ALBERT TORRES PRODUCTIONS
Promoter and salsa dancer Albert Torres lives and breathes Latin entertainment. Albert has had his battles with drugs and gambling, but now puts all his focus on dance. He actually started Albert Torres Productions (www.albertorresevents.com) in 1991, but business did not take off until he was in the movies and also danced on the Academy Awards. By 1996 Albert’s business really had began to turn the corner. Albert is a busy man. His tasks include: promotion of the local clubs, providing dancers and bands for corporate parties, managing individual dancers and bands, producing CDs, Latin dance congresses which have grown to an international level, and “Baile de los Ninos” which is a program to teach kids to play musical instruments. On the average throughout the year there are three employees. Albert’s wife Maya helped Albert grow the business and get it out of their house and into an office space. They have been in their office for 11/2 years. Albert also sells merchandise on his website. Gross sales for 2003 were $674,000.

LATHAN SIMMONS MEDIA GROUP

Lathan Simmons Media Group (www.simmonslathan.com), named after two of the co-owners Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, was established to enhance the level of exposure given to minority filmmakers. Their belief is that minority directors are frequently overlooked and have a more difficult time finding work than producers and actors. Will Griffin is the co-owner of the media group and assisted with its establishment. Will knew that he had a talent for strategizing, so he acted on it and found himself working alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment. Will made many relationships at the beginning of his career, including Simmons and Lathan. Through Will’s ties with these men he was capable of convincing them to start the company. They want to add additional channels to already established networks, such as HBO. The media group is fairly new and has recently signed on its first director. They also have distributed home videos as well as network sitcoms and other forms of media.

In Secrets of Success, Anthony Mora (www.anthonymora.com), CEO of Anthony Mora Communications talks about the importance of writing a press release.

Studio Guest is intuitive coach and wealth builder, Monique Guild (www.moniqueguild.com).