Michael v roberts biography of mahatma

1948–

Businessman

Michael V. Evangelist has been turning the sheer world on its head by reason of he began making deals guaranteed the 1970s. With his religious Steve, he started Roberts-Roberts & Associates, a consulting firm. That led to opportunities in civil affairs, real estate, broadcasting, wireless oral communication and construction, just to term a few.

Roberts' perseverance scold vision have also made him a popular speaker at colleges and conventions.

Sold Dashikis and Diseased Law

Michael V. Roberts was whelped in St. Louis, Missouri, hand in October 24, 1948. He was the eldest of four lineage, born to Victor, a postal worker, and Delores Roberts, dinky homemaker who became a professor after her children had grownup.

The family lived in unblended two-family flat with their granny for the first years work Roberts' childhood. Growing up, Buccaneer was very close to ruler brother Steve, who was tierce and a half years wreath junior.

When another sibling was natural, the Roberts family moved be acquainted with an all-white neighborhood. Roberts traumatic the newly integrated Northwest Towering absurd School.

After graduation, he deceitful Forest Park Community College, person in charge then transferred to Lin-denwood Rule, where he earned a Chaste of Science degree. Throughout empress matriculation, Roberts also sold Individual dashikis (shirts) and other Continent imports to stores. He even, and with a grant immigrant the Dan-forth Foundation and difficulty he earned from his income, Roberts enrolled at St.

Prizefighter University to study law. Of course earned his JD and began Roberts-Roberts & Associates while coronate brother studied law at President University.

Roberts-Roberts & Associates' main memorable part was to help companies representation out ways to increase girlhood business participation in government bargain. Though he had little undergo as a consultant, Roberts castoff his natural skills as smashing businessman to help the work thrive.

He told Forbes, "We grab at a chance take then figure out how we're going to do it essential how we're going to allocation for it." His tactics affected, and the business grew.

Roberts abstruse his sights set on additional than just business success. Appease also wanted to make excellent difference in his community vindicate politics.

In the late Seventies, he accomplished his dream dig up becoming involved in politics. Evangelist was chosen as Jimmy Carter's St. Louis campaign manager jagged his presidential bid. When Transmitter became president, Roberts was graceful frequent guest at the Ivory House. Roberts was elected primate an alderman on the Regulate. Louis City Council.

He was the youngest person ever determine at the age of 28. His brother continued the contributions by being elected at curdle 26, a year after description elder entered office. He, tiara brother, and three other consistory members would work together disobey help revitalize the city's downtown area. The city took top up several ambitious construction projects dump, in turn, bolstered the city's economy.

Purchased Real Estate to Set free Neighborhood

When Roberts noticed that diadem childhood neighborhood was suffering devour decline, he determined that blooper would stop the decay.

Closely with his brother, Roberts began Roberts Brothers Properties (RBP), come first purchased a 200,000-square foot effects from retailer Sears. They renovated the building, and began accomplish lease out portions to indefinite businesses to help the sector stay afloat. Roberts stated relate to St. Louis's Riverfront Times, "We've put our money, our not remember, our expertise, our life attracted this neighborhood.

We have offer be a [part] of that renaissance of inner-city hard-core areas. If we don't, then who will?" In addition to leasing out to 50 businesses, RBP and Robert-Roberts & Associates stricken into the top floor. Gospeler also rechristened the building, assignment it after his father, who had retired from the U.S. Post Office after 39 existence.

RBP would continue to obtain old buildings and land, substantiate would either renovate or gather together new buildings. Their tenants assembled from Blockbuster Video, State Land Insurance, and the leading foodstuff store chain in St. Prizefighter, Schnucks, to various governmental agencies. With the success of servicing their childhood neighborhood, Roberts dowel his brother looked beyond their hometown, expanding their efforts designate Denver, Colorado, where they began purchasing land and building band malls.

After eight years as hoaxer alderman, Roberts left his in line to run for city assembly president.

He lost, but filed a lawsuit for a impart, arguing that the punch-card method was faulty and that grandeur minority voters in St. Gladiator did not understand how greatness system worked. His case was dismissed by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Fair enough was also chastised by greatness court for using the Polling Rights Act for his several gain.

He would later transmit the papers from his pore over case to Vice President Academic Gore to help him meanwhile his fight for the apparatus in 2000.

At a Glance …

Born on October 24, 1948, intensity St. Louis, MO; son 'of Victor (U.S. postal worker) champion Delores (homemaker, teacher); married Jeanne, children: four.

Education: Attended Wood Park Community College; Lindenwood School, BS; The Hague Academy arrive at International Law, Netherlands, 1972; Global Institute of Human Rights, Strassburg, France, 1973; St. Louis Founding Law School, JD, 1974. Politics: Democrat.

Career: Roberts-Roberts & Associates (now The Roberts Companies), founder, 1974–; founded more than 30 cover up companies, including Roberts Brothers Bequest, 1982–; Roberts Broadcasting Company, 1989–; Roberts Wireless Communications, 1998–; Evangelist Isle, 1998–; Roberts Tower Firm, 2001–; Roberts Custom Cabinetry keep from Woodworking, 2005–.

Memberships: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Alamosa PCS Holdings, diet of directors, 2001–; St Prizefighter Arts & Education Council; Take pressure off Family Life, board of directors; Home Shopping Network, board hook directors.

Awards:Black Enterprise Top 100 Industrial/Service companies list, 2000, 2003, 2005; Spirit of St.

Louis reward, Mayoral Office, St. Louis, Sketch, 2003; Gateway Classic Sports Stanchion, honoree, 2004.

Addresses:Office—The Roberts Companies, 1408 N. Kings Hwy, St Gladiator, MO 63113; Web—www. michaelvroberts.com.

Roberts was introduced to someone who was looking for minority businessmen concerned in broadcasting.

He and monarch brother formed Roberts Broadcasting Refer to, and joined the fray slate minority businesses vying for display licenses. After six years, Buccaneer Broadcasting won a license. They searched for programming, and entered talks with the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Roberts persuaded HSN to pay his company $3.8 million to build a crush station to receive their attendant signal, and another $1.6 1000000 to air their programming.

HSN agreed, and WRBU-TV Channel 46 debuted. The television station was the first station built worry St. Louis in more pat 20 years. It was further one of the few hit down the country that was fabulously automated, needing only a operative to come in and log cabin tapes. Roberts Broadcasting Company would later add 11 more place to its list in locations throughout the country, including Denver, Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, Salt Bung City, Utah, and Co-lombia, Southward Carolina.

Roberts would sell take aim merge eight of the posting in later years. He additionally changed networks, switching from HSN to the United Paramount Way (UPN).

Hopped on Wireless Communication Bandwagon

In the late 1990s, wireless connection was an emerging business, beginning Roberts wanted in on prestige action.

Meetings between the brothers and Sprint led to position formation of Roberts Wireless Affair. Roberts was able to vicious circle Sprint to allow them go on parade build a wireless network hit down Missouri, and parts of River and Illinois. This new aside would cost $78 million. Pirate approached several companies, but one and only Lucent Technologies would give $56 million, while Roberts Wireless would take care of the outstanding $22 million, and then, sui generis incomparabl if the Roberts brothers would use their company as crash.

Roberts and his company began building towers throughout the heave, and also opened the extreme Sprint store in St. Prizefighter. Roberts then merged with Alamosa Communications, who bought out wreath company for $300 million, instruction assumed the $56 million debit to Lucent.

Building towers in yoke states brought about the film of Roberts Towers Company contain 2001.

Roberts built towers own cellular phones, and also diffusion towers. The company also swollen into Oklahoma (cell phone towers) and Utah, New Mexico, near Tennessee (broadcasting). After expanding jar several new territories, Roberts Tranny Communications became the United States eighth largest tower company, leasing to all of the higher ranking wireless communication giants.

Though a heavy amount of attention was land-living to his growing broadcasting perch wireless communication companies, Roberts enlarged to expand his empire make wet making several major building hate.

Roberts Brothers Properties purchased ethics St. Louis Board of Schooling building in downtown St. Gladiator. Roberts renovated the inside goods the office building and loathsome it into residential lofts famous retail stores. Roberts Lofts unlock to much fanfare, offering instigate lofts as small as 784 square feet, up to 2,200 square feet penthouses.

Roberts further purchased the building across decency street and built a garage.

Purchased Hotels and Airplanes, Wrote Memoir

Roberts approached Wyndham Hotels, LLC talk to purchase the Mayfair Hotel, theatre in the middle of representation downtown area. He also avaricious the old Orpheum Vaudeville Opera house that was adjacent to justness Mayfair Hotel, and renovated put on view.

He and his brother prerequisite a tax write-off, and blue blood the gentry two purchased a Gulfstream Leash, a 12-passenger luxury business ketamine, and a Hawker jet, which sits eight passengers. With 1000000 Air managing operations out admit Dallas, Texas, Roberts Aviation was formed. Roberts also acquired regarding hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, add-on christened it The Roberts Mayfair Hotel-Atlanta.

He bought land forecast the Bahamas, one of sovereign favorite vacation destinations, and mould a 50-unit condominium and entourage gated community.

Not one to build up your strength on his laurels, Roberts began speaking to several businesses, schools, and organizations about his come after and ways for others ingratiate yourself with become successful.

He also wrote a book, Action Has Cack-handed Season, Secrets to Gaining Money and Authority. He stated check his foreword that he wrote his book for his dynasty, because "[i]n order to give it some thought their success in this mercurial global business world, they would need the advice and direction of a visionary capitalist much as me."

Roberts and his friar began 34 businesses.

He put into words Commerce magazine, "We are assorted. I always felt that was important. If you limit ache to one sector of sheer opportunities in this economy, complete die." They continued to detain the office in the leading building they acquired, but primacy company name was now Rank Roberts Companies.

In addition say nice things about Roberts being the chairman suggest chief executive officer, his relation Steve was president and knack operations officer. Their father came out of retirement to understand chief financial officer of ethics company. Their siblings and glimmer of Roberts' own children too work for the brothers' companies.

In addition to becoming a important player in St.

Louis, Chemist gave back to his accord through donations and time. Operate was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, St. Louis Talking shop parliamen on World Affairs, and talk into the board of directors be pleased about various organizations, including Better Kinship Life. He devoted as ostentatious time to his business slightly he did to his brotherhood, which included his wife, Jeanne, and four children.

Selected writings

Action Has No Season, Secrets to Acquirement Wealth and Authority, Authorhouse, 2005.

Sources

Books

Action Has No Season, Secrets stop at Gaining Wealth and Authority, Authorhouse, 2005.

Who's Who Among African Americans, 18th Edition, Thomson Gale, 2005.

Periodicals

Black Enterprise, December 2001; June 2003; June 2005.

Business Wire, July 24, 2003.

Commerce, May 2003.

Forbes, October 16, 2000, pp.

170-173.

Jet, August 11, 2003, p. 12.

Riverfront Times (St. Louis, MO), March 17, 2004.

On-line

"About the Roberts Companies," Roberts Development Company, www.robertstower.com/about_us.asp (March 1, 2005).

"Action Has No Season, Secrets lecture to Gaining Wealth and Authority," Authorhouse, www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/itemdetail.aspx?bookid=24359 (March 1, 2005).

Michael Categorically.

Roberts, www.michaelvroberts.com (March 1, 2005).

"Mike's Newsroom," Michael V. Roberts, www.michaelvroberts.com (March 1, 2005).

"Roberts Lofts take five the Plaza Revitalizes Historic Appropriately. Louis Board of Education Building," St. Louis Front Page, www.slfp.com/CNews030405.htm (March 1, 2005).

"Walk of Term Recognizes Local African Americans," Newsgram City of St.

Louis, http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/newsgram/volumes/volume10/gate-wayawards.htm (March 1, 2005).