November 24, 2021 - New York Weekly

Essince Lives the American Dream Owning the Akron Aviators, Minor League Basketball team

NY Weekly Staff on November 24, 2021

Officially signing paperwork with the American Basketball Association in May of 2017, Brian

Collins, professionally known as Essince, reflects on how he started his journey from basketball player to fan to team owner.

From Fandom to Player

Essince has always been seen as a global citizen. Born in Tegucigalpa in the mid-80s, he was adopted to a midwestern family in northeast Ohio. A basketball fan from infancy, Essince remembers watching basketball with his dad. “I used to sit on my dad’s lap and watch Kentucky play,” he says. “It was there I caught the basketball bug and I have been a fan ever since.”

Standing 6’6″ today, Essince started playing basketball in early Parks & Rec teams in second grade and continued to play on all the city AAU and school teams into high school. But it wasn’t until studying abroad in college that he developed the management skills that he uses today.

Unexpected Training

Essince earned his BA in Audio Engineering from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. He opted not to try out for the college team to have more holiday time with his family. “I hated watching and not playing,” he recalls. “But I knew the team couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and that was a dealbreaker for me.” It was during a study abroad program in Thailand his junior year that he began to prepare himself for who he is today. A friend and fellow American student, Chris Warren, discovered a cash basketball tournament in Hua Hin, where they lived and studied, and they assembled a team. Essince led practices, created plays, designed the team’s uniforms, and successfully convinced the school to purchase the uniforms and provide student transportation to the games. He was unknowingly training himself to be a team owner ten years later.

In 2016 Essince was introduced to someone from the ABA, the iconic American Basketball Association from the 1960s-70s had reformed in 2000 and now consists of over 150 minor league men’s teams across the United States, with branches in Mexico, Canada, Australia, and a team in Japan. The introduction was initially based on music. Essince utilized his award-winning career as a music marketer and tour booker to book halftime performers, national anthem singers, and after-game parties. After providing services to the league for a year, he was offered a chance to start a team in Ohio, a state with no teams at the time. It was then the Akron Aviators were formed. “When I was thinking of the name, I wanted to honor the state, Ohio is the birthplace of Aviation. Plus, my grandpa helped build dirigibles during WW2 and was a star basketball player in high school, so it was my way to honor him. Plus, I’m a fan of alliteration, so ‘Akron Aviators’ just felt right.”

The Akron Aviators played their inaugural season in the Lebron James Arena at St. Vincent St. Mary High School and are currently starting their fourth season in Akron. “Seven of our players have been drafted overseas, or to other leagues, point guard Malik Billingsley was reigning ABA three point and skills challenge champion for two seasons, and I’m proud to not only be a stepping stone but a home for players who want to live out their dreams of playing high-level basketball here,” he says.

He’s looking to form more partnerships for the team and the ABA as their president of Media and Entertainment. Applying what he’s learned in the entertainment business and life, Essince has his sights set high on where the team is going.

Learn more about Essince at https://flow.page/essince

Visit the Akron Aviators at www.akronaviators.com

Otter PR’s Brittany Bearden On How To Pitch A Book

NY Weekly Staff on November 24, 2021

On the morning that he was first published, Truman Capote wandered Manhattan in a depressed fog. He had expected his debut novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, to land with earth-shattering force. Yet, life went on around him, uninterrupted. People walked their dogs, grabbed their coffee, rushed in and out of skyscrapers, and frantically hailed cabs. Far from being hailed as America’s next great novelist, Capote felt ignored.

No product is as personal as a book, and its release can inspire all kinds of emotions and expectations. Publicists may not be able to temper an author’s, ahem, enthusiasm for their work, but can they make sure it gets read and even talked about?

According to Otter PR publicist Brittany Bearden, making a book stand out among the thousands–or, these days, millions–published every year is more challenging than ever. But it’s still possible to get noticed, she says, as long as you make the right offer.

Say “Yes” to the Press Release

“Always add a cover letter offering review copies to your press release. Although pitches are more effective than press releases, with a book, you shouldn’t skip the press release portion. Journalists are going to want more information before they decide if they want to invest their time reading a book,” Bearden says.

Besides sending out the press release directly to journalists, she adds, always send it out via a wire service as well, though not necessarily an expensive, top-tier service. “AB Newswire gives me better results than other, much more expensive newswires,” she says. “Make sure that the subject line of your press release includes the words ‘new book’– it’s important for people to know what the ‘news’ is.”

Also, Bearden notes that children’s books should focus on the lesson that the book has to teach children, rather than the characters, illustration, or storyline. For example, a children’s book might teach children table manners or teach children to befriend others who are different than them. The lesson is much more likely to secure coverage than an adorable cast of characters.

Page Turner

Another tip: don’t include the name of the author and book title in the subject line of the pitch, unless the author is a known name, like J.K. Rowling or Gillian Flynn. These belong in a large font, centered and italicized, under the title as well as in the details line under the title of the press release.

It’s also important to go wide. “While many people just send their press release to book reviewers, they are really limiting themselves. There are many other journalists out there who cover different beats that are willing to review books. If you wrote a business book, you should also be approaching business outlets,” Bearden observes.

Final Offer

Another strategy for promoting a book is promoting the author as a thought leader. This works best with non-fiction books. The author can offer expert interviews on the book’s topic, as well as guest pieces about business transformation or even demonstration interviews to TV stations–say, whipping up the recipes from their vegan cookbook. A caveat: interviews and guest pieces should be presented as more educational than promotional. “Show off the author’s expertise,” Bearden says, “Let journalists, reviewers, and readers all see your client as an expert.”

And while Bearden acknowledges that your local bookstore or Barnes & Noble probably shut its doors a while ago, there are still millions of bookworms out there. Publicists should consider pitching their client for an old-fashioned book or speaking tour, she says, or else for reading/signings at influential independent bookstores like Book People in Austin or Powell’s in Portland, Oregon. Even a local reading may get picked up by a book-centric podcast or a national program like BookTV.

“The stereotypical writer is an introvert,” Bearden says, “which makes it even more important to get their work in front of an audience. Just be clear what they–and their book–have to offer.”

How Sebastian Sabato Became One of the Top Leading Technology Entrepreneurs

NY Weekly Staff on November 24, 2021

Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Business solutions have come to rely on adaptive technologies that ensure the growth and development of a company. However, with the many options available, it has become an incredibly daunting task to keep up with the pace and thrive in any given industry. Fortunately, American entrepreneur Sebastian Sabato has all the right tools to help businesses thrive through the best technological solutions.

Entrepreneurship is in Sebastian Sabato’s blood. Both his parents were entrepreneurs who kept pushing him to do something that he enjoyed to bring him happiness. They would often tell him that “success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” That particular quote struck a chord deep within him. He is deeply grateful for the words of his parents and attributes much of the freedom and success he currently enjoys to the quote itself.

“From taking vacations when you want to wake up at any hour of the day, running a business allows complete control over how to schedule your day, your breaks, whom you spend time with, what days you work, working around your energy levels, and more,” explained Sebastian.

Sebastian Sabato is deeply passionate about his career in the tech industry, as it allows him to blend his creativity along with the people that he works closely with. He greatly enjoys working with people from very different backgrounds and tackling technical challenges along with them, whether it be on the side of business, technology or aesthetics.

“The vision of helping enterprises deliver intelligence everywhere,” expressed Sebastian.

He encourages all aspiring staffing entrepreneurs to identify gaps in their target markets, develop a service or process that addresses these gaps head-on, then bring their model to market and test it out. “If you can solve a core business challenge for a large market, you’ll be in a prime position to grow and thrive,” he added.

His knowledge and expertise in both technology and business have allowed Sebastian Sabato to thrive in the industry. As he imparts his knowledge to his clients, he is able to educate businesses and help them thrive in the age of technology. He advises his clients to consistently build their talent pipeline of those they want to attract to the business. “You can’t scale a business without great people. The type of person you want to join can be hard to find, so always be networking and building your connections and following up with contacts,” he further explained.

In 2011, Sebastian Sabato founded his own New York-based recruiting firm. In a short span of time, he had already committed to big-name clients such as Citibank, JP Morgan, and Barclays. Now, Sebastian Sabato’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $60 million as of 2021. Sebastian Sabato is a firm believer in pulling the trigger on technology investments. His team recently began using a growth analytics platform that helps them forge a data-driven culture.

Sebastian is incredibly driven towards his vision of supporting people and organizations. He is passionate about helping other organizations realize their maximum potential by moving them forward in their careers and business evolution. He has established himself as an Executive Leader that drives business transformation internally, playing a valuable role in leading efforts to revolutionize the way people find jobs through cutting-edge solutions.

In the near future, Sebastian Sabato is poised to make a difference in the world one day at a time. He envisions himself scaling his company towards becoming a $500 million company in the future, and it’s only a matter of time before he truly succeeds in that endeavor.

10 Entrepreneurs Disrupting the Industry in 2022

NY Weekly Staff on November 24, 2021

Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor, said that there are two ways for a business to be disruptive: when a product or service addresses a market that previously couldn’t be served, or when a product or service is a simpler, cheaper, or more convenient alternative to what is already in the market.

For entrepreneurs in any field, the competition can be fierce, and it’s hard to be disruptive in a saturated market. Yet there are entrepreneurs who have proven to be a cut above the rest with innovative ideas and dedication to change. Below is a list of the top 10 entrepreneurs disrupting their industry:

Grant Cardone

Grant Cardone was born on 21 March 1958 in a Christian family in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. He was brought up in the same city with utmost love and care by his family. He is currently 63 years old and is living in Miami Beach, Florida, USA.

Grant is the CEO of Cardone Enterprises and Cardone Capital. He is an international speaker, entrepreneur, and author of The 10X Rule. On top of that, he is also a creator of 21 best-selling business programs.

Instagram: @grantcardone

Website: www.grantcardone.com

2. Nick McCandless

Nick McCandless is the Owner/Founder of McCandless Group. McCandless Group is the leading monetization company for models and social media influencers managing and creating relationships with thousands of largely successful individuals and brands who have leveraged the power of social media and social influence. At heart, McCandless Group has always been a software and technology company.

Before entering this space, McCandless Group built mobile apps, websites, SaaS platforms, and more for many of the largest companies around the globe. Upon discovering the opportunity in the market to work with models and influencers to truly capitalize on the value of their followings and brands, Nick and McCandless Group transitioned their focus into building and growing the most successful platform to achieve remarkable results for their clients.

Instagram: @nickmccandless

Website: www.themccandlessgroup.com

3. Harrison H Lee MD, DMD, FACS

Dr Harrison Lee is a world renown bi-coastal Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with practices in Beverly Hills and New York City. He is Triple Board Certified with certifications in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Lee is well known for his scarless, natural-appearing Face Lifts, V Line Surgery, Facial Skeletal Surgery, and Facial Feminization Surgery. He has an impressive array of patients coming from all over the world such as England, France, Germany, The Middle East, and Australia. Dr. Lee’s attention to detail, surgical excellence, and natural-looking results make him a highly sought-after surgeon for those looking to reshape their life.

Instagram: @drharrisonlee

Website: www.Harrisonleeplasticsurgeon.com

4. Kris Gethin

Kris Gethin is the CEO and co-founder of KAGED MUSCLE Supplements, the Kris Gethin Gyms franchise and his online training platform, Healthkik.com. He is a pro natural bodybuilder who also competes in IRONMAN Triathlon, Spartan, and Ultramarathon. He has authored several books and has recently launched the course PT Mastermind to teach personal trainers how to create financial freedom and independence. Kris has been voted the World’s # 1 Trainer by platforms such as Bodybuilding.com and the governing body PT Academy. Kris lives in Boise Idaho with his beautiful wife, Sibylle.

Instagram: @krisgethin

Website: www.healthkik.com

5. Manka Bajaj

Manka worked for the United Nations when she realized that being an international diplomat for the rest of her life would not serve her soul. In order to quit her 9 to 5 and become her own boss, she trained in Kundalini Yoga, transpersonal therapy, and was certified as a Life Coach. She now helps other women follow their passions and carve their path to financial freedom. In her “Business School for the Soul” she coaches digital entrepreneurs with a heart-centred mission. She empowers qualifying business owners to set up the mindset and tech to earn over $10k/months. Check her out!

Instagram: @manka.bajaj

Website: www.mankabajaj.com

6. Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney

Ms. Crystal J. Rodriguez-Dabney is an equity and inclusion professional, attorney, change catalyst, influencer, thought leader, strategist, and author. She’s known for her high-energy leadership, get-it-done attitude, captivating tenacity, and her ability to help people from diverse and under-represented backgrounds connect more purposefully. As an attorney and entrepreneur, Crystal has spoken at and organized conferences and events around equity, diversity, inclusion, and entrepreneurship, bringing together minority and female entrepreneurs.

Her “Attract, Manifest, Repeat” conference brought together powerhouse speakers and encouraged attendees to succeed by building more inclusive networks. Crystal is an author and has candidly shared her story of struggle, from her challenged upbringing being a teenage mom, to sharing her tools of success that led her to the US Navy, law school, and then to a leadership position in the Administration of the second largest city in New York State.

Crystal is also a Master Law of Attraction practitioner and coach and recently authorized the “Attract, Manifest, REPEAT!” 2022 planner to help people realize they can create the life they desire and deserve!

Instagram: @crystalclearesq

Website: www.crystaljrodriguezesq.lpages.co

7. Wells Emberson

Wells Emberson is the founder of Emberson where they specialise in content creation for a variation of brands like luxury real estate, luxury cars, travel, bars and restaurants, and more. They have decades of successful experience in the industry. As a result of this lifelong passion, they have been able to help multiple brands achieve their goals. One of their latest victories was shooting all the content that would fill out the investors plus online version for a MAJOR Gold Coast Icon “Pacific Fair.”

It was a record-breaking sales that went for $2.2 billion dollars. The transaction has become the largest retail sale in the nation’s history. They love to tell a story and create emotion through film, and they want everyone to feel like they were part of an experience. They want the viewer to feel like they were there. When the viewers watch the films, the team behind Emberson hopes that their videos encourage and inspire people to do more adventurous things. They shared, “The best thing about this job is the diversity of content we get to create.”

Website: www.emberson.com.au

8. Robert Cappello

“Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This will forever be the mantra of Robert Capello.

He shared, “I’ve tried my hand at many different careers over the years and nothing is more satisfying than making someone look and feel more beautiful than they already are on the inside and out! I feel like I do my best every day to make the world a more beautiful place one client at a time.”

Instagram: @hairbyrobertjoseph

Facebook: HairbyRobertJoseph

9. Niko Lakovic

Niko Lakovic has dedicated his efforts to real estate broking with his thriving business, Luxury Homes LLC. His wealthy experience and knowledge of 15 years of local and regional markets, key investors and developers have made him one of the unmatched realtors in the real estate space.

Niko’s approaches aim to add exceptional value to his clients and wanting to elevate the growth of his company, he made a joint venture in 2020 with a Sotheby’s Realty franchise holder and successfully opened the first Sotheby’s Realty office in Montenegro. His boundless market knowledge and devotion towards his clients has powerfully accelerated Montenegro Sotheby’s growth. His reputation and success are substantially based on positive referrals. He has managed to captivate the trust and respect of numerous clients with candid advice and relentless efforts. His specialties are Real estate brokerage, M&A and Investment consultancy. His result-driven approaches have successfully tracked multi-million values of closed deals.

Instagram: @nikolakovic

Website: www.sothebysrealty.me

10. Jean-Luc Madeus

Jean-Luc Madeus is a 28-year-old father and real estate professional who shares his expertise in securing investment properties. He and the love of my life own an investing firm, and they close real estate deals for thousands of dollars in 90 days or less. With this strategy, he made millions of dollars in self-generated revenue, and through his “School of Wholesaling” podcast, he now teaches others how to do the same.

Their podcast is on iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher, and is designed to teach people how to get started in the real estate investing business and learn lucrative strategies to acquire properties at discounted prices that are then sold for more money without renovations or the risk of homeownership.

Instagram: @lucmadeus

Website: www.sowcontent.com

Sponsored Post

Day: November 24, 2021

Essince Lives the American Dream Owning the Akron Aviators, Minor League Basketball team

Otter PR’s Brittany Bearden On How To Pitch A Book

Say “Yes” to the Press Release

Page Turner

Final Offer

How Sebastian Sabato Became One of the Top Leading Technology Entrepreneurs

10 Entrepreneurs Disrupting the Industry in 2022

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