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From Thirst Quencher to Airport Business Owner
An
entrepreneurial aura has always radiated from the
energetic and charming Juanita Carol Britton. She is
so motivated that she operates five ventures
simultaneously.
As
a child, her business acumen exceeded that of most adults.
Affectionately known as Busy Bee, she was a whiz
kid. Long
before franchising became popular, this 10-year old
Detroiter spent her summers selling lemonade on the corner
of her family home. By the time she was 13, she
farmed out the cookie-cutter operation to six neighborhood
corners. At 15, she became the business manager of a
high school social club -- planning dances, trips and even
concerts with several national acts, earning thousands
throughout her high school years. At 16, she was
head cashier at her neighborhood McDonald’s and at 17,
as an undergrad student of Political Science; Britton
coordinated her first international trip to Seoul,
South Korea
as an exchange student.
Ms.
Britton moved to
Washington,
DC, for graduate school and subsequently landed a
competitive internship in the Reagan Administration.
She has held positions in the Federal and District of Columbia
governments and later went on to assist on special
assignments in the Bush and Clinton administrations.
The
popular East Coast, BZB Black Gift & Art Show is her
brainchild. This ‘Shop Til You Drop’
event will celebrate its 17th year during the
2007 Christmas holiday season. With assistance from
her mother and brother, Georgiann Austin and Donald
Britton, and a host of employees, volunteers and loyal
friends, she also operates the Anacostia Art Gallery &
Boutique in Southeast Washington, DC; BZB International
Tours, an educational, social, and recreational travel
group; and her parent company, BZB Public Relations and
Marketing Consultants, coordinates special events and
works with small businesses on marketing and building
better consumer and community relationships. Her list of
clients is available
online.
Ms.
Britton is a partner in
Paradies-BZB,
DC, LLC, an
enterprise that operates retail stores such as Brooks
Brothers, CNBC and PGA stores in the Washington
metropolitan area airports. She works closely with
over 100 employees on customer service, team-building and
community outreach projects. Click here for current
employee newsletter, At
the Threshold.
In
spring 2007, she debuted her first film, Random
Acts of Kindness, A Documentary of Giving, based on an
emotional dream she had experienced nine months earlier. She
spearheaded the Random Acts Foundation of
Washington, DC,
that is dedicated to conducting random acts of kindness to
women, families and humanitarian projects nationally and
internationally.
Britton’s
communication and public relations savvy are focused on
building bridges between corporate and community based
entities.
She is a consultant, motivational speaker and
trainer. She
enjoys working with aspiring entrepreneurs; women in
micro-economic development projects and artists and
merchants throughout
Africa
and the African Diaspora. Many under her tutelage have
ventured into very successful enterprises. Her
professional and volunteer undertakings have led to
national and international accolades.
Ms.
Britton received a Masters in Public Affairs from
Howard
University, in
Washington,
DC, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and
Education from
Western
Michigan
University
in Kalamazoo,
Michigan. She serves on various community and economic development
boards and commissions. She is also a diligent
mentor of several youth in her neighborhood.
She
loves adventures such as: touring traditional African
villages, scuba diving, and jumping small buildings on a
single bound! Ms. Britton is a natural promoter of
all things that are positive and exciting! Her
favorite quotes are, “The more you do, the more you
are!” -
Anonymous and "The privilege of a lifetime
is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell.
Juanita
“Busy Bee” Britton thanks the Almighty God for his
mercy to bless her life every morning with the breath to
make great things happen! |