DEMBI INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

DAVE ALLAN
Now in his second year as the Vice President & General Manager of WUSL-FM, widely known simply as POWER 99fm, Dave Allan brings 20 years of experience in radio to the table.  While he spent much of the early part of his radio career in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, he is no stranger to the Philadelphia market.  Dave came to Philly in the late ‘80s as the Program Director at POWER 99.  During his tenure as PD, Allan led the station to a couple of #1 ratings victories and numerous Top 3 finishes.  In between his prior stint as PD and current appointment as VP/GM of POWER 99fm, he has been an Operations Manager, programming consultant and Regional VP of Urban Programming for the several corporate entities that have owned POWER 99 over the past six years.  Dave graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from American University and an MBA in Marketing from St. Joseph's (PA) University. (Last taught in Spring 1999)

W. CODY ANDERSON
W. Cody Anderson is the Vice President & General Manager of WHAT-AM in Philly.  WHAT-AM is the only talk radio station oriented towards Philadelphia's African American community, and is one of a handful of stations in the country that present an African American talk format.  Mr. Anderson also serves on a variety of economic and politically based committees related to, or as a result of his business pursuits.  He was appointed by Gov. Robert P. Casey in 1992 to the Governor's Advisory Commission for African American Affairs, where he currently serves as chairman of the subcommittee on Economic Development.  Cody is also the President of the United Black Business Association, chairman of the United Media Coalition and chairman of the Coalition of African American Organizations.  He is a graduate of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. (Last taught in Spring 1999)

PHILIP S. ASBURY, ESQ.
Within sports and entertainment business circles over the last quarter century, Attorney Philip Asbury is well known for his role in developing and implementing business plans for Philadelphia International Records, a major Philadelphia-based phonograph recording company, and their music publishing arm, The Mighty Three Music Group.  He has also handled a broad spectrum of legal and business matters such as business, tax and estate planning, contracts, copyrights, trademarks, wills and trusts for a client roster that has included the likes of Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Teddy Pendergrass, Kool & the Gang, Rachelle Ferrell, Janet Jackson, Ice Cube and Kid N' Play.  Phil has also been quite involved from his platform as an attorney and businessman in several legal and music industry organizations.  He is a charter member of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), serves on the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Music Alliance, and is a member of all the local and national bar associations.  He has also been certified as a player agent through the National Basketball Player Association.  Phil earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, where he was also his class President and a founder of the school's Afro-American Society, and his JD degree from Columbia Law School. (Last taught in Spring 1999)
   
DARIAN J. BAGLEY
Currently an Associate Producer at WHYY-TV12, Darian Bagley has previously had extensive involvement in music video productions.  For example, he has served as Production Manager for the R. Kelly video for "Keep It On The Down Low" and the Boyz II Men video for "Thank You," and a production assistant for the Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince video for "Summertime."  As an associate producer at WHYY, Darian produces and directs "Spotlight Series" and "Independent Images," and is an assistant director of the live portion of special fund raising campaign programming.  He is further involved in the broadcast industry as a member of the Philadelphia Regional Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the organization that gives out The Emmy Awards.  In fact, he won an Emmy in 1996 for co-producing the documentary, "The Sounds of Philadelphia."  Darian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Lincoln University (PA). (Last taught in Spring 1999)

IVAN BARIAS
Born in the Dominican Republic, Ivan Barias's first exposure to music was to Brazilian beats and the electrifying rhythms of steel bands.  An avid music fan, he began playing at an early age and found that his fondness for the "island sounds" and percussion laced music contributed decisively to his becoming a drummer.  Musicianship soon became second nature to Ivan, who began playing the keyboards and moved on to hip-hop and started rhyming.  Now a prominent producer as a partner in CarMuI Productions with Carvin Haggins and Musiq, the self-taught musician/producer has quite an impressive list of hits under his belt and has developed a signature "against the grain" production technique. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

CYNTHIA BIGGS
Breaking into the business as a staff writer and producer for 14 years during the heyday of Philadelphia International Records, Cynthia Biggs has been a top flight songwriter for more than 20 years.  She is best known from that period for having co-written the Patti LaBelle classic, "If Only You Knew."  Currently writing and publishing songs through Sole Heart Publishing and her own Bigsy Music, Cynthia's forté is writing lyrics, with a special interest in the preservation of the song as a creative art form.  As a businesswoman, she constantly seeks out opportunities to pitch artists, producers, film directors and any music industry medium that has a need for music products and services.  Cynthia is deeply involved in the Philadelphia Branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) as a Vice President of the Board of Governors, and also maintains memberships in the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University in Communications, with a Journalism and Music concentration. (Last taught in Fall 1999)

EVA BLACKWELL
Currently the Assistant Public Affairs Director for WPHL-TV17 and producer of its 30 year old, award winning public affairs program "Community Close Up," Philadelphia native Eva Blackwell has been in the field of communications for nearly 10 years.  Prior to joining WPHL-TV, Eva worked at WHYY for four years.  While there, she was the producer, director and editor for WHYY-FM's Clarion Award-winning "Voices in the Family," and producer of the station's award winning news civic journalism programs.  In years gone by, she was also a Philadelphia news correspondent for "Power Point," a national radio program distributed by National Public Radio, as well as a producer and radio talk show host at the New Jersey Network.  An active member of her profession, Eva serves as Vice President of Broadcasting and outreach coordinator for the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.  Last but not least, Eva Blackwell earned her B.A. degree in Communications from Philadelphia's LaSalle University. (Last taught in Spring 2000)

MARISKA BOGLE
As the Director of Strategic Planning & Business Development for The Philadelphia Tribune, Mariska Bogle is responsible for directing the new product development and marketing, media buying and public relations activities.  She also supervises the paper's Promotions Department.  Prior to joining the Tribune, Mariska held a variety of advertising sales and management positions for Arts Magazine, Grey Advertising and TBWA in New York City.  Since relocating back to the Delaware Valley, she has become quite active in community and civic affairs as a board or advisory committee member of the Communications Academy of the Philadelphia High School Academies, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the National Alliance of Market Developers and Teen Shop, Inc.  Mariska earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kutztown University in Speech and Theater. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

ROBERT W. BOGLE
Robert W. Bogle has been the President and CEO of The Philadelphia Tribune, the nation's oldest newspaper that speaks to the African American community, for 10 years.  He previously served the paper as Advertising Director, Director of Marketing, and Executive Vice President/Treasurer.  As a function of being the "main man" at the Tribune, Mr. Bogle has been quite active in many professional, civic and social organizations.  In June 1995, he completed his tenure as President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade association comprising the publishers of 205 Black-owned newspapers from across the nation.  Among his other numerous corporate, nonprofit and institutional affiliations and board memberships are: founding member of United Media Coalition of Philadelphia, an organization comprised of media owned and operated by African Americans, board member of US Airways Group, commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority, Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Hospitals and Higher Education Authority, and Chairman of the Council of Trustees at Cheyney University, his alma mater.  Lastly, Bob Bogle earned a BA in Urban Studies from Cheyney, and studied marketing and economics at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

DONNA NOLAN BROWN
A life-long resident of the Point Breeze community, Donna Nolan Brown has served as the President/CEO of Point Breeze Performing Arts Center since 1987.  Donna had a number of diverse work experiences prior to becoming PBPAC President.  However, since then her interest in drawing, design, writing, literature, and theater have come together with her energy, dedication, and commitment to create a vision in which the performing arts play a critical role in promoting positive growth and development among young people, as well as the revitalization of the spirit and substance of the entire Point Breeze community.  An artist in her own right, Donna is a published poet and essayist.  She published her first book of choreopoems, "What is her Measure," in 1996, and saw it adapted for the stage in 1996, 1997, and 2000.  Throughout the years, Ms. Brown has become a world traveler and collector of indigenous art, traveling to the mountain tops of Peru (Machu Picchu), Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain (England), Paris, Phillips Island in Melbourne, Australia, Russia, the Caribbean Islands, Egypt and most of the United States.  She is a past panelist for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, New Jersey Council on the Arts, Camden County Cultural Heritage Commission, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and has sat on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, The Coalition of African American Cultural Organizations and Interact Theater.  Donna earned a B.S. in Marketing/ Management from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, and several certificates related to arts management. (Last taught in Spring 2001)

FLEMUEL BROWN
Flem Brown is a principal of Justice Production Company, a songwriting and record production company.  Through his songwriting and production work with several artists, most recently with Gerald Levert, he has distinguished himself as a producer on the rise in his 10+ years in the business. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

HELEN BRUNER
Helen Bruner has worked with various artists and producers in the Pop, R&B and Dance genres. Her songs have been featured in film & television projects such as the 2001 Paramount Pictures worldwide release "The Score" starring Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando, Canada's "Fashion Television" and "Ooh La La."  In 2002, Helen co-penned the #1 Billboard Dance single "Caught Up," which was featured in the 2nd season of the Showtime Networks original hit series "Queer As Folk" and the associated CD soundtrack released on RCA Records.

In 2001, Bruner formed Phil'erzy Productions in Philadelphia with her business partner. The first artist signed to Phil'erzy, Mia Cox, was the featured vocalist on the #1 single "Caught Up."  On the international front, she has worked with multi-platinum Italian producer Joe T. Vannelli and the UK's G-Club. Helen wrote, produced and performed on the mid ‘90s UK hit "Gimme Real Love" (Cardiac/Virgin Records), as well as writing, producing and performing on the critically acclaimed album "Have You Heard About It."

Helen is committed to the Philadelphia music community and serves on the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy as a board member.  Elected as chapter President in 2002, she is the only African American female currently serving as a chapter president in the national organization. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

ED "BOX" BRUNSON
Ed "Box" Brunson is currently the Executive Producer and host of the award winning tv program "Urban X-Pressions" and Vice President of Operations for WGTW-TV48.  Although he has been in the broadcast business for only 10 years, he ably wears the many hats you often have to wear in small, entrepreneurial companies.  As the VP of Operations, Ed is responsible for supervising the network administration, production and training activities at the station.  "Urban X-Pressions," which previously won the Billboard Magazine Award for Local/Regional R&B/Urban Video Show for two years running, provides him with a creative outlet in line with his skills as a saxophonist, keyboardist, broadcast engineer and overall technology buff.  Ed Box earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Morehouse College with a concentration in Theoretical Physics and minors in mathematics, computer science and music. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

REGINALD BRYANT
Reginald Bryant is a veteran broadcaster and media consultant with more than 25 years in the field under his belt.  He is also a writer and filmmaker who has been trained in old  masters techniques.  Reggie is currently a talk show host on WHAT-AM, and has also been involved with Temple University's public radio station, WRTI-FM, over the years.  He is well connected at the grass roots level, as reflected in his active membership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and as a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Philadelphia Chapter of the organization.  With regard to formal education, Reggie has  Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Master of Fine Arts degrees from Temple University, and earned Master Film Teacher certification from the American Film Institute. (Last taught in Spring 1999)

JOE BURCH
After a long and illustrious run spanning more than 25 years in broadcast ad sales and sales management for WDAS-FM, WHAT-AM and others, Joe Burch switched his broadcast sales emphasis to the world of sports a couple of years ago.  He is currently the Sports Marketing Manager for Infinity Sports Philadelphia, the company that owns and manages WIP-AM and other media properties.  His current  responsibilities includes creating marketing plans that generate revenue for the Sixers and Flyers play by play broadcasts.  Joe got his start in the advertising sales business at WHAT-AM and WWDB-FM, when they were owned by the same company.  Being involved in the broadcast business is an outgrowth of his interest and skills in electronics and electrical engineering.  Outside of the work environment, Joe is involved in several community based organizations and is an avid golfer.  He is a board member of the West Philadelphia YMCA.  Joe is a graduate of the American Academy of Broadcasting. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

MARSHA BURKE
Marsha Burke's career at ASCAP began in 1997 as an Executive Assistant in the Membership Department.  With no prior knowledge of the music industry, but a faith in God that she had been appointed, Marsha was able to master the world of writing and publishing for R&B, hip hop and jazz.  In January of 1998, her vision and dreams were realized when she was able to bring her "information ministry" to ASCAP through a new Gospel division, where she currently serves as Membership Coordinator.  Part of her mission and assignment in this position is to organize workshops, seminars, conferences and panel discussions to teach new talent about the intricacies of the gospel industry.  Over the past two years, Marsha has planned and organized major events such as ASCAP's 1998 Rhythm & Soul Awards, the 1998 Golden Note Award, and the 1998 Stellar Awards Songwriters Workshop.  With her extensive experience in event planning and organizing for gospel and secular music, Marsha Burke intends to fulfill her destiny to bring God's truth to all worlds.

CARTER BURNETTE
In the fast paced and constantly changing world of Internet and multimedia content, Carter Burnette has carved out a niche for providing Internet marketing and design services for entertainment industry clients through his firm, WhatEver Productions.  This business angle has allowed Carter to participate in shaping and launching music and entertainment marketing initiatives far beyond what he was previously able to accomplish working for small and/or independent record labels such as Philadelphia International Records, WMOT Records, and many others.  He has executed a major online chat initiative for Dionne Warwick, fanbase development initiatives using newsgroups for recording artist Daniel Carter, and web site development for songwriter/producer Nick Martinelli and songwriter Cynthia Biggs.  In addition, Carter has numerous writing, film score, video production, songwriting, multimedia and performance credits of his own.  He is a three time recipient of a Working Fund Grant administered by the Fleisher Art Memorial, editor of of the GLAMA newsletter, and a past advisory board member and judge of the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards.

CHAUNCEY CHILDS, ESQ.
As a ten year veteran in the industry, Chauncey Childs, President of Axis Music Group, has fostered the careers of chart-topping Grammy-award winning producer/songwriter James Poyser, Columbia Records' burgeoning superstar Vivian Green and Hollywood Records artist/producer Vikter Duplaix among others.  A native Philadelphian, Childs is recognized as a sharp, distinguished record man.  Along with a business degree and law degree from Temple University, Chauncey has spent his career reenergizing the Philadelphia music community.  Prior to establishing Axis Music Group, he managed Jazzy Jeff and A Touch of Jazz Productions--a company most noted for developing platinum selling artists Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild--and worked in the business and legal affairs department for the legendary songwriting duo, Gamble and Huff.

In 1995, with a strong management and publishing background, Childs founded Axis Music Group, a production, publishing, and management company.  In 2002, Axis Music Group expanded by partnering with Columbia Records to launch a Philadelphia based label.  To date, the Axis team of songwriters and producers has created a noteworthy client roster that includes Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, Common, D'Angelo, Eric Benét, The Roots, Will Smith, Bilal and Femi Kuti. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

E. STEVEN COLLINS
While he has worn many hats well during the course of his distinguished 20+ year broadcast career, E. Steven Collins is currently the Director of National Sales for WDAS-AM & FM and still the host of the award winning public affairs program, "FM News Magazine."  In his capacity as Director of National Sales, he is responsible for selling advertising packages and promotional concepts to national advertisers.  E was the station's Director of Promotions for many years, and was the first Executive Producer of the Unity Day celebration.  He parlayed his knowledge and experience with Unity Day into opportunities to promote and package college market events for the Greek Picnic, Penn Relays and Virginia Beach College Fest through outside ventures.  E got his start in the broadcast business as a newscaster at WHAT-AM, which at that time was under the benevolent ownership of Dolly Banks.  A Philadelphia native, E studied broadcast journalism at Temple University. (Last taught in Spring 1999)

GREG COLLINS, CPA
Greg Collins is a tax partner in the accounting and management consulting firm of Mitchell & Titus, LLP.  Greg specializes in providing services to clients in the firm's Sports and Entertainment practice.  In this capacity, Greg provides various services to clients including tax planning, tax return preparation, business consulting, financial management, representation in IRS matters, and researching tax issues.  Among his current clients are Bad Boy Records and Puffy Combs, Master P and No Limit Records, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams, Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Angie Stone, the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association, IAAAM, Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network and the Magic Johnson Foundation.  Collins began his professional career with the IRS, and has previously been employed with Ernst & Young as a tax supervisor and Columbia Pictures as an assistant director of taxes.  Greg has also served as chief financial officer for Stevie Wonder's business organization and as Managing Director of Collins, Austin & Co., a New Jersey based CPA firm.  Collins has a B.S. degree in accounting from Montclair State University, and is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he serves on the Sports and Entertainment Committee, the AICPA, and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). (Last taught in Spring 2003)

THERA MARTIN CONNELLY
Businesswoman and communications specialist Thera Martin Connelly operates her own business, TBM Productions, which specializes in video production services, special events planning and public relations, in addition to serving as morning news anchor at WDAS-AM & FM.  This is Thera's second tour of duty at WDAS, where she previously served for 20 years in a news and public affairs capacity.  She also has served as Program Director for WHAT-AM, Press Secretary for Congressman Chaka Fattah and on-air host for several local cable television and radio programs in the tri-state area.  Her credentials as a community activist are no less impressive, as indicated by her membership in the Rho Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and board memberships on Germantown Settlement and One Day At A Time Drug Recovery Program.  Lastly, Thera is a graduate of Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Communications and a minor in Theater. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

BARBARA DANIEL COX
Barbara Daniel Cox is the principal of Productions bdc, an event management and business service company, and has more than 25 years of experience in education, development, planning, fund raising, event management and human service administration.  Two events for which she has become well known are the African American Heritage Festival, which had a long run throughout the 1990s, and the African American Cultural Extravaganza.  In her effort to uplift the state of ethnic and cultural event planning in this market, Barbara is the convener of the Festival Planners Group, a consortium of African American festival planners that produces a calendar each year.  The contacts she made during her years of employment have clearly helped her business endeavors.  Prior to stepping out on her own, Barbara served as Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission for Women during the Goode administration, human relations specialist and teacher for the School District of Philadelphia, and Assistant Recreation Leader for the Department of Recreation, to name a few.  She stays connected through her affiliations with organizations such as the Multicultural Affairs Congress of PCVB, the Avenue of the Arts Advisory Council and the Uptown Cultural District Group.  Last, but not least, Barbara has a BS degree in Education from Cheyney University and a Masters Degree in Education from Antioch University. (Last taught in Spring 2003)

ANTHONY CUFFIE
Anthony Cuffie is a Sales Manager in the Sales Development division for Philadelphia News, Inc., which publishes the Philadelphia Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.  In this capacity, he supervises 60 salespeople in the course of managing the overall Daily News advertising sales effort, which will exceed $39,000,000 for 1999.  Prior to joining the Knight Ridder unit 5 years ago, Tony worked in retail management and insurance sales.  Outside of the workplace, he is an avid golfer and a Little League baseball coach.  Tony is a graduate of Morgan State University, and has also taken accounting and finance courses at the Wharton School, and marketing courses at the University of Chicago. (Last taught in Spring 2001)