YARRELL | CO-FOUNDER
Larry is a graduate of Morehouse College from Dallas, TX. He is well traveled, having lived in
Atlanta, New York, Dallas, and London in the last 7 years. Yarrell’s passion for understanding different
cultures has fueled his quest to become a successful social entrepreneur. In addition to being one of
MGP’s co founders he’s worked with brands such as Jose Cuervo, Crown Royal, Motions Proline, E!
Entertainment UK & Verizon Telecom. Yarrell also holds an MBA in International Marketing which he
obtained at American Intercontinental University in London.

26. LAWRENCE HANCOCK | MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lawrence is a seasoned marketing leader with more than 15 years of increasingly responsible positions in
marketing and advertising on the agency and corporate side.
Lawrence has extensive knowledge of diversity markets, a global marketing vision, and successful implementation
abilities, in tandem with the talent to tap into existing marketing channels to develop strategic alternatives. He has
developed and sustained relationships with C-level professionals in a variety of categories and has led, utilized and
coordinated the strength of his teams to propel brands and increase their profit margins. Working with a variety of
companies some of his clients include Allstate, Army, Bank of America, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Cingular, Coors
Light, Disney, E&J Cognac, Frito-Lay, GMAC Financial, GMC, GM Corporate, Himistry, Hummer, Kaiser Permanente,
Pacific Bell, Saturn, and Zima.
Currently, Lawrence is the client service and strategy lead for AMF Media Group. Prior to joined AMF Media Group
Lawrence served as a Senior Vice President, Group Account Director for Carol H. Williams Advertising becoming the
youngest and quickest to ascend to that position in the agency’s history.
23
MANAGEMENT
KENJI SUMMERS | GLOBAL + CULTURAL INSIGHTS DIRECTOR
Kenji Summers is a twenty-something advertising & media professional located in New York. Kenji grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant
neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY and currently works as a freelance strategist and community manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree
from University of Massachusetts at Amherst – Isenberg School of Management. Throughout his career, he has worked as
a Strategist at BBH, Digital Strategist at OMD and Jr. Planner at GROUPM. Kenji is a connector that actively participates as an
ADCOLOR Awards Steering Committee member, Marcus Graham Project Co-Founder/GO FUND Program Director and blogs for The
Huffington Post as well his personal blog, KenjiSummers.com. In 2011, he created the Passport Project, to inspire young Americans to
get passports and to participate in global culture.

27. CHEERAZ GORMON | CURRICULUM DIRECTOR
Cheeraz Gormon is a life-long activist, internationally touring spoken word artist and published poet,
documentary photographer turned award-winning copywriter to organic creative brand strategist,
curriculum developer, program facilitator and studying cultural anthropologist who took her parents and
mentors words seriously when they said she could do anything (as long as she promised to do all things
well). Referring to herself as creative problem solver out of rejection to the singular title of copywriter,
planner or poet, Cheeraz has worked on brands that span from Fortune 500 companies to small community
efforts. Her most recent success under the advertising umbrella was being one of ten winners of the TED
Ads Worth Sharing Award for her work on the Nike Foundation’s long-form spot for The Girl Effect, “The
Clock is Ticking.”
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MANAGEMENT (CONT’D)
JAMIL BUIE | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT + CONTENT DIRECTOR
The classically trained “account guy” participated in the stewardship of brands like
DeBeers, Ford, McDonalds and Chrysler. Noticing a need to be well versed in the creative realm he took
it upon himself to cross-train as a Writer, Strategist and Cultural Curator. Buie had the opportunity to
work across a number of disciplines: Traditional, Multi-cultural & Digital Advertising and
Marketing, Commercial production, Copy writing, Interactive project management, Entertainment based
marketing, TV and Film product placement, Music production & commercial integration. Agencies that
he has worked for have included McKinney, Burrell Communications, Manifest Digital, Global Hue and J.
Walter Thompson.