For #blackhistorymonth I want to provide a positive and inclusive message that thanks and pay tribute to three Atlanta-based Black men who helped make Atlanta more welcoming for businessman and women of all races.  

This short video features Lonnie Johnson, an engineering pioneer who you may know as the inventor of the Super Soaker Water Gun, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Alonzo Herndon, born a slave, but founded Atlanta Life Insurance Company.

The Alonzo Herndon Story

Alonzo Herndon is best known for founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1905.  He was born a slave in 1858 – the son of a black mother and her white master - to became Atlanta’s first Black millionaire and transformed into a philanthropist, civic activist and family man.. 

Our documentary is about perseverance, overcoming extreme adversity, and giving back.  We educate on Black History, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building. The video below is an except from our full length film.

Honoring the Diversity of Multicultural Entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door on Georgia Public Broadcasting - Click Here

Show Description

‘The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door’ empowers our viewers by taking them into the behind-the-scenes worlds of multi-cultural Georgia-based entrepreneurs.  Our entrepreneurs bust conventional myths that stifle others from pursuing their passions.  

 America was built on the backs of hard-working resilient people with the entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs frequently find business opportunities when others don't – even during economic downturns.  Microsoft, Uber, AIRBNB, and even Disney are examples of ventures whose founders bucked conventional wisdom to pursue their dreams during recessions.  While we anxiously wait for the next Bill Gates and Steve Jobs from the COVID-19 induced economic downturn, we expect that women and people of color will emerge to seize their own opportunities.  Importantly, many who rise up as The Nexxt Entrepreneurs will be distinctive from the first Bill Gates.

 ‘The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door’ is about people, places, and personalities.  The people are diverse entrepreneurs in terms of race, gender, and type of business, that will include corporate entrepreneurs, those with a side hustle, social entrepreneurs, creatives, etc. 

 Places we travel to comprise well-known hubs of entrepreneurial activity, but also lesser-known, out-of-the-way locales that provide stories that are not often documented.  In Georgia, the entrepreneurial energy is unmistakable.  Atlanta is the birthplace of Coca-Cola; the maverick Ted Turner created CNN; and Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank launched Home Depot after getting fired from their large firm employer.  Yet, Georgia no longer relies on its old guard firms but seeks the next big thing.  

 Entrepreneurs who enthusiastically pursue the American Story exude personality. They span the unsatisfied business executive who is confident enough to set out to build a billion-dollar firm, to the entrepreneur who rebounded from the Great Recession to create a greater business and the go-getter who built a lucrative business inside of her large firm.  Some make it big, yet success can be elusive. But their stubborn persistence, never say die attitude, passion and authenticity is infectious.