-Free Online session takes place on February 21 at 1pm ET -

(Black PR Wire) In recognition of Black History Month and in celebration of their continued partnership, Business Wire and Black PR Wire will host a best practices webinar for business professionals. The session is entitled Social Media: Trends to Watch. The webinar takes place Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 1 p.m. ET. The session features a distinguished panel of accomplished social media professionals, marketers and digital influencers. The panelists will share insights and tips on social media trends to watch in 2017.

“This joint webinar represents our ongoing commitment to creating professional development opportunities, and highlighting the experiences and insights of top African American communicators,” says Raschanda Hall, director of Global Media Relations for Business Wire, and the session’s moderator. “It will be an engaging and informative discussion.”

VIP Guest Presenters include: ALFRED EDMOND JR. - Senior Vice President/ Executive Editor-at-Large, Black Enterprise; LASHANDA HENRY - Founder, SistaSense; MELISSA KIMBLE - Founder, #blkcreatives, Senior Social Media Manager, Ebony; STEPHANIE TAVARES-RANCE – Director, Digital Marketing and PR, Boston Market; and DR. ERICA TAYLOR SOUTHERLAND - Assistant Professor, Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communications, Howard University.

About the VIP Guest Presenters

 Alfred Edmond Jr., Senior Vice President/Executive Editor-at-Large – Black Enterprise

Alfred A. Edmond Jr. is SVP/Executive Editor-at-Large of Black Enterprise, responsible for providing brand, marketing and content leadership as a member of the multimedia company’s senior management team. Prior to accepting his current position, Edmond was SVP/Chief Content Officer of Black Enterprise, responsible for overseeing marketing for all of the major franchises of Black Enterprise, including the magazine, television shows, web site, social media and live networking events, and content for the company’s broadcast and digital properties. From 2008 through 2010, Edmond was SVP/Editor-in-chief of BlackEnterprise.com, helping to lead the transition of Black Enterprise from single-magazine publisher to digital-first multimedia company. From 1995 through 2008, Edmond was chief editor of Black Enterprise magazine.

LaShanda Henry, Founder – SistaSense

LaShanda Henry is the Founder of SistaSense, an online training and mentorship community for women entrepreneurs. She has been developing websites for over 10 years and owns over 15 web properties. Ms. Henry graduated from Columbia University and received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 2002. As both a web designer and internet marketing coach, LaShanda has been featured in magazines such as Essence, Ebony, The Network Journal, and BlackEnterprise.com. As a blogger, she has worked with brands including Disney, General Mills, TNT, Walmart, and many others. LaShanda is truly on a mission to use technology as a tool to affect positive change within the black community online and at home. She presently lives in North Carolina with her son and his loving father.

Melissa Kimble, Founder – #blkcreatives;

Senior Social Media Manager – Ebony

Melissa Kimble is a social media expert and the founder of #blackcreatives, a platform for Black creative millennials that provides community, resources, tools and strategies to help them create the lives that they envision for themselves. It is also the home of the monthly #BlkCreatives twitter chat. Melissa also serves as Senior Social Media Manager for Ebony. In her experience, Melissa has worked with small businesses, major brands, mission driven startups, entrepreneurs, and Creatives to share their brands through social media campaigns and consultations, handling social media for live events, brand ambassador and influencer programs and more.

Stephanie Tavares-Rance, Director, Digital Marketing, PR and Social Media – Boston Market

Stephanie Tavares-Rance is the Director of Digital Marketing, PR and Social Media for Boston Market. In her role, she leads strategy and execution of all digital and social media platforms. She is also responsible for pushing forward innovative tactics which elevate engagement among influencers and fans. Before joining the Boston Market team, Stephanie worked as the Digital Marketing, Social Media and PR Manager for Family Dollar. She has also served as PR, Marketing and Client Service Director for Executive Sellers Realty and Social Media Manager for Lowe’s Home Improvement.  Stephanie earned a BFA in Fashion Merchandising from Pratt Institute and is a member of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. and NARAS.

Dr. Erica Taylor Southerland, Assistant Professor, Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communications – Howard University

Dr. Erica Taylor Southerland is an assistant professor in the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. She also serves as public relations manager for the National Urban League Young Professionals. Dr. Southerland has worked professionally as a public relations practitioner in a variety of industries including non-profit, higher education, government and healthcare. Her social media experience includes working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana in developing and implementing their first social media plan in 2009 and, working as a digital engagement specialist for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016. Dr. Southerland’s primary research interests include communicating unique issues in African American public affairs. She is also interested in developing social media theory and best practices using social media in strategic communication. She earned a bachelor’s in public relations from Hampton University; a master’s in English with a concentration in professional writing from Old Dominion University; and a Ph.D. in media and public affairs from Louisiana State University.

“We invite all communications professionals, entrepreneurs and inspiring social influencers to join us for this discussion,” says Bernadette Morris, CEO of Black PR Wire.  “These experts will share their experiences and expertise on all trends in social media. It will be something you won’t want to miss.”

The webinar is free and open to the public. However, registration is required for all participants. To register for the session, please visit:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/116928903951875.  Registered guests will also be able to follow along with our conversation and ask our panelists questions by tracking and including the #bwbprw hashtag on Twitter during the webinar. For more information on the Business wire/Black PR Wire Black History Month webinar, contact Bernadette Morris at 1-877-BLACKPR.

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About Business Wire (www.businesswire.com)

Business Wire, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is the global market leader in commercial news distribution. Thousands of member companies and organizations depend on Business Wire to transmit their full-text news releases, regulatory filings, photos and other multimedia content to journalists, financial professionals, investor services, regulatory authorities and the general public worldwide.  Business Wire has the most comprehensive news and disclosure network in the world. Committed to originating hundreds of thousands of news announcements each year, Business Wire makes a dramatic impact on capital and commercial markets around the globe and in virtually every industry sector.

About Black PR Wire (www.blackprwire.com)

Black PR Wire is a powerful leader in effective news delivery services to the Black and Caribbean markets both nationally and internationally. With a comprehensive database and listing of over 1,500 Black (African American, Caribbean and Haitian) organizations and media, Black PR Wire is incomparable to any news distribution service targeting this market.  Services of Black PR Wire include electronic distribution of news releases, electronic newsletters, audio and video clips and more. The company offers its services in both English and Creole.