Professionals

Bold American boasts some of the Washington metropolitan area's and nation's top communications professionals. Their skills and experiences range from audio/video reinforcement and production through ad placement and marketing/promotions.

Derrick Kenny, President

Derrick Kenny possesses a myriad of communications abilities that have been used to benefit corporate, small business, not-for-profit, and individual clients. His experience includes senior level management of marketing, public relations and multimedia services. He has been instrumental in the planning and execution of national communications campaigns, numerous community outreach activities, ENG and studio video productions, print/electronic newsletter/publications, non-linear video editing, audio editing, audio/visual reinforcement/recording, web design, webcasting, podcasting, cablecasting, and broadcasting. His broad array of skills and experiences lend to an incredible ability to manage people, projects and clients. Much of his experience came while continuous earning promotions at Walls Communications, Inc., where he grew from receptionist to Senior Account Manager to Director of the Capitol Radio Network.

While serving at Walls Communications, Kenny orchestrated public relations campaigns supporting NCNW's Excellence in Teaching Awards, Shell Oil's Say Yes to A Youngster's Future Program, and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Kenny always found ways to integrated multimedia tactics to enhance the client deliverables including Public Service Announcement production, and newsletter formatted reports. While serving as the director for the radio operation, Kenny developed a knack for earning millions of impressions through interviews for notable spokespeople such as Coretta Scott King, Hugh Price, Marc Morial, Kwiesi Mfume, Julian Bond, Lloyd Raines, Bruce Gordon, Ray Hood Phillips, Tommy Ford and a host of others. He has also scripted and/or produced PSAs for notables such as Oba Babatunde, Billy Dee Williams, Marla Gibbs, Dorothy Height, and many others.

Kenny has also served as president of the Capital Press Club, the nation’s oldest organization serving the needs of African American communications professionals; a founding director of Worship by Choice, a Washington, DC based fine arts not-for-profit organization promoting positive achievement in Washington area youth, multimedia director of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, a progressive church of over 7,000 members.

Kenny's career highlights include:

1. Designing an in-house radio production and news actuality studio in the firm's Silver Spring office which featured ISDN/Telos Zephr functionality, a digital recording interface featuring pro-tools, and the ability to facilitate Radio Media Tours, the production of Audio News Releases, production of PSAs, production of commercials, etc.
2. Led the radio relations efforts for Walls Communications' during its award winning NAACP Get Out the Vote Campaign. His work including PSA production and distribution, Audio News Release production and distribution, Radio Media Tour facilitation and multiple ad buys. He also assisted with other key elements of this historic project.
   
3. Provided onsite media relations leadership during the NAACP Get Out the Vote Campaign in 2000 in Selma, AL. His work helped to earn coverage from all major TV networks for an impromptu press conference.
4. Pitching, scheduling, and facilitating a remote radio media tour for Mrs. Coretta Scott King from her home in Atlanta, GA, as part of Denny's support of the Reignite the Dream Campaign.
5. Provided onsite media relations leadership for the National Medical Association's national conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. His work helped to earn coverage from several major TV networks, Jet magazine and millions of total impressions for the organization.
6. Provided leadership for the annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Program, which included creating and executing a communications plan for select cities and nationwide. 
7. Provided leadership for the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in 2002. Helped to create an approach that provided a foundation of legitimacy for this fledgling idea. Work included the drafting of statements, press releases, audio news releases and mayoral proclamations. Worked with mayors in top markets to recognize the day with a proclamation that established National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day as official in that city. Secured spokespeople to help raise awareness of this issue. Were very successful earning television interviews for local leadership in Washington, DC, Chicago and Los Angeles.
8. Led the Capitol Radio Network team in earning over 500 media impressions for clients through radio outreach in 2005.
9. Producing and placing radio advertisements for Geico, Freddy Mack, and others in 2006.
10. Led the public relations and community relations efforts in support of Denny's Single Parent Student Scholarship Initiative. Developed strategic plans to assist in supporting the corporate giving by Denny's associated with this campaign. Managed a team of professionals that served to earn Denny's great media exposure including interviews with Steve Harvey, Russ Parr and Tom Joyner, CNN Radio and coverage by major local publications including the Miami Herald. While representing Denny's interests as a corporate sponsor, Kenny helped to create unique opportunities for Denny's to stand out including the establishment of a hospitality suite for the youth participating in the 2008 NAACP national conference.
    

Missy Daniels, Director, Public & Community Relations

E. Missy Daniels served as Vice President/Client Services for Walls Communications, Inc for eleven years (1996-2007) . In this capacity, Missy designed public relations, marketing outreach and communications strategies for the firms corporate clients including the U.S. Army, Denny's Restaurants, Sprint Nextel and Motorola, AT&T, Bank of America, Washington Convention Center Authority and Shell Oil Company. Additionally, she served as senior counsel on a number of the firm' non-profit clients including AARP, the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The Congress of National Black Churches and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Missy also served as Walls' community relations liaison. She has more than 15 years experience in coordinating meetings, conferences, projects and promotions for associations and non-profit organizations. Before joining WCI, Missy served as a meeting planner for the National Association of Health Services Executives. Prior to that, she was the special projects manager for the Committee to Promote Washington, where she coordinated specific program activities to promote Washington DC as a tourist attraction. Missy received a bachelor of arts in political science from the Ohio State University. She has studied organizational management at the University of Maryland, University College. She is a licensed minister and currently serves as a Chaplain in Residence at Georgetown University and a public relations consultant. She is enrolled in the masters of divinity program at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

Forest C. Godwin, Senior Project Manager, Broadcast Media Relations

For the past decade, Forest Godwin has been a leader in the publicity industry, developing campaigns for clients ranging from the The National Urban League, to General Motors. As a Sports Publicity specialist, Forest has worked on numerous campaigns, including a signature event for the National Kidney Foundation with San Antonio Spurs' Roger Mason. A popular voice in the DC-Metro/Baltimore area, Forest has provided award winning coverage for teams ranging from the Wizards, to the Baltimore Ravens. A highly requested speaker, he has hosted events including the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, as well as made guest appearances on talk shows...including ESPN Radio 1050 in New York and "Talk Lounge" based in Baltimore. Forest's Media expertise has been highlighted by the Baltimore City Council and the Baltimore Chapter of the National Action Network. Nationally, Media Experts consider his ability, "Dynamic and Highly Desired." In the Words of many of his clients, "Forest is an asset that keeps their brand in tact."

Michael Reynolds, Artist Development and Promotions