UNITE. IGNITE. INSPIRE.
NOVEMBER 8, 2023
BYERS THEATRE • SANDY SPRINGS, GA
Join us for a very special day as the Hospitality Industry comes together to honor organizations focused on impacting workforce readiness for the next generation. Kick off the afternoon with sessions featuring industry leaders and trendsetting visionaries, followed by an evening event filled with fun and celebration. Help us support these incredible organizations through a day of networking and creativity.
Your Hosts
Paul Brown
Inspire Brands
Ludacris
Artist
Featured Panels
Workforce Readiness Panel
Moderated by:
Katie Kirkpatrick
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Kwame Johnson
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
Paul Brown
Inspire Brands
Jim Holthouser
Focus Brands
Entertainment Industry Panel
Kawan 'KP The Great' Prather
Artist
Phylicia Fant
Amazon Music
Featured Speakers
Ernie Johnson
Turner Sports
Ron Clark
Ron Clark Academy
A Special Performance by:
Featuring:
Algebra
Blessett
Event Details
SPARK presented by NCR
Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
(Map it here)
2:30PM: Event Registration Open
3:30PM: Spark Keynote
6:30PM: Dinner
8:00PM: Concert Featuring AJR
Parking Information: Parking will be limited around the Center. Please use rideshare when possible. Parking will be available in the adjacent parking deck and nearby lots. More information on parking will follow.
For more information on the event, please email Brad@sparkevent.org
ATTIRE
This year’s SPARK 2023 is a highly anticipated Sneaker Chic Soiree! We would like each of our guests to dress in their most stylish and comfortable attire. Let’s merge style, flair, and comfort to set a unique dress code of “Sneaker Chic”. Celebrate your inner Sneaker Head!
Gentlemen:
Your finest pair of sneakers should be the centerpiece of your ensemble. Choose those sneakers that reflect your personal style. Pair your sneakers with your comfort and style with a professional twist. Don’t forget to accessorize to make that overall outfit a statement!
Ladies:
Embrace your individuality with a stunning pair of sneakers. Whether they’re vibrant, metallic, or adorned with unique embellishments, let them be a reflection of your personal style. Your options are limitless, match those sneakers with a trendy midi-skirt or stylish jeans or slacks! Find the mix of comfort and style. It’s November, so don’t forget to bring a few layers. Finally, match those accessories to SPARK discussion with those statement earrings, stylish handbag or anything that adds the extra touch of Glam!
General Tips:
- Aim for a harmonious balance between your chosen sneakers and the rest of your outfit.
- Comfort is key! We want to see your best sneakers, but comfort should never be compromised. Choose those sneakers that will allow you to Spark change with us and dance the night away!
- This is a no-judgement zone, find your unique style and have some FUN with us!
We can’t wait to see the incredible interpretations of “Sneaker Chic” at our event. Get ready to strut your stuff in style and comfort!
Hotel Accommodations
Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter
6120 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30328
LeMeridien Perimeter Center
111 Perimeter Center West
Atlanta, GA 30346
Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter North
800 Hammond Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30328
The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North
7 Concourse Pkwy.
Atlanta, GA 30346
Inspire Brand Team Members – Please book your hotel accommodations using Concur
Jim Holthouser
Jim Holthouser is the Chief Executive Officer for Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, McAlister’s Deli®, Schlotzsky’s®, and Seattle’s Best Coffee® (in certain military bases and in certain international markets). Jim is leading Focus Brands into its next phase of growth for its seven market-leading brands while driving results and profitability for franchisees, with a focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. He was also named as one of the top 25 Executives on Fast Casual’s Movers & Shakers 2021 list.
Jim brings more than 30 years of experience in worldwide brand development, concept innovation, franchise management and digital marketing. He most recently served as Executive Vice President, Global Brands, Marketing and Loyalty at Hilton Worldwide, where he was responsible for Hilton’s entire portfolio of 15 brands with over 5,000 hotels across 105 countries, generating annual revenues of $36 billion. He spent more than 20 years at Hilton in various strategic and brand management roles and has a proven track record of spearheading the launch, development and repositioning of leading consumer brands.
Jim earned both an MBA from the America Graduate School of International Management as well as a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics and Political Science from University of Louisville. He has served on boards and advisory councils, including the Executive Committee at the American Lodging Association, and multiple credit unions, hotels, and nonprofit organizations. Jim is fluent in German, conversant in French, and is also a trained pianist with a number of recordings to his credit.
AJR
AJR is an American indie pop band that consists of brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met (previously Metzger). They write, produce, and mix their own material in the living room of their apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan.
The brothers’ parents are named Laurie Marvald and Gary Metzger , both have worked as architects.
Laurie was the original founder and manager of AJR, creating and developing the band. Laurie also was a co-founder of AJR Productions, LLC and served as co-manager of the band until 2022. The 3 members of AJR grew up in Bayside, Queens until moving to Chelsea, Manhattan in 2001. They attended the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan.
Apparently the brothers have German origin, due to the history of the Metzger surname.
In addition, in the song Adventure Is Out There in one of the verses they express: “Think where they could be, Some hotel in Germany” and in World’s Smallest Violin, more specifically in the introduction of the song Jack sings “My grandpa fought in World War II, he was such a noble dude”
Siblings Adam, Jack, and Ryan — the “AJR” of the group’s name — range in age from 25 to 32 (born 1990, 1994, and 1997), with the youngest, Jack, still attending high school when they first released “I’m Ready“. The brothers were raised in New York City, NY. AJR keeps nearly every part of their act in the family, from songwriting to instrumentation. Often, jazz trumpeter Arnetta Johnson and/or drummer Chris Berry will join the band in their songs. Their trumpeter used to be Jimmy Lee Jr, but he stopped working with the band to pursue his own career.
The band’s first studio album was Living Room, which they released on March 3, 2015. Then on June 9, 2017 they released The Click, and on April 26, 2019 they released Neotheater. Their fourth album, OK Orchestra was released on March 26, 2021.
Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges
Artist
Algebra Blessett
Artist
Born and bred in Atlanta, R&B artist Algebra’s hometown roots run deep. A fifth generation Atlantan, Algebra attended Fulton County Schools for her primary and secondary education then with a music scholarship enrolled in HBCU Morris Brown College as a business major with a minor in music. The singer/songwriter discovered and developed her vocal talent in Atlanta, honing her craft working with local superproducers like Dallas Austin and Bryan-Michael Cox. Atlanta both raised and made Algebra and she continues to call the city home and maintain a strong connection to the ATL community.
Given the unique name, “Algebra,” by her mother and father, Algebra Felicia Blessett grew up in a religious household deeply rooted in gospel music where mother was a minister, gospel singer and bassist. While music was in her DNA and she loved singing in the church choir, Algebra resisted the urge to pursue singing professionally. Although she had originally wanted to attend the prestigious North Atlanta School of the Performing Arts to become a professional dancer, she was accepted after auditioning with a song.
“I treated singing as my continuum, before recognizing it was a part of my purpose,” she recalls. “The edification of being around music, seeing my mom play bass and watching my great-grandmother train singers whilst working shoulder to shoulder with Mayors of Atlanta and the clergy for neighborhood community advancement sparked a lot of stuff that I didn’t know was being sparked at the time, and then something happened in my adolescence that pulled me into music and service.”
Ultimately Algebra embraced her musical destiny and she quickly gained a reputation on her hometown’s booming R&B scene becoming an in-demand backup singer and lending her voice and pen to such recording projects as “Without Him” on Debra Killings debut album, India.Arie’s Grammy-winning 2002 platinum smash Voyage to India, while touring with R&B artists Monica and Bilal. Blessett’s notoriety spread, she continued to expand her creative horizons by teaching herself to play guitar and write songs, initially by adapting her first-person journal entries into lyrics.
“I had only been playing guitar for about a month when I started writing songs,” she recalls. “Eventually, I learned how songs can tell a story, and I learned that the way I tell a story is different from the way some of my favorite songwriters tell a story. It scared me a little bit at first, because some of the creatives I was working with laughed when I’d play them what I was writing. But that just forced me to push myself harder, and to do it for myself and not care what others thought.”
In 2004, Algebra’s talent caught the attention of Grammy Award-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox, who collaborated with her on a demo that would capture the ear of music mogul Kedar Masenberg. After signing her first record deal and earning significant attention with her first single “U Do It For Me,” Algebra released her first full-length album Purpose, which she recorded with producers B.Cox, Kwamé Holland, Eric Roberson and Carvin & Ivan. The debut disc spent 14 weeks on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop album chart, establishing Algebra as a vital musical force. The album showcased her powerful voice and songwriting skills. She won best Soul Track for “What Happened.” Purpose received critical acclaim and garnered her a dedicated fan base.
The period between Purpose and Recovery was a productive one for Algebra, who kept busy with a variety of notable projects. She sang on fellow Atlanta artist Anthony David’s albums, with the two singers joining forces on the hit duet (and popular wedding song) “4Evermore,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Adult Contemporary chart in 2011. “4Evermore” won the Song of the Year Soul Track award. Algebra also co-wrote multiple songs and was featured on Esperanza Spalding’s hit “Black Gold” from Spalding’s Grammy-winning Radio Music Society, co-wrote and was featured on Vivian Green’s album The Green Room, co-wrote and sang with Anthony Hamilton on hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari’s “She Was Just A Friend.” She was the only opener for the Brian McKnight/Joe Tour, Keyshia Cole Tour, Kemistry Tour, and The Legendary Roots/ Common Tour while recording duets with Kelly Price, Lyfe Jennings, and Pastor Troy’s released albums.
Meanwhile, Algebra continued to perform her own live club gigs, and quietly released the eclectic mixtape EP Dessert Before Dinner, which included personalized reworkings of songs by ’80s rock band Extreme and seminal hip-hop duo Eric B. and Rakim, and which generated substantial underground buzz. She also recorded a version of the Nina Simone classic “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” that won considerable grass-roots attention. Blessett also found time to pursue her long standing interests in acting and dance, winning attention for her performance in the Atlanta-based stage musical Rebirth and embracing the art of theater with the NBAF reading of In The Pocket hosted by The Alliance Theatre.
Algebra enjoyed a shift in music, taking time to explore her passions outside of singing like aerial arts and fashion design. Tapping into other creative talents led Algebra to launch cosmetics line LoveLips kissed by AlgebraB™. In a market flooded with so many amazing beauty products, Algebra felt she had a unique beauty product to offer the market. Each lipstick color is individually titled with the names of the women and girls within her family. As an ode to the many personalities, age groups, skin complexions and lip tones of the Blessett family, LoveLips kissed by AlgebraB caters to the conservative calm as well as the wildfire in us all. LoveLips is currently carried in Neiman Marcus stores and on their website as a part of the company’s inclusion initiative.
Presently, Algebra Blessett is charted and featured on Billboard in both Gospel and Jazz genres, and constantly spreading the important necessity of music.
Paul Brown
Inspire Brands
Paul Brown serves as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC Drive-In restaurants worldwide. Inspire is supported by more than 650,000 company and franchise team members. In 2022, its brands achieved over $31 billion in global system sales, making Inspire the second largest restaurant company in the United States.
Prior to founding Inspire, Brown was Chief Executive Officer of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
Arby’s turnaround “can be attributed to Brown’s vision and leadership,” according to Fortune. As CEO, he launched several transformative initiatives across the brand’s global system with a focus on innovation, including: introducing a new brand purpose, Inspiring Smiles Through Delicious Experiences®; unveiling a visionary restaurant design that increases energy efficiency; launching a team member training program that is centered on goal setting; and fostering a unique approach to product development that reinforces the brand’s We Have The Meats® marketing.
Prior to Arby’s, Brown served as President of Brands and Commercial Services of Hilton Worldwide. The global hospitality company is comprised of ten brands including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton. Brown was the company’s global leader for brand management, product standards, marketing, sales, pricing, e-Commerce, loyalty programs, franchise relations, and information technology.
Brown also previously served with Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company, as President of Expedia.com and Expedia’s Partner Services Group. Prior to Expedia, Brown was a partner at the McKinsey & Company. Based in London, he was a leader of the firm’s global travel and hospitality practice and served clients across the travel, hospitality, and retail sectors. Brown has worked with InterContinental Hotels Group as Senior Vice President of Global Brand Services and was responsible for global sales, reservations, the Priority Club loyalty program, e-Commerce, and purchasing. He was also a Manager for The Boston Consulting Group in the firm’s Chicago and Atlanta offices.
For his leadership, Brown was named by Business Insider in 2019 as one of the 10 People Transforming Retail. He was also named the 2018 Norman Award recipient by Nation’s Restaurant News, a 2018 Silver Plate honoree by IFMA, the 2017 Restaurant Leader of the Year by Restaurant Business, and a 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year in Retail and Consumer Products in the Southeast by EY. In 2020, Brown became a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council.
Brown is chairman of the board of directors of Neiman Marcus Group and a member of the board of directors of FOCUS Brands, Inc. He is also active in the community, serving on the boards of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Georgia Tech Foundation, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee.
Brown is an alumnus of Georgia Tech where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in management. He also received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Master of Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He is currently a Fellow with the Culinary Institute of America and has served as an executive-in-residence at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Phylicia Fant
Amazon Music
Phylicia Fant is renowned throughout the entertainment industry as a trusted leader, esteemed executive, and public relations/marketing visionary. But even more importantly, she is a conduit of culture.
Fant consistently and strategically connects artists to brands, media, film/television opportunities and philanthropic causes. In her role as Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations at Amazon Music, she transforms global synergy into commercial opportunities while prioritizing meaningful cultural moments.
Since joining Amazon Music in February 2022, Fant has succeeded in connecting Amazon Music to Culture via culture collaborations, partnerships, and industry events. These successes included HBCU Homecoming sponsorships, Grammy Roundtables, Beyonce’s Club Renaissance Merch Popup, and talent collaboration with the likes of Lucky Daye, Usher, Jon Batiste, NBA Young Boy, Andra Day, Keke Palmer, and Omar Apollo.
Prior to joining Amazon Music, Fant served as Head of Urban Music at Columbia Records, from 2018 to 2022, instigating and leading the introduction of 21st century superstars such as Lil Nas X, The Kid LAROI, Polo G, Lil TJay and Chloe X Halle in addition to expanding the scope of existing icons, such as Pharrell and Raphael Saadiq.
From 2011 and 2018, Fant served as Senior Vice President of Media & Strategic Development for Warner Bros, and here she conceived and executed campaigns for a wide array of multiplatinum, award- winning artists. Past and present campaigns include Drake’s OVO Sound, MMG (Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale), Wu-Tang, RZA, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Nile Rodgers, Kimbra, Nico & Vinz, Theophilus London, Common, Gallant, Gary Clark Jr., Lianne La Havas, Saweetie, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
Fant’s exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry are frequently recognized, with features in E! Online, Ciroc, Variety, Forbes, Variety: Power of Women, Culture Creators Empowered Women and the Spelman Messenger, the alumnae magazine Spelman College, Fant’s alma mater.
Fant has garnered several honors, including the NAASC NY chapter Rising Star Award; Los Angeles NAASC chapter Sister’s Awards Alumnae Honoree; She’s The Boss Award; Culture Creators Innovators Award; Urban Music Executive Award; HBCU Power Award; Bounce Trumpet Awards 2020 Corporate Executive of the Year; Empowered Women campaign honoree; ASCAP Women Behind The Music 2021; ADCOLOR in Music (Leadership) nomination in 2021; and PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors: A New Day in Cultural Awakening, honoree.
Fant’s formidable reputation regularly puts her on industry power lists, including Billboard Music’s New Power Generation 25 Top Innovators List in 2019; Billboard R&B and Hip-Hop Power Players List in 2019, 2020 and 2021; Billboard Women in Music Top Executives for 2019/2020; Variety’s Hitmaker List in 2021; and XXL Hip-Hop Heavyweight. Fant receives regular invitations to speak on entertainment industry panels across the globe, from Complex Con to Revolt.
Born in Charleston, SC, and educated at Spelman College in Atlanta GA, Fant began her career at Motown Records in 2001, working closely with many luminaries of the “Neo-Soul” movement of the era, including Erykah Badu and India.Arie. After being promoted to the pop music department of parent company, Universal Music Group, Fant worked closely with acts such as Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, JoJo, 3 Doors Down, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Q-Tip, Akon, Kelly Rowland, Mya, Swizz Beatz, Kid Cudi, and Michael Bolton.
The Purple Agency, the full-service public relations and lifestyle marketing company Fant founded in 2008, gave Fant the opportunity to explore new directions in tandem with her work within the major label system. As Purple Founder and CEO, Fant created a sought-after niche agency with an expertise in cross-vertical marketing and collaboration. Purple clientele spans music, film, television, fashion, sports, brands, and more.
Fant was instrumental in the production and launch of the OWN Spotlight Documentary Eggs Over Easy. A Lady Lock production, Phylicia served as an executive producer alongside Chiquita Lockley, Keshia Knight Pullman, and D’Angela Proctor. Lockley wrote, produced, and directed the film, while Pullman narrated. This documentary investigates the often-taboo subject of infertility within the Black community and brings Black women together for an enlightening and empowering discussion on the sometimes-unpredictable path to motherhood.
Fant’s many positions of leadership extend across all areas of entertainment, business, and philanthropy. These positions include: Member, The Recording Academy ( formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), since 2004; Consultant, Music Unites; Lifetime member, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NAASC); Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Governor, Recording Academy, LA Chapter; Board of Directors, MusiCares Foundation; Leadership Council Member, Black Music Collective; Advisory Board, Black Women Film Network; Executive Board, Culture Creators; XXL Awards Board; Juror, CLIO Music 2023; Co-founder, Honorable Women in Music; Mentor, Culture Creators, Femme It Forward, Jammcard; and Founder, Annual Entertainment Summit, Spelman College.
In 2018, Fant achieved an Executive Education Certificate from the prestigious Harvard Business School.
Kawan ‘KP The Great’ Prather
Artist
Kawan “KP The Great” Prather – is a Multi-Disciplinary Powerhouse. With a music career that spans over two decades, KP made his mark on popular culture discovering and nurturing talent as a young executive at LaFace Records, Arista, Columbia Records, Sony Music and Atlantic Records. His career skyrocketed when he received A&R credit for seminal OutKast classics, which have since reached multi-platinum status. The Atlanta native oversaw the breakout of acts P!nk and Usher while simultaneously launching his own Ghet-O-Vision imprint where he signed the future “King of the South” Clifford “T.I.” Harris and the YoungBloodz. A former artist himself, KP also achieved early success by personally signing Killer Mike, John Legend, YelaWolf, Kap G and others. Behind the board with Malay [Frank Ocean, Alessia Cara], he co-produced John Legend’s platinum-certified, GRAMMY® Award nominated “Green Light” [feat. André 3000], Fantasia’s “The Thrill Is Gone” [feat. CeeLo Green], Jamie Foxx’s “15 Minutes,” Big Boi’s “Something’s Gotta Give” [feat. Mary J. Blige] and more. In 2016, KP took home a GRAMMY® Award for “Best Rap Song” as the co-writer on Kendrick Lamar’s anthem “Alright” alongside Pharrell.
Under the moniker “KP The Great”, the legendary creative has blazed a new trail as one of the industry’s most in-demand and influential DJs. A master on the decks, he’s lit up the stages of Rolling Loud, ComplexCon, the Atlanta Jazz Festival and as the headlining turntablist for One Music Fest (OMF). The top billing DJ, who is no stranger to massive audiences or the OMF main stage, flexed his artistic excellence in 2016 when he made history by directing the Dungeon Family Reunion set.
Fast forward to 2019, the unstoppable force returned bringing along some of his “Super Friends,” Usher and Pharrell, where attendees witnessed explosive moments further cementing KP The Great’s untouchable reputation. His extraordinary and wide-ranging career has led to speaking engagements on high-profile panels including: SXSW, REVOLT Summit, A3C 2023 and RIDEcon, as well as features in some of today’s leading music and lifestyle media outlets such as: Complex, DJ Mag, Bossip, Stupid Dope, Rolling Out and Upscale Magazine.
Currently serving as Head of Music at Pharrell’s i am OTHER imprint, everything KP does is quite literally, GREAT!
Kwame Johnson
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
Kwame Johnson was named the “Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kwame serves as the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta overseeing the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in the state of Georgia. Kwame has drastically transformed the organzation’s operations, programs, and fundraising increasing overall revenue by 80%. Kwame is also the award-winning author of The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career. Kwame is a highly sought after public speaker and consultant in the areas of fundraising, leadership development, strategy, marketing, and program innovation.
Kwame found his passion while incarcerated during his senior year of high school. During this challenging time, he decided to change his life and made history by becoming the first youth to ever take his SATs in jail. Kwame was accepted into Hampton University and decided to leave college at the age of 19 to become a social entrepreneur and has dedicated his life to service. Kwame’s passion led him to Washington DC where he served as the National Program Director for the Woodson Center focused on helping residents of low-income neighborhoods address the problems of their communities. Kwame also served as the Director of Corporate Relations for the national office of Communities In Schools, the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization. Kwame moved to Atlanta in 2015 to serve as the CEO of PowerMyLearning Atlanta focused on improving educational outcomes for students, where he increased the organization’s revenue by 65% and program reach by 115% within three years.
Kwame has received national recognition for his work to include the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute. Kwame received the highly distinguished Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award and the Atlanta Business League Men of Influence Award. Kwame has received both the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Georgia Trends 40 Under 40 Award. Kwame was recently named one of Atlanta’s Top 500 Most Powerful Leaders by the Atlanta Magazine and featured on WSB-TV Channel 2 as a Georgia Game Changer.
Kwame is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and an Executive Education Certificate in Nonprofit Strategy from Harvard University.
Ernie Johnson
Turner Sports
Maybe more impressive than his professional fame and recognition is Ernie’s innate ability to connect with people on a human level. His willingness to discuss topics such as the adoption of his and his wife Cheryl’s children, including their special needs son Michael; the death of his father and best friend, iconic sportscaster and pitcher Ernie Johnson; and his own battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma has endeared him and given hope to millions. In his new book, UNSCRIPTED: THE UNPREDICTABLE MOMENTS THAT MAKE LIFE EXTRAORDINARY, Ernie takes readers behind the scenes of those very moments. With grace and humility, Ernie gives readers a look at TV’s most popular shows and broadcasts, as well as into the privacy of his own home to share hard-won lessons in being open and slowing down to savor moments that really matter. UNSCRIPTED takes readers back to Ernie’s early days, offering intimate insight into his athletic career, first jobs in TV, falling in love, his close relationship with his father and more. While the book is full of warm tales from Ernie’s youth and hilarious outtakes featuring coworkers Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, UNSCRIPTED does not stick solely to life’s happy surprises.
From the passing of his father, the adoption of their special needs children, the health scares of his son Michael, to his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and much more, Ernie shares the gut-wrenching side of weathering the unexpected with grace, wit, and wisdom. Ernie lives in Braselton, Georgia, with his wife, Cheryl, and their six children, four of whom are adopted.
Ron Clark
Ron Clark Academy
Katie Kirkpatrick
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Meghan Linsey
Meghan Linsey is an accomplished musician and performer, hailed for her soulful voice and dynamic vocal range. With a #1 Billboard hit to her name and multiple nominations from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music, Linsey has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Linsey’s career took off after winning the CMT reality singing competition Can You Duet, impressing judge Scott Borchetta with her undeniable talent. Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, signed Linsey and her duo partner to his label, propelling them to national success with hit singles like “Keep on Lovin’ You.” The pair went on to tour with some of the biggest names in country music and made appearances on popular talk shows like The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
After parting ways with her duo partner, Linsey embarked on a successful solo career, releasing two well-received EPs before getting a call in 2015 from a producer for NBC’s Emmy award-winning show, The Voice. The next day she was on a plane to LA and the rest is history. During her time on The Voice, Linsey landed multiple No. 1’s across all genres of the iTunes chart, while her powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace” topped the Billboard Christian chart. Linsey finished as the season eight runner-up and became the first contestant in the show’s history to perform an original song during the finale.
These days, you can hear Meghan’s voice soaring over the opening credits during the theme song for the Emmy Award Winning Netflix show, Queer Eye. She has also collaborated with Grammy winning artists like Aloe Blacc, Chingy and Fred Schneider of the B-52’s.
Linsey draws inspiration from iconic female vocalists like Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, and Whitney Houston, and is passionate about using her platform to empower women and advocate for social justice causes. Her powerful voice and fearless spirit make her a true trailblazer in the music industry.