ALFRED EDMOND JR. REPLACES ROLAND MARTIN AS HOST OF THE URBAN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE ON WVON

Award-winning Black Enterprise Editor Joins Weekly Business Program

Chicago, IL — The Urban Business Roundtable (UBR), a weekly business program aired by WVON 1690 AM, The Talk of Chicago, will welcome a new host when it airs this Wednesday, February 10. Alfred Edmond Jr., a nationally recognized business expert and editor-in-chief of BlackEnterprise.com (www.BlackEnterprise.com), replaces Roland Martin as host of UBR. He joins entrepreneurial motivator Farrah Gray, USA Today Business Correspondent Charisse Jones, Crain’s Chicago Business Senior Reporter Monee’ Fields-White, and Economist Professor Rashid Carter as they assist business owners in navigating the tides of an ever-changing economy.

UBR offers segments that inspire and inform entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners about market trends, growth ideas, and a broad array of opportunities to launch and grow successful enterprises. UBR has featured segments with some of the most influential and powerful faces in business, including Chris Gardner, CEO/president, Gardner Rich and author of The Pursuit of Happyness; political analyst Donna Brazile; multi-millionaire Michael V. Roberts of St. Louis; Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One; and many other featured guests.

“We are dealing with a tough economy. Urban businesses and entrepreneurs are feeling it more than any other demographic. But, it is time that we changed the conversation,” says UBR Executive Producer TaQuoya Kennedy. “Let’s talk about success, let’s think about prosperity, let’s economically empower our communities, and let’s draw up a road map that will lead us out of this recession and into wealth. This is something that Edmond has done for the African-American community for over twenty years. So, we look forward to the new relationship with BE. We’ve formed an all-star cast of professionals that will deliver on all counts.”

“The Urban Business Report and Black Enterprise share a common mission: to inspire, inform, educate and equip African Americans to build wealth and strengthen the economic health of our communities through entrepreneurship and the effective stewardship of financial resources,” says Edmond. “I am both thrilled and grateful to join with the UBR team to advance this mission, on behalf of African Americans and the best interests of our nation as a whole.”

The Urban Business Report airs on WVON 1690 AM, The Talk of Chicago, each Wed., 8:30am, with rebroadcasts on Thurs., 6:30pm and Sat., 9:30am. The show can also be heard live at www.WVON.com.

ABOUT WVON 1690AM/THE URBAN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE (UBR)

For over 45 years, WVON has established itself as one of Chicago’s most esteemed and respected media institutions. Once known as The Voice of the Negro, WVON has evolved into the Voice of the Nation. WVON has been the drum major for the African-American community of Chicago and continues to provide an interactive forum for Chicago’s African-American community to discuss social, economic and political issues. As The Talk of Chicago, we are always giving the community something to talk about. Listen live at: www.wvon.com <http://www.wvon.com> .

The Urban Business Roundtable (UBR) has created a hub for Black entrepreneurs and urban professionals to discuss how to survive and thrive in the current economy. UBR promotes engaging dialogue and debate about the impact of business and economic trends on the African-American community.

Show description: The Urban Business Roundtable (UBR) promotes engaging dialogue and debate about the impact of business and economic trends on the African-American community. The program also explores insights from financial experts, business & political leadership, and academia. UBR has formed an all-star line-up to create a hub for entrepreneurs and urban professionals to help them navigate, survive and thrive in the current economy. UBR also offers segments that inspire and inform entrepreneurs on business trends and opportunities.