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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 several ventures
simultaneously.
As
a child, her business acumen exceeded that of most adults.
Affectionately known as Busy Bee, she already
was considered a wonder 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 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 and paid for an
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 Office
of the United States Trade Representative during the
Reagan Administration. She has held positions
overseas; with the State Department in Dakar, Senegal; Federal
and District of Columbia governments. She later
progressed to assist on special assignments
during the Bush, Sr. and Clinton
administrations.
The
popular East Coast, BZB Black Gift & Art Show is her
brainchild. This 'Shop Til You Drop' event
will celebrate its 19th year during the 2009
Christmas holiday season. With assistance from her
family, Georgiann Austin and Donald Britton, adopted
daughters Robin Adams and Danielle Koon 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; Up, Up and Away,
a program that uplifts young people by exposing them
to the aviation and airport retail industries and
her parent company, BZB Public Relations and Marketing
Consultants which 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 ; "The
privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." -
Joseph Campbell ; and "...We Can Make It Happen, We
Change the World Now!", Dialouge Parts 1 & 2,
Chicago
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!" |