Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009 - (Page 12)

UP FRONT | Inauguration D.C. BRACES FOR THE INAUGURATION THINK MILLION MAN MARCH, meets the Olympics, meets the NBA All Star Weekend and the Democratic National Convention. That’s what Washington, D.C. officials are expecting in terms of attendance and energy as the nation inaugurates its first African- American president Jan. 20. The locals are calling it “Obama Gras.” D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) is expecting as many as 4 million people to descend on the city to watch Presidentelect Barack Obama be sworn into office. It’s a gathering he says the city has never seen before and is expected to be the largest ever. “The District is in a state of unprecedented enthusiasm as Obama’s movement for change will culminate in one of the largest presidential inaugurations in American history,” Fenty tells Black MBA Magazine. The Secret Service is taking the lead in overseeing security and other logistics. Even for a city that has hosted vast throngs for marches, protests, celebration, funerals and inaugurations, this will be an unprecedented test of planning and resources. With Jan. 20 coming a day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the crowds might be spread over a four-day weekend. Security, emergency and logistical crews will be bolstered by about 5,000 members of the military and 4,000 additional officers from 93 law enforcement agencies across the country, Fenty says. And though it was initially expected that thousands angling for the best views would begin camping out along Pennsylvania Avenue Jan. 19, police will not be allowing sleepovers. “We want to ensure we have the right amount of police and emergency response coverage as well as proper street closures and crowd control mechanisms in place to ensure that residents and visitors alike have the one-in-a-lifetime experience,” Fenty says. “This event will 12 BlackMBA • Winter 2008/2009 • www.nbmbaa.org Alex Wong/Getty Images truly be for millions of Americans across the country.” Meanwhile, local organizations are busy trying to secure locations for various balls and galas. The NAACP is hoping to throw a tent over an open-air, downtown parking lot to host the city’s largest inauguration gala, according to new President Benjamin T. Jealous. “This is an exciting time. We’re still working out permits and hoping to meet with the right people to make it happen. But once things are finalized, you can purchase a ticket on our Web site,” Jealous says, “as well as a membership of course,” he adds with a smile. Oscar Mardis, National Black MBA Association Washington, D.C. chapter president, says many of his members will be attending gatherings such as state inaugural balls. The hottest tickets in town will be the Illinois and Hawaii events, Mardis says. Most people believe Obama will attend these gatherings because of his ties to both states. Tickets for the Illinois dinner and gala were running at about $500. Mardis says he expects the entire slate of inauguration events to be a “great op- portunity to network and make political connections.” Still, the most difficult task many inauguration visitors may have will be finding a hotel room. Many of the area’s 95,000 hotel rooms have been sold out for at least six months, hotel officials say. The hotel rooms that can be found are going for a premium. In mid-December, Hyatt Hotels spokeswoman Tammy Hagin said the only rooms available in Hyatt Hotels were $1,250-a-night executive room suites. The regular rooms, normally $500, are selling for $625 a night. Marriott Hotels spokesman Mark L. Indre said Marriott’s brands including, Courtyards, Residence Inns and Fairfield Inns, are sold out as far north as Baltimore, Md. and as far south as Richmond, Va. Hotels as far away as Philadelphia (about two-and-a-half hours away) are booking rooms. Individuals who can’t find hotel rooms are turning to want-ads sites like Craig’s List to find Washington area residents who are renting out their homes for the week for as much as $500 to $1,000 a night or more. http://www.nbmbaa.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009

Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009 Contents Preserving Dr. King’s Legacy: Harry E. Johnson is Six Years and $100 million into his First Fundraising Effort Online: www.nbmbaa.org and www.blackmbaonline.com Up Front: Inauguration Takes Over D.C. From the President: Connecting With the Basics The First 100 Days – Already in Progress Back to Basics: Finances 101 Is the Middle Class Disappearing? – Your View From Medals to MBA Conference Highlights Market Forces: The Job of Trying to Find a Job in a Tight Market Applying to an MBA Program?: Avoid Making these Five Critical Mistakes How They Did It: Catching up with the Winning Teams from NBMBAA’s 2008 National Case Competition Change It Up: If a New Job is at the Top of your New Year’s Resolutions, it’s Time for Careful Planning and Preparation Bull Market: Now is the Time to Take Advantage of Web 2.0 On the Move: Member News, Promotions and More Backstage at BET: NBMBAA’s Leadership Institute Takes on BET’s Case for Growth Toronto Rising: NBMBAA’s Toronto Chapter is on a Progressive Track, Building Strong Partnerships and Exposure as Membership Climbs NBMBAA® Chapters: Find Your Local Chapter Here Do What You Love: Turning Your Passion into a Successful Business Requires Patience, Planning and Plenty of Hard Work Above and Beyond: Meet the Winners of the 2008 Wells Fargo/NBMBAA Entrepreneurial Excellence Award Decorating by Design: Michelle Rider Leaves Corporate Life for Entrepreneurship Culture Shock: Black Museums Nationwide Appeal for Greater Support from the People whose Heritage they Strive to Preserve Gear Up for 2009: Books to Herald Success in the New Year Advertiser Index: Who’s Who in the Issue

Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009

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