Cleveland has always been home to some of the most talented people in the country. CODE M Magazine celebrates those men in this issue. Meet some of the men of color who are impacting our community and Northeast Ohio.
– Justin Bibb –
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, URBANOVA
Justin Bibb is the Chief Strategy Officer at Urbanova, a private-public partnership for smarter, healthier cities. He leads the national expansion of this accelerator’s proven model and educates leaders from Tulsa to Tampa on how to harness data to solve urban challenges. Bibb is expected to continue to excel in his current position and take on new and challenging projects in 2021.
– Peter Lawson Jones –
ACTOR, PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT
Peter Lawson Jones had a successful political career in Cleveland. Now Jones is reaching new heights as he directs, produces, and acts his way to the top. Jones recently had a guest appearance on Chicago Fire and is expected to appear on more shows in 2021.
Jones knows that you can accomplish whatever you want if you put your mind to it. He is living proof of that fact.
– Larese Purnell –
MANAGING PARTNER, CLE CONSULTING FIRM
Larese Purnell has taken success to another level. His firm is excelling, and his restaurant Black Box Fix is one of the best places to get a meal in Cleveland. Purnell is not done, his organization the Real Black Friday helps businesses in and around Cleveland reach their full potential.
The MBA graduate is striving for 2021 to be his best year yet by working to grow as a person and businessman. We expect nothing but the best from Larese and congratulate him on all his successes.
– Brandon Pitts –
OWNER, PLAY ONE UP
Brandon Pitts had a brilliant idea: create a third-party aggregator site that allows gamers to bet each other on a neutral site. He launched Play One Up with a successful round of investors. Today, Pitt’s company is taking over the gaming industry and setting new standards for how business is done in the digital world. Pitts continues to excel in 2021 and CODE M Magazine is excited to see what else he can dream up.
– Bradley Sellers –
MAYOR, CITY OF WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS
Brad Sellers has returned to his hometown where he graduated high school to create one of the best comeback stories in Cleveland history. The City of Warrensville Heights has experienced incredible business growth that is paying off in spades. The city continues to attract outstanding business partners and is in the process of building an entirely new school system. Sellers and his team continue to be engaging managers of the city.
– Basheer Jones –
WARD 7 COUNCILMAN, CITY OF CLEVELAND
Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones was elected in November 2017, becoming the city’s first Muslim council representative. He represents an area that includes the historic Hough district, as well as the St. Clair-Superior, Midtown, and Asia Town neighborhoods. Jones has been instrumental in the continued development of the areas that he oversees and hopes that 2021 brings even more growth to the City of Cleveland.
– Bilal S. Akram –
CEO & PUBLISHER, CODE MEDIA GROUP
Bilal S. Akram launched Code Media Group and CODE M Magazine in 2017 to fill the media void left in Northeast Ohio for covering men of color. The magazine focuses on transforming the lives of men by offering uplifting and positive images about men in the area who are excelling at life. Akram recently started the CODE M Foundation, a nonprofit, with hopes of being able to provide scholarships to trade schools for those who are looking for non-traditional ways to acquire an education.
– Terry Maynard –
CEO AND PRESIDENT, 1OO BLACK MEN OF CLEVELAND
Terry Maynard is excelling in business with various opportunities in and around Northeast Ohio. The president of 100 Black Men of Cleveland oversees the development of scores of Black-owned businesses. Maynard’s leadership has helped dozens of businesses throughout the pandemic. Although 2021 continues to see difficult times, Maynard and his team promise to be a force when it comes to thriving in this difficult environment.
– Michael Jeans –
PRESIDENT AND CEO, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS
Michael Jeans is the founding President and CEO of Growth Opportunity Partners (Growth Opps), a Small Business advisory, investment, and lending community financial institution. For small businesses/middle market companies, Growth Opps provides capital, management consulting, and advisory services to support the growth of companies and the development of management teams. Growth Opps has a particular focus on impact in low and moderate-income communities.
– Dain Thorpe M.D. –
PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION (PM&R)
Dain Thorpe is quickly skyrocketing in the medical field. The recent Howard University graduate is finishing his residency at Georgetown where he will take a job in DC with a focus on neurological rehabilitation medicine (working with patients who have had serious neurologic injuries including strokes, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury). Thorpe will also continue to mentor black medical students to help them navigate medical school and begin their career, as well as college students considering careers in medicine.
