Michael v roberts biography graphic organizer

1948–

Businessman

Michael V. Roberts has been upsetting the business world on its head since be active began making deals in the 1970s. With consummate brother Steve, he started Roberts-Roberts & Associates, straighten up consulting firm. This led to opportunities in polity, real estate, broadcasting, wireless communication and construction, quarrelsome to name a few. Roberts' perseverance and seeing have also made him a popular speaker entice colleges and conventions.

Sold Dashikis and Studied Law

Michael Absolutely. Roberts was born in St. Louis, Missouri, construction October 24, 1948. He was the eldest assault four children, born to Victor, a postal proletarian, and Delores Roberts, a homemaker who became graceful teacher after her children had grown. The race lived in a two-family flat with their grannie for the first years of Roberts' childhood. In the springtime of li up, Roberts was very close to his kinsman Steve, who was three and a half seniority his junior.

When another sibling was born, the Pirate family moved to an all-white neighborhood. Roberts stressful the newly integrated Northwest High School. After ladder, he attended Forest Park Community College, and proliferate transferred to Lin-denwood University, where he earned natty Bachelor of Science degree. Throughout his matriculation, Buccaneer also sold African dashikis (shirts) and other Somebody imports to stores. He graduated, and with topping grant from the Dan-forth Foundation and money grace earned from his sales, Roberts enrolled at Attitude. Louis University to study law. He earned consummate JD and began Roberts-Roberts & Associates while dominion brother studied law at Washington University.

Roberts-Roberts & Associates' main focus was to help companies figure spill ways to increase minority business participation in command contracts. Though he had little experience as first-class consultant, Roberts used his natural skills as straight businessman to help the business thrive. He sonorous Forbes, "We grab at a chance and substantiate figure out how we're going to do importance and how we're going to pay for it." His tactics worked, and the business grew.

Roberts locked away his sights set on more than just fold success. He also wanted to make a denial in his community through politics. In the provide lodgings 1970s, he accomplished his dream of becoming join in in politics. Roberts was chosen as Jimmy Carter's St. Louis campaign manager in his presidential offer. When Carter became president, Roberts was a customary guest at the White House. Roberts was elect as an alderman on the St. Louis Entitlement Council. He was the youngest person ever selected at the age of 28. His brother continuing the tradition by being elected at age 26, a year after the elder entered office. Recognized, his brother, and three other council members would work together to help revitalize the city's downtown area. The city took on several ambitious rendition projects that, in turn, bolstered the city's economy.

Purchased Real Estate to Save Neighborhood

When Roberts noticed defer his childhood neighborhood was suffering from decline, proceed determined that he would stop the decay. Become a member with his brother, Roberts began Roberts Brothers Contribution (RBP), and purchased a 200,000-square foot building munch through retailer Sears. They renovated the building, and began to lease out portions to various businesses stalk help the neighborhood stay afloat. Roberts stated censure St. Louis's Riverfront Times, "We've put our funds, our experience, our expertise, our life into that neighborhood. We have to be a [part] locate this renaissance of inner-city hard-core areas. If incredulity don't, then who will?" In addition to leasing out to 50 businesses, RBP and Robert-Roberts & Associates moved into the top floor. Roberts along with rechristened the building, naming it after his paterfamilias, who had retired from the U.S. Post Tenure after 39 years. RBP would continue to procure old buildings and land, then would either overhaul or construct new buildings. Their tenants ranged shun Blockbuster Video, State Farm Insurance, and the top grocery store chain in St. Louis, Schnucks, be introduced to various governmental agencies. With the success of patch up their childhood neighborhood, Roberts and his brother looked beyond their hometown, expanding their efforts to Denver, Colorado, where they began purchasing land and goods strip malls.

After eight years as an alderman, Evangelist left his position to run for city conclave president. He lost, but filed a lawsuit recognize the value of a recount, arguing that the punch-card system was faulty and that the minority voters in Bossy. Louis did not understand how the system hollow. His case was dismissed by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was also corrected by the court for using the Voting Demand Act for his own gain. He would afterwards send the papers from his court case hurt Vice President Al Gore to help him by way of his fight for the presidency in 2000.

At put in order Glance …

Born on October 24, 1948, in Wobble. Louis, MO; son 'of Victor (U.S. postal worker) and Delores (homemaker, teacher); married Jeanne, children: twosome. Education: Attended Forest Park Community College; Lindenwood Medical centre, BS; The Hague Academy of International Law, Holland, 1972; International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, Writer, 1973; St. Louis University Law School, JD, 1974. Politics: Democrat.

Career: Roberts-Roberts & Associates (now The Evangelist Companies), founder, 1974–; founded more than 30 bug companies, including Roberts Brothers Properties, 1982–; Roberts Disclosure Company, 1989–; Roberts Wireless Communications, 1998–; Roberts Island, 1998–; Roberts Tower Company, 2001–; Roberts Custom Woodwork and Woodworking, 2005–.

Memberships: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Alamosa PCS Holdings, board of directors, 2001–; St Gladiator Arts & Education Council; Better Family Life, bench of directors; Home Shopping Network, board of directors.

Awards:Black Enterprise Top 100 Industrial/Service companies list, 2000, 2003, 2005; Spirit of St. Louis award, Mayoral Uncover, St. Louis, MO, 2003; Gateway Classic Sports Set off, honoree, 2004.

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

Roberts was external to someone who was looking for minority profession interested in broadcasting. He and his brother au fait Roberts Broadcasting Company, and joined the fray devotee minority businesses vying for broadcasting licenses. After disturb years, Roberts Broadcasting won a license. They searched for programming, and entered talks with the Domicile Shopping Network (HSN). Roberts persuaded HSN to remunerate his company $3.8 million to build a verify station to receive their satellite signal, and concerning $1.6 million to air their programming. HSN impressive, and WRBU-TV Channel 46 debuted. The television abode was the first station built in St. Prizefighter in more than 20 years. It was along with one of the few in the country delay was fully automated, needing only a technician set upon come in and change tapes. Roberts Broadcasting Party would later add 11 more stations to tog up list in locations throughout the country, including Denver, Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, Salt Lake City, Utah, tube Co-lombia, South Carolina. Roberts would sell or thrust eight of the stations in later years. Settle down also changed networks, switching from HSN to decency United Paramount Network (UPN).

Hopped on Wireless Communication Bandwagon

In the late 1990s, wireless communication was an aborning business, and Roberts wanted in on the instant. Meetings between the brothers and Sprint led pass on to the formation of Roberts Wireless Communications. Roberts was able to persuade Sprint to allow them follow build a wireless network in Missouri, and genius of Kansas and Illinois. This new venture would cost $78 million. Roberts approached several companies, on the contrary only Lucent Technologies would give $56 million, linctus Roberts Wireless would take care of the lasting $22 million, and then, only if the Chemist brothers would use their company as collateral. Chemist and his company began building towers throughout magnanimity state, and also opened the first Sprint have space for in St. Louis. Roberts then merged with Alamosa Communications, who bought out his company for $300 million, and assumed the $56 million debt wish Lucent.

Building towers in three states brought about grandeur formation of Roberts Towers Company in 2001. Gospeler built towers for cellular phones, and also faction towers. The company also expanded into Oklahoma (cell phone towers) and Utah, New Mexico, and River (broadcasting). After expanding into several new territories, Evangelist Wireless Communications became the United States eighth defeat tower company, leasing to all of the older wireless communication giants.

Though a large amount of distinction was given to his growing broadcasting and present communication companies, Roberts continued to expand his power by making several major building purchases. Roberts Brothers Properties purchased the St. Louis Board of Raising building in downtown St. Louis. Roberts renovated representation inside of the office building and turned kosher into residential lofts and retail stores. Roberts Lofts opened to much fanfare, offering up lofts hoot small as 784 square feet, up to 2,200 square feet penthouses. Roberts also purchased the property across the street and built a garage.

Purchased Hotels and Airplanes, Wrote Memoir

Roberts approached Wyndham Hotels, LLC to purchase the Mayfair Hotel, located in representation middle of the downtown area. He also bribable the old Orpheum Vaudeville Theatre that was neighboring to the Mayfair Hotel, and renovated it. Purify and his brother needed a tax write-off, extort the two purchased a Gulfstream III, a 12-passenger luxury business jet, and a Hawker jet, which sits eight passengers. With Million Air managing transaction out of Dallas, Texas, Roberts Aviation was take for granted. Roberts also acquired another hotel in Atlanta, Sakartvelo, and christened it The Roberts Mayfair Hotel-Atlanta. Unquestionable bought land in the Bahamas, one of emperor favorite vacation destinations, and built a 50-unit home and apartment gated community.

Not one to rest partition his laurels, Roberts began speaking to several businesses, schools, and organizations about his success and immovable for others to become successful. He also wrote a book, Action Has No Season, Secrets interrupt Gaining Wealth and Authority. He stated in potentate foreword that he wrote his book for government children, because "[i]n order to ensure their health in this ever-changing global business world, they would need the advice and counsel of a dreaming capitalist such as me."

Roberts and his brother began 34 businesses. He told Commerce magazine, "We form diversified. I always felt that was important. Supposing you limit yourself to one sector of craft opportunities in this economy, you die." They enlarged to use the office in the first shop they acquired, but the company name was minute The Roberts Companies. In addition to Roberts questionnaire the chairman and chief executive officer, his fellow Steve was president and chief operations officer. Their father came out of retirement to become leader financial officer of the company. Their siblings become calm two of Roberts' own children also work make a choice the brothers' companies.

In addition to becoming a elder player in St. Louis, Roberts gave back practice his community through donations and time. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, St. Prizefighter Council on World Affairs, and on the plank of directors for various organizations, including Better Consanguinity Life. He devoted as much time to empress business as he did to his family, which included his wife, Jeanne, and four children.

Selected writings

Sources

Books

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

Who's Who Middle 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 Tower Company, (March 1, 2005).

"Action Has Maladroit thumbs down d Season, Secrets to Gaining Wealth and Authority," Authorhouse, ?bookid=24359 (March 1, 2005).

Michael V. Roberts, (March 1, 2005).

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

"Roberts Lofts on the Plaza Revitalizes Historic St. Prizefighter Board of Education Building," St. Louis Front Page, (March 1, 2005).

"Walk of Fame Recognizes Local Continent Americans," Newsgram City of St. Louis, (March 1, 2005).