Smoke and lights filled the stage at Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s 2015 conference in New Orleans. As if by magic, the new president that year, W. Randy Bates Jr., dramatically appeared when the smoke cleared.
Another year, the fraternity introduced its new president and his wife by raising them up from under the stage sitting on lounge chairs through smoke and lasers.
“They looked like they just appeared,” said Kevin “KJ” Johnson, national meeting planner for the fraternity since 2000. “Every year, we do something that wows the crowd.”
The fraternity’s conferences can bring to town up to 30,000 and have more than 115 events throughout the week – everything from panels to concerts. In order to make all that happen, he needs a world-class producer.
For more than 15 years, that producer has been Debra Owens.
“You have to have the right kind of vision to help bring to life what I end up developing on behalf of the fraternity,” Johnson said. “It’s good to have a partner like Debra.”
Johnson said the fraternity accepts bids for production services every year, and Owens’ company keeps winning them every year.
“It really takes someone who is organized and well managed to pull off the kind of things we do,” Johnson said. “It’s a huge undertaking. She is up for the challenge.”
Owens owns Premiere Production Choice, which provides production services for meetings, conventions and special events. Her services include handling the lights, sound, and stage setup for anywhere from 75 people up to a large, week-long convention.
Ten years ago, Owens was working for an audio/visual company when her manager came to her and said they were laying off 500 of their account executives. At that moment, they took her company credit card and computer and she was paid her last check.
“And I said, ‘Oh my God, I just lost my job,’” Owens said. “I left there bawling. ‘How am I going to tell my family?’”
She called her good friend and told her what happened. Together, they decided on her next move.
“I started calling all my clients and telling them, ‘Hey, I’m not with the company anymore. I’m thinking about starting my own business. Will you support me?’” she said. “And I got an ‘absolutely.’ I got an ‘it’s about time.’”
Her plan was starting to take form, but she needed to make one last call to feel comfortable about moving forward. And that call was to the Kappas.
“At that moment, he said to me, ‘Would you be able to put together a proposal for me in two weeks?’” she said.
And she nearly dropped the phone in excitement, she said.
Owens started her company with “zero dollars,” she said. She partnered with another company to use its audio/visual equipment at first. Little by little, she acquired her own gear, and now she has her own warehouse full of equipment.
“To someone looking to be an entrepreneur, I would say: if you want to do it, step out on faith,” she said. “Because that’s exactly what I did. God says, ‘If you take one step, then I will show you 10.’”
She also advises entrepreneur hopefuls to do their homework and do something to develop their businesses every day, she said.
On Friday, November 30, Owens will receive one of two 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 19th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon. One of Owens’ close partners – Jeanetta Hawkins, CEO of Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Inc. – will also receive a 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Owens grew up on the south side of St. Louis in a household of 10 children.
“I am the youngest of 10,” Owens said. “And I was the hardheaded one.”
That trait ended up being an asset in building her own business, she said.
“My mom always told me that I was going to be a leader, not a follower,” Owens said. “I always thought that I could do anything.”
Yet, Owens said she wouldn’t be anywhere without her team members, who has worked with her for 20 years. “They have my best interest at heart, and that’s what I need in order for me to be successful,” she said. “I couldn’t do it without my team.”
Owens has worked with the African Methodist Episcopal Church on a variety of projects over the past 10 years.
“When she started Premiere Production Choice, it seemed like natural progression and we were happy to partner with her on the largest convention held by the church,” said Richard Allen Lewis, treasurer and CFO of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “She has invested herself in the success of our programs and always exceeded our expectations.”
For more information, visit http://ppcav.com.
The 19th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Friday, November 30 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel St. Louis, with a networking reception at 11 a.m. and luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for Preferred/VIP seating and $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
