MAKING A STATEMENT
Just recently, longtime businessman Jerry Smith relocated to New York, where he was afforded the golden opportunity to open what has become a credible, globally-acclaimed consulting firm.
To his credit, such an adventure has been — and still is — nothing short of impressive.
A native of Los Angeles, Smith is mastermind behind The JAS Connection, whose strategic mission statement is centered largely on raising awareness and funds through, particularly through private and public sector projects, as well as other ventures and events, as mentioned in a detailed introduction https://thejasconnection.com/.
Located at One World Trade Center, Suite 8500, The JAS Connection’s vision statement, by all accounts, places emphasis on developing social media groups to campaign, promote, publicize, advertise, market and advocate for.
MORE ON THE JAS CONNECTION: https://thejasconnection.com/
“(I came to New York) to make a statement that I was here to take care of business and connect these celebrities with Wall Street businesses for the purpose of using social media to create social change,” Smith, 61, told Making Headline News this week. “This is where I am now. Now my company out of the ashes from the state of our nation, we’ll show people the power that they have a right in social media.”
Widely regarded as a “seasoned entrepreneur” who boasts immeasurable expertise in multimedia strategic communications, extensive experience in media campaigns, marketing, advertising and fundraising, Smith has been dubbed a well-respected net worker and connector, who has worked with celebrity clients to leverage their star power into inspiring and sustainable philanthropy, awareness, and agency multimedia that have greatly improved the lives of people and communities across the United States and globally.
“I have learned in all my experience that there are just three components for successful fundraising celebrity and public figure participation: corporation and company’s participation and the media and now social media,” Smith said.
As Smith dauntlessly professed, “No one has more experience in leading social media awareness and fundraising campaigns than myself.”
Amongst the reasons, he acknowledged, is that his company has become a fixture for customarily enlisting and connecting the celebrities with corporations and causes.
A former Los Angeles Times journalist, national publicist for Los Angeles affiliate ABC TV, as well as a longtime videographer, Smith’s wealth of experience in his profession spans more than three-and-a-half decades.
“All of this is made possible by 35-plus years of relationships from Los Angeles to New York at the highest level,” Smith said.
Currently, Smith’s The JAS Connection consulting firm has taken on a number of projects, one of which is the “isen30project,” which includes his compelling video experiences in working with celebrities and their work with charity for more than 35 years.
In addition, his company is involved in several other projects, most notably the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the nearby Bronx, a Black Wall Street project in Tampa, the Homeless Situation in Los Angeles, and the Black Million Woman March Worldwide, among others.
A graduate of Crenshaw High, where he attended with “close buddy,” entertainer and actor Ice T, Smith lettered in college football for two seasons while assuming the position as a student staff writer for The Los Angeles Times newspaper Sports Department during which he was the first African-American sportswriter The Times (1977-1979).
Smith ultimately graduated from California State at Long Beach in 1983 before being hired for two years as a national publicist for Los Angeles affiliate ABC during which he helped promote National TV shows.
Interestingly, he worked for an Emmy-nominated TV Program, A Silhouette of Black Hollywood. Then, in the early 1980s, Smith branched off and established his own video production company, Westside Enterprises.
“The main focus was videotaping celebrity affairs, mostly charitable fundraising events,” Smith said of that venture. “I was fortunate enough to have mentors and have been given opportunities by people who were well connected in Los Angeles and beyond.”
Smith, in fact, expanded his production company and throughout the 80s and 90s, a trend that subsequently had given way to his being deemed “a seasoned (videographer) ahead of its time.”
Interestingly, from 1989-2000, Smith was afforded the opportunity to work with the National AIDS Commission of the United States, the U. S. Department of Travel & Tourism, as well as a number of different government funded organizations as a multi-media consultant.
Also, Smith has been credited with convincing five-time NBA champion Ervin Magic Johnson to sign with the national AIDS Commission after he announced he had acquired HIV. He’s also produced over 30 travel videos for the U. S. Department of Tourism for international travel to every continent on the planet.
By 2000, Smith had garnered more notable accolades when he was recognized by most movers and shakers in Los Angeles as “The Connector.”
The following year, he renamed his company The ISEN Group — which is International Sports Entertainment Network — which was more of a “press and publicity type of agency” using video and photos.
The ISEN Group, in fact, culminated its operation in 2016 with an internet and social media project that was ranked No. 61 out of 1.9 million social media sites around the world.
“Over my 30-plus years of work, I have worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Whitney Houston, and hundreds of others, but it was (all because of) their work with charity and causes,” Smith said. “It’s believed I own the largest privately-owned video stock of never-before-seen celebrity video footage than anyone in the United States — probably close to a thousand hours.”
For more information about New York Businessman Jerry Smith of The JAS Connection, to inquire about his services, a public appearance or speaking engagement, connect with him via social media at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-JAS-Connection-107215820745483/; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-alex-smith/;YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/isenface2face/featured. Also, send email to: isenjas@gmail.com.
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
