PHREAdom Leader: Garry S Bailey, Founder & CEO of The Royal Occasions

Garry Bailey
Courtesy of Facebook

What happens when the Queen City meets Garry Bailey? The Royal Occasions is born. Founder of the new high service event planning company was always fascinated with royalty and the history of Queen Charlotte, which is how the city in North Carolina received its name.

Bailey adopted the philosophies, concepts and history of Great Britain. His room is flourished with London's flag and memorabilia from the country. He knew his business needed to be regal like the golden history of Queen Elizabeth and Marie Antoinette. 

"I studied her (Queen Elizabeth)," Bailey said. "I want everyone to be treated like royalty when they use the service."

Since creating The Royal Occasions in January, he has hosted several events including a birthday celebration for his mother and a 50th birthday for Lynette Shelton. He also "supported Charlotte Seen with a variety events to grow experience and to learn the seniority of Charlotte."

Bailey said he learned how to communicate and interact with different social classes.

Despite how rosy and glamorous, Bailey's story appears. It was no cakewalk to get to where he is today. 

Growing up in South Carolina, Bailey was taught the necessity of obtaining an education by his late father, who was a pastor and Family Dollar Regional Vice President. The importance of education was instilled in his two siblings and himself as children and continued into their young adulthood. 

Following the advice of his father, Bailey went to Winthrop University to receive his bachelors of science in international business. His original plan was to become a fashion buyer in London, but he lost himself during the process. 

"I went astray and wasn't happy," he said.

Bailey left the Rock Hill university in 2009. He dabbled in different programs, but none were fulfilling to him and what he really wanted to do. 

He dreamed of owning a business called Bailey Enterprise, which featured various components including real estate, event planning, and others. Instead of taking steps to achieve it, he worked different jobs and stopped taking care of himself.

The South Carolina native developed a fascination for the fabulous life, the premier entrepreneur said. In the meantime, he lost sight of his dreams and Bailey Enterprise.

His father, who worked more than 30 years at his job, went from a cashier to a leadership position.

"He believed that things can be better if you have faith and put God first," Bailey said. "Determination, hard work and support will be added onto you."

Bailey carry those lessons of life from his late father. Those principles came full circle after life discussions with some of his close friends and drinks.

He explained that he was off work from his last job. His friends and him were out talking about goals and ambitions. The 26-year-old shared with them his passion for hosting and planning events, but he never looked at it as a career. However, he loved hearing the raving comments about an event.

"I feed off people's enjoyment of the things that I do," Bailey continued and he did it.

He quit his full-time position to focus on his passion. The Royal Occasions became official in November 2013.

Passion to Create

The entrepreneurial spirit male is passionate about creatively building his company. He strategically planned and executed his plans to start the business. He wanted everything to be right. 

Hope for Success

Similar to others, the Charlotte resident hopes to be successful. After taking a whelm to follow his dreams, he wants success with self to create a peace of mind.

Respect is Due

As royal as it may seem, Bailey believes that respect is due in a honorable way. 

"Everyone should be respected," he said. "by thoughts and actions."

However, it's not anything that is given. He explained that individuals must learn the concept of respect. 

Empowered to be More

Bailey receives his empowerment by wanting more for himself. When a great moment or achievement happens in his life, it moves him to keep pushing. He is empowered by the people that he associates himself with because of the overall positive and support for each other. 

Ambitious to Support Family

While Bailey's father worked, his mother stayed at home taking care of their three children. As an adult, his ambition is to give it all back to her. 

"I want to be able to support my family," Bailey said. "And to be the person that I am supposed to be."

Find Garry Bailey and The Royal Occasions visit the following:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AROevent

Twitter: @AROEvents

PHREAdom Leader: Austin Smith, Founder of Nitsua Creations

In six days, Austin Smith will wrap up his undergraduate career and walk across the stage to receive his bachelor's degree in Digital Information Design with a concentration in Digital Commerce. This moment almost didn't happen. Smith said he was focused on the wrong things his freshman year at Winthrop University and his grades suffered.
“It was a wake up call,” Smith said.
He contemplated enlisting in the military instead of returning back to complete his college degree. However, after consulting with his parents, he thought it was worth another shot to try another year with a different attitude and perspective.
Smith changed his major from graphic design to fit the new market of digital information and changed his entire mindset. This was his second chance so he treated his sophomore year as if it was his freshman year all over again, he said. The Lexington, S.C. native used his past situations and circumstances to push forward towards his goals and future.
The Leader & Mentor
As a young leader, he became actively involved in different student organizations including The Gentlemen’s League which is a male service oriented group where he served as a re-charter member, NAACP, Student Alumni Council and student improv Skin Deep.
“In order to be a leader, you also have to be a follower,” the past vice president of The Gentlemen’s League said.
Smith was influenced by Winthrop University alumni Kambrell Garvin and Ted Jones.
“Kambrell Garvin was a big influence in my life,” he said. “He taught me that people are always watching.”
Ted Jones, graduated last year, but he encouraged Smith to get involved.
This made it easy for Smith to mentor young members of The Gentlemen's League and York County youth at Ebenezer Academy. The 22-year-old said he thought outside the box when he mentored young individuals.
“I asked them to set five goals,” Smith said in both life and education because “college ends quick and reality hits you.”
Nitsua, the mindset of a king
Smith always had an interest in graphic design since high school. He wasn't quite sure how he would be able to continue utilizing those skills after changing his major. The program focus on a combination of media, social media and internet marketing, he explained. He finished a capstone course with The Hive in Rock Hill where he and his other classmates created Web sites for local organizations and developed experience using search engine optimization and Google ad words. 
However, he realized there were other ways to use his gift from God. He started serving as the co-chair then later the chair of the public relations committee for The Gentlemen's League where he designed the organization's new logo, t-shirts and promotional materials. His graphic experience led to more opportunities for him to expand his skills into a freelance graphic designer. This year, he created Nitsua Creations which specialize in developing the creative needs of clients through logos, t-shirt designs, flyers and other promotional items within the Winthrop University community and surrounding areas.
Nitsua is Austin spelled backwards because he wanted to put a twist on his Twitter, Instagram and ultimately his brand, he said.
"You find something different by making it and creating it (to be) your own," the designer continued.
The logo is a crown because he believes that he has the mindset of a king, but not in an "If I rule the world" Curtis Blow type of way. It's about creating a standard.
"You have to set yourself to a standard," Smith said. 

The founder of the company is uncertain its future because he doesn't want to speak too far ahead. However, Smith believes that God gave him the gift of graphic design, therefore, he plans to keep pushing until it stops.
"I'm going to keep my foot on the pedal," he said. 
Smith would like to explore different branches of Nitsua Creations to include music and photography which are all centered around a philanthropy.
Passion found through failures
The failures or unfortunate circumstances fuels Smith to keep moving. He believes in the cliche` expression that everything happens for a reason. Smith use those situations as fuel to succeed in life. 
As a high school basketball player, Smith learned that "it takes those failures to succeed," he shared. He was cut from the team his junior year of high school and broke his foot that same year, however, he made the team his senior year. 
Overall, Smith believes he is a truly passionate person. 
"It's not always through your words, but your actions as well," he said.
Hope to fulfill purpose
In life, the future alumnus hopes to reach his full potential and be successful at it. He also hope to fulfill his purpose and provide service to others.
He realized that everything he's received, it is through the support of others, Smith said.
Most importantly, he hopes to take care of his family - the one he will build in the future as well as his parents and brother who is currently a sophomore in high school.

"Respect yourself"
Smith's parents, who have been married for 27 years, taught him and his little brother to say yes sir and yes ma'am as a form of respect, but he doesn't see it in the younger generation. He believes that sense of respect is lost. 
Respect as a whole is huge, he said. "You always hear respect others, but you must also respect yourself."
They both tie together, he continued. 
In order to gain respect, one must create and set standards, Smith said.
Empowered through service
Smith is empowered by the ability to serve and mentor other individuals. 
"I am empowered by knowing I can help people," he said. "And knowing the impact is felt."
Ambitious for happiness
"I just want to be happy," Smith said. His happiness lies through developing his career, creating a family and impacting lives.  
After graduation, he would like to find a job that he loves going to everyday. He would like to focus on the social media, internet marketing, and e-commerce side. He doesn't want to be complacent when it comes to his career path because he understand there are seasons. Smith said that you have to keep pushing forward through those moments. He currently wants to continue residing in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area, and plans to give it his all. 
The family-oriented young man is ambitious about building his family with a complimentary person. 
"It's important to remember who I'm doing it for - my family," he said.
In everything Smith does, he wants it to be full of impact. This is evident through his brand Nitsua Creations, his civic work and his humility as a man. 

Find Austin Smith

Web Site: http://nitsuacreations.bigcartel.com/

Facebook: Austin G. Smith

Instagram: NitsuaCreations

Twitter: NitsuaCreations

PHREAdom Leader: Curtis Walls

Curtis Walls is more than what meets the surface. As one looks at Walls from the inside out, it is easy to realize that he is much more than a wide receiver and businessman. Does he love football? Yes, but it’s not his life. Is he a businessman? Yes, but he also loves reading philosophical books. In fact, the Charlotte native always had a passion for changing the world.

“I always wanted to influence the masses,” Walls said.

As a man of God, his ability to do so became evident through his leadership roles and experiences on the field and in life.

While studying at the North Carolina Agriculture & Technology, Walls wanted to do three things which were to play football, join Alpha Phi Alpha which is the first black fraternity within the National Pan-Hellenic Council and become the Student Government Association’s president. By senior year, Walls accomplished all, but one thing on his Aggie goal list.

He served as a leading wide receiver and captain of the Aggie team. He received a NCAA leadership award for his involvement in sports. He also gained the opportunity to play for the Black College All Star Football game. He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha serving leadership positions in his fraternity. Walls’ senior year in college, he ran for the president of the Student Government Association. Walls won the popular election by 49%, but loss the re-election by three unique votes.

However, an opportunity opened for Walls to serve as the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The National Pan-Hellenic Council was the second largest body of student government on the campus. He was able to meet great leaders and sat in meetings with other prominent leaders on the campus including the Student Government Association’s president.

 “It ended up being a blessing,” Walls continued.

Blessing in Disguise

After graduating with a degree in landscape architecture, Walls was torn between playing football and entering corporate America. The opportunity to play in the all-star game while in college became a pivotal moment in Walls’ life. His original plans after college was to begin a career as a landscape architect, but he realized the possibility of actually turning football into a career.

He chose to pursue a career in his major. He moved to Aspen, Colo., where he worked at Design Workshop. He was the first black landscape architect in the company.

In disguise, football would enter back into his life while in Aspen. In 2008, he was laid off from Design Workshop. It was at this moment, he knew this was his opportunity to pursue his dream of playing professional football.

Walls said, he left corporate America and went back to the football field.

He moved back to Charlotte and started training. He was able to play for a Canadian League football and Arena League football in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Walls as a Businessman

Walls has several titles to his name including Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of TIME as well as managing partner of both the Charlotte Greek Picnic and NXL21 Charlotte Marketing Agency.

TIME stands for Taking Initiative Moving Efficiently was created while Walls was brainstorming during his student government presidential campaign. TIME was just a theory, but it would eventually develop into much more.

TIME started while the creator was in college, he said.

There was a police incident in one of the dorms, and a group of students went to address the 21^st century students and bring awareness to the community of the different issues, Walls continued.

The young leader joined forces with the president of the Student Government Association who also had an initiative called MOVE to create a variety of platforms geared towards the men in the community. The rest is history.

TIME’s mission is to “take the initiative to provide efficient programs and solutions that will revitalize our community, social and economic value – EMPOWERMENT” (http://www.timetoempower.com/mission-vision/).

It is a service-based organization with a broad number of issues that are addressed, Walls said. There are three main concepts of TIME, which are the following: exposure of the mind, the next step and the state of.

The organization hosts YOUth EmpowHERment and YOUth EmpowerMENt Summits for middle and high school aged boys and girls annually. This September, the organization will kick off their MENtor Empowerment Network for 7 to 12^th grade boys in Charlotte to “develop a bond built on goal specific engagement and empowerment” (http://www.timetoempower.com/news-events/).

Currently, TIME is planning its inaugural Single Mother Empowerment Symposium this year.

Walls, who briefly was raised in a single family home, explained he realized the importance for a program of this caliber based on the assessments gathered from to the boys and girls empowerment summits.

“We developed a concept of hitting each family member – one at a time,” Walls said.

The event will be hosted by Yasmin Young of Power 98 and will feature a celebrity keynote speaker, dynamic panel of single mothers and a five star meal.

This is an opportunity to provide single mothers with resources for their children and for them as a woman, Walls said.

Walls’ upcoming projects with TIME are far from all that he is doing right now. He is also preparing for the annual Charlotte Greek Picnic weekend. The weekend officially begins September 5 and ends on September 7. This year, the weekend will feature a stroll-off competition in partnership with the University of North Carolina – Charlotte’s National Pan-Hellenic Council. The weekend will conclude with the picnic at Marshall Park and the finale party at Re:Public in Charlotte.

He said the overall mission of the Charlotte Greek Picnic is to revitalize the Greek culture in Charlotte and allow doors to open for everyone.

The planning committee members are expecting everyone to have a great time and leave the concept that the Charlotte Greek Picnic has arrived.

“We are officially creating our own weekend,” Walls said.

On September 29, NXL21 Charlotte Marketing Agency will host a Freestyle Comedy Show at the Comedy Zone in the Music Factory in Charlotte. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Passion for football and chasing dreams

By now, Walls’ passion for football is apparent. He loves the game of football beyond the plays, the number of touchdowns or yards, but rather because of the commitment and discipline of the game that can be used in everyday life.

“Football is life, but life isn’t football,” Walls said.

This is a quote he learned while playing in college.

He realized the quote could not only be applied to the field, but in life as well.

Football requires commitment and discipline and experiences in life require the same, he explained.

Walls also has a passion for coaching.

The value of coaching is developing a well-rounded man versus an athlete, he said.

He hosts various coaching camps in Charlotte for young boys and individual coaching sessions with youth athletes.

As a philosophical thinker, Walls is passionate about inspiration from a conceptual level and acting on possibilities.

“We all have dreams,” he said. However, few act on it.

Hope for a fulfilling life

Walls hopes for a satisfying life where he wakes up to do what he wants to do. He also hopes to eventually start a family.

A woman of God who is confident, doesn't have to be totally involved in his career, and he can support her dreams are the qualities Walls is looking in his future wife.

 “She knows her husband is invested in making her feel fulfilled,” he said.

Respect regardless of situations

Respect is “the value of being respectful to people regardless if they respect you or not,” Walls said. “As long as my actions are sincere, they will eventually see.”

Despite the circumstance and situations, respect can change perceptions.

Empowered by adversity

Different points in Walls’ life empower him to continue to move forward because the possibilities are limitless.

Walls explained that he’s experienced many blessings, setbacks and adversities, but they are all processes in life.

“I’m empowered by all processes,” he said.

Walls compares the instant rich person versus the person who becomes rich over time.

The person who becomes rich instantly misses the life lessons to understand how to stay rich versus the person who becomes rich over time will understand how to keep it, he said.

Walls’ calls those life lessons “moments of glory.”

Ambition to keep moving

Similar to Walls’ passion, hope and empowerment, he is ambitious to keep moving. He wants to continue to maximize his potential, which in turn equals quality.

“Quality is never an accident,” Walls said. “I never saw three years ago, I would be doing what I’m doing.”

Walls’ drive to keep moving and pushing towards his goals is what makes him the man that he is today.
Facebook: Curtis Walls
Twitter: @CurtisWalls
Instagram: @CurtisWalls
http://www.timetoempower.com
http://www.nxlevelent.com