Randal Pinkett
Born	1971 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Rutgers University (BS) University of Oxford (MSc) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (SM, MBA, PhD)
Occupation	Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a business consultancy firm[1]
Known for	Winning season four of The Apprentice reality TV show
Home town	Somerset, New Jersey
Spouse	Zahara
Children	Amira Leslie Pinkett (born 2007)
Website
RandalPinkett.com

Randal D. Pinkett (born 1971 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a business consultant who in 2005 was the winner of season four of the reality television show, The Apprentice. Pinkett was the first African American to win the US version of The Apprentice.

With an educational background in engineering and business, Pinkett is both a Rhodes Scholar and a Walter Byers Scholar, holding five academic degrees. Before entering the reality show, Pinkett had already established a career in business, and had become co-founder of business consulting firm BCT Partners in 2001. As winner of the fourth season in December 2005, Pinkett undertook a year long apprenticeship with Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

After The Apprentice, Pinkett has continued as chairman and CEO of the BCT consultancy, while also acting as a public speaker and appearing on later editions of the show, and on CEO Exchange, and also entering politics.

Author[link]

Pinkett is the author of three books including Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion-Dollar Business (Kaplan Business 2007), No-Money Down CEO: How to Start Your Dream Business with Little or No Cash (Trump University 2008), and Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness (AMACOM Books 2010) with his college roommate and business partner, Professor Jeffrey Robinson of the Rutgers Business School.

Education[link]

Pinkett graduated from Hightstown High School in Hightstown, New Jersey.^[2] Pinkett attended Rutgers University from 1989 to 1994, graduating summa cum laude^[3] with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.^[4][5] Pinkett is the first African American from Rutgers to become a Rhodes Scholar.^[3] Pinkett went on to attend the University of Oxford from 1994 to 1996, earning a Master of Science in computer science.^[4][5] He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1996 to 1998, graduating with a second Master of Science, this time in electrical engineering, and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management.^[4][5] He continued his education at MIT, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in media arts and sciences from the MIT Media Laboratory in 2001.^[4] Pinkett's PhD thesis was titled "Creating Community Connections: Sociocultural Constructionism and an Asset-Based Approach to Community Technology and Community Building."^[4]

[edit] The Apprentice

In 2005, a 34-year old Pinkett along with 17 other contestants entered the fourth series of The Apprentice. His wife had downloaded the application form, planting the idea of auditioning for the show in his mind.^[6] The Apprentice is a reality television series which premiered in January 2004, in which American entrepreneur Donald Trump uses a series of tasks and a process of elimination to ultimately select one candidate for a year long apprenticeship with one of his companies. The fourth season began filming in May 2005, and was aired from September 2005, with the finale airing in two-parts on the Thursday night of December 8 and 15. Pinkett reached the finale with one other contestant, 23 year old financial journalist Rebecca Jarvis. Pinkett was to organise a celebrity ball-game for Autism Speaks, while Jarvis' task was to stage a comedy night in aid of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Despite the game being rained off, Pinkett raised nearly $11,000.^[7]

In the final judgement, Pinkett was criticised by Trump for not spotlighting the celebrities in attendance at his event, and by Trump's advisor Carolyn Kepcher for not having a backup plan when the weather turned. Despite this, Pinkett was chosen by Trump as the winner, describing Pinkett as an "amazing leader" and saying "Rarely have I seen a leader as good as you, and you lead through niceness".^[7] Moments after the announcement, Trump asked Pinkett his opinion as to whether he should take the unprecedented step and also hire the "outstanding" Jarvis too. In his reply, Pinkett asserted that there could only be one winner of the contest, a view which Trump chose to agree with.^[7] This stance attracted much comment after the show, with Pinkett later defending his rationale, but making it clear he had no objection to Jarvis being hired by the Trump organization at a later date.^[8] The reactions had taken Pinkett by surprise, but he later stated he remained on good terms with Jarvis.^[6]

Pinkett was to start his apprenticeship on February 6, 2006.^[6] His task was to oversee the $110m renovation of the Taj Mahal, the Plaza and the Marina, three casino resorts operated by Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey.^[6]

Politics[link]

In 2006-07, Pinkett served as a co-chairman of the transition team of newly elected Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker.^[9]

On July 14, 2009 it was reported by a number of sources that Pinkett had emerged as the frontrunner to be New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's selection for lieutenant governor in the 2009 Gubernatorial election. Some reports indicated an announcement would be made on Thursday, July 16.^[10][11][12] However, no announcement took place, and criticism appeared in the media and from some political leaders regarding Corzine's potential selection of a running mate with no experience in public office.^[9] Later in the week, news reports indicated Pinkett's selection was less likely and that other front runners had emerged,^[13] due at least in part to public criticism of the idea of a political newcomer as the Governor's running mate.^[14] On July 24, Corzine selected State Senator Loretta Weinberg.^[15] Currently, Pinkett is the chair of the State Democratic Committee's Yes We Can 2.0; its name based on Barack Obama's campaign slogan, it seeks to turn out newly-registered voters from the 2008 presidential election for the gubernatorial election.^[16]

Personal life[link]

According to his website, he was also an academic All-American at Rutgers. Pinkett was named a member of the 1993 USA TODAY All-USA Academic Team. While at Rutgers, Pinkett was a member of the Cap and Skull organization. He has also served as President of MEET, the Rutgers Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, and was the captain of the Rutgers varsity men's track and field team, competing both as a high jumper and long jumper. He was the 1994 male Walter Byers Scholarship winner as the NCAA's top scholar athlete.^[17] Pinkett is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^[18]

In 2006, Pinkett was given the Paul Robeson Leadership Award by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts.^[19]

On August 8, 2007, Pinkett's wife, Zahara, gave birth to daughter Amira Leslie in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Pinkett family resides in Somerset, New Jersey.^[20]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site
• BCT Partners
• Randal Pinkett at the Internet Movie Database
• The Apprentice Rules Randal Pinkett Bio

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Steve Adubato, Ph.D. (born October 7, 1957^[1]) is an American author, broadcaster, motivational speaker and politician. Also a university lecturer, Emmy Award-winning television news anchor, and Star-Ledger columnist, he earlier served in the New Jersey General Assembly in the mid-1980s as New Jersey's youngest state legislator at age 26.

Early life and education[link]

This section requires expansion with: information on birth place, parentage, education before college, etc..

He earned a master's degree from Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree in mass communication from Rutgers. He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly with the support of his father, Stephen Adubato Sr., a well-known and influential New Jersey Democratic politician. (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/nyregion/16adubato.html?pagewanted=all)

Career[link]

Adubato currently^[when?] anchors two public-affairs television programs for WNET, a PBS affiliate station:

• Caucus: New Jersey [1], an Emmy Award-winning public-affairs television series, also broadcast on the New Jersey Network (NJN), another public-television group
• New Jersey Capitol Report [2], a weekly news program covering New Jersey political issues

In addition to his work on public television, Abudato regularly appears as a media and communications analyst on national television on CNBC, CNN, Fox News, NBC's Today, as well as in New York City, New York, on WNYW. He has also provided expert on-air commentary for NPR radio. Abudato currently^[when?] provides radio political commentary on WABC (AM), as well as on WOR (AM); he has also hosted on both stations. Most recently, he has regularly contributed to CBS 2 Sunday Morning on WCBS-TV and provides political commentary to Steve Adubato...on Politics on WCBS-TV's website.

He writes a weekly column NJ Connects with Steve Adubato – NJ Voices: Opinions from New Jersey[3] for the Star-Ledger, which focuses on communication and leadership; it reaches over one million readers. He is a syndicated columnist, and contributes to other New Jersey periodicals – the New Jersey Monthly, The Press of Atlantic City, The Record and NJBIZ.

Stand & Deliver[link]

In 1999, Adubato founded Stand & Deliver: Communication Tools for Tomorrow’s Leaders[4]. The Stand & Deliver program provides communication and leadership skills training to young people in the greater Newark, New Jersey, area. Topics covered in the program include leadership and team building; peace-making activities; presentation skills; interviewing techniques; conflict resolution, youth advocacy; listening skills; and overall communication effectiveness. Annually, the Stand & Deliver program provides over 500 young adults with the tools they need to become better citizens and to more effectively compete for and succeed in future employment.

Adubato is the president of Stand & Deliver, which is a professional development and executive coaching program he created to help professionals improve as leaders. Adubato conducts communication workshops, seminars and keynote speeches on such topics as branding, presentation skills, leadership and team building, customer service and dealing with the media. Stand & Deliver clients in the corporate and non-profit sectors include:

Academia[link]

In addition to his career as a broadcast journalist, Adubato is a Rutgers University visiting lecturer. He is also a "distinguished visiting professor" at Montclair State University, located in Montclair, New Jersey, in the field of broadcast journalism. His research and writing has focused on the role of the media in American society and the current state of journalism.

Books[link]

Adubato is the author of the non-fiction book Speak from the Heart – Be Yourself and Get Results[5] (Simon & Schuster) – which was featured in Fortune – as well as Make the Connection – Improve Your Communication at Work and at Home[6] (Rutgers University Press). His third book, What Were They Thinking? Crisis Communication: The Good, the Bad and the Totally Clueless][7], examines highly publicized and often controversial public relations and media mishaps. Adubato's most-recent book, YOU Are the Brand! [8], was to be released in August 2011.^{[dated info]}

Accolades[link]

He has been the recipient of four Emmy Awards for his work on public television. In 1995, 2000 and again in 2001, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented Adubato with Emmy Awards in the category of "Best Host".

New Jersey Monthly named him one of the top-five most-powerful media figures in the state.^[when?] In the past, the magazine selected him as one of the "50 Most Interesting People" in the state as well as one of the "25 Most Influential People in New Jersey".

Personal life[link]

Adubato has been a resident of Montclair.^[2]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	Journalism portal
	New Jersey portal
	Politics portal
	Radio portal
	Television in the United States portal

• Steve Adubato, Sr., Adubato's father
• List of American print journalists
• List of people from Montclair, New Jersey
• List of non-fiction writers
• List of Rutgers University people
• List of television presenters

References[link]

External links[link]

• About Caucus Educational Corporation: http://www.caucusnj.org/
• About Stand & Deliver: http://www.stand-deliver.com/
• Works by or about Steve Adubato in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

Spike Lee
Lee at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Shelton Jackson Lee (1957-03-20) March 20, 1957 (age 55) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Alma mater	Morehouse, NYUTisch School of the Arts
Occupation	Actor, director, producer, screenwriter
Years active	1977–present
Spouse	Tonya Lewis (1993–present)

Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983.

Lee's movies have examined race relations, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues. Lee has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award. He has also received two Academy Award nominations.

Early life[link]

Spike Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Jacqueline Carroll (née Shelton), a teacher of arts and black literature, and William James Edward Lee III, a jazz musician and composer.^[1][2] Lee moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York when he was a small child. (The Fort Greene neighborhood is home to Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, and other Lee-owned or related businesses.) As a child, his mother nicknamed him "Spike." In Brooklyn, he attended John Dewey High School. Lee enrolled in Morehouse College where he made his first student film, Last Hustle in Brooklyn. He took film courses at Clark Atlanta University and graduated with a B.A. in Mass Communication from Morehouse College. He then enrolled in New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television.^[3]

Film career[link]

Lee in 2007

Lee's thesis film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, was the first student film to be showcased in Lincoln Center's New Directors New Films Festival.

In 1985, Lee began work on his first feature film, She's Gotta Have It. With a budget of $175,000, the film was shot in two weeks. When the film was released in 1986, it grossed over $7,000,000 at the U.S. box office.^[4] The reception of She's Gotta Have It led Lee down a second career avenue. Marketing executives from Nike^[5] offered Lee a job directing commercials for the company. They wanted to pair Lee's character from She's Gotta Have It, the Michael Jordan-loving Mars Blackmon, and Jordan himself in their marketing campaign for the Air Jordan line. Later, Lee would be a central figure in the controversy surrounding the inner-city rash of violence involving Air Jordans.^[6] Lee countered that instead of blaming manufacturers of apparel, "deal with the conditions that make a kid put so much importance on a pair of sneakers, a jacket and gold". Through the marketing wing of 40 Acres and a Mule, Lee has also directed commercials for Converse, Jaguar, Taco Bell and Ben & Jerry's.

Awards, honors and nominations[link]

Lee's film Do the Right Thing was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1989. Many people, including Hollywood's Kim Basinger (who announced her feelings live during that year's Oscar telecast), believed that Do the Right Thing also deserved a Best Picture nomination. Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture that year and according to Lee in an April 7, 2006 interview with New York magazine, this hurt him more than his film not receiving the nomination.^[7]

His documentary 4 Little Girls was nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Academy Award in 1997.

On May 2, 2007, the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival honored Spike Lee with the San Francisco Film Society's Directing Award. He was the recipient of the 2008 Wexner Prize.^[8]

Use of actors[link]

Recurring actors[link]

A number of actors have appeared in multiple Spike Lee productions. Spike's sister, Joie Lee, and John Turturro lead the list at nine films, followed by Roger Guenveur Smith and the late Ossie Davis, with seven films.

Actor	Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983)	She's Gotta Have It (1986)	School Daze (1988)	Do the Right Thing (1989)	Mo' Better Blues (1990)	Jungle Fever (1991)	Malcolm X (1992)	Crooklyn (1994)	Clockers (1995)	Girl 6 (1995)	Get on the Bus (1996)	4 Little Girls (1997)	He Got Game (1998)	Freak (1998)	Summer of Sam (1999)	The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)	Bamboozled (2000)	A Huey P. Newton Story (2001)	25th Hour (2002)	She Hate Me (2004)	Inside Man (2006)	When the Levees Broke (2006)	Miracle at St. Anna (2008)	Red Hook Summer (2012)
Danny Aiello				N					N											N
Rick Aiello				N		N
Michael Badalucco						N			N						N
Thomas Jefferson Byrd									N	N	N		N				N
Ossie Davis			N	N		N	N				N	N								N
Rosario Dawson													N						N
Kim Director													N		N		N		N	N	N
Chiwetel Ejiofor																				N	N
Giancarlo Esposito			N	N	N		N
Robin Harris				N	N
Zelda Harris								N					N
Michael Imperioli						N	N		N	N					N
Samuel L. Jackson			N	N	N	N
David Patrick Kelly							N	N
Joie Lee		N	N	N	N			N		N			N		N					N
John Leguizamo														N	N								N
Delroy Lindo							N	N	N
Bernie Mac											N					N
Lonette McKee						N	N						N							N
Coati Mundi					N					N			N				N		N
Charlie Murphy					N	N	N		N
Bill Nunn			N	N	N								N
Christopher Perez				N		N							N		N
Wendell Pierce							N				N											N
Dania Ramirez																			N	N
Theresa Randle						N	N			N
Miguel Sandoval				N		N
Roger Guenveur Smith			N	N			N				N		N		N			N
Wesley Snipes					N	N
Leonard L. Thomas			N	N	N		N		N	N
John Turturro				N	N	N			N			N	N		N					N			N
Nicholas Turturro				N	N	N	N
Denzel Washington					N		N						N								N
Isaiah Washington								N	N	N	N
Kerry Washington																				N			N
Michole Briana White																			N	N
Steve White				N	N		N		N
Isiah Whitlock, Jr.																			N	N