Business

19-Year Old Black Biz Expert Gets Big Buy

Published

11 years ago

May 30, 2015

By Princess Hayes
Special to the NNPA via The Atlanta Daily World

Earlier this year, while still just a freshmen in college, 19-year old Sherron A. Stevens released his first-ever book, entitled Undercover Customer: 100 Ways to Fix Your Broken Customer Service. This book provides 100 ways to deliver great customer service. Stevens, although a rookie in the industry, took his own front-line customer experiences from working at Chick-fil-a and put them into an easy-to-read guide.

The release of the book led to tons of publicity for Stevens, and even led to a major career opportunity for him. Stevens was recruited as a summer intern by Root Inc., an Ohio-based strategy execution consulting company, to work with the organization’s “Customers for Life” team. They were so impressed him and his book, that they have decided to buy more than 100 copies for each of their employees to have a personal copy.

“I am overwhelmed at the support of everyone around me including family, friends and co-workers. When you find a passion, EVERY single door will open. I never thought that Customer Service would be something I would be doing for the rest of my life,” Stevens.

Stevens, who has just completed his freshmen year of college, is working towards his Associates of Business degree from a local community college in Ohio. Upon completion, he is planning to transfer to Ohio University to get a Bachelor of Applied Human and Consumer Sciences (Customer Service).

He is a first generation college student who is letting nothing get in his way of success, and is hoping to take all of his experiences along with his college degree and start his own customer service consulting and training company. “I want to be an innovator in the Customer Service Business and connect people daily,” he says.

Here’s what others are saying about Undercover Customer:

“Sherron Stevens is passionate about everything he does including serving guests and working hard. He is always ready to laugh and brighten someones day.” — Karen Bolumen (Owner/Operator for Chick-fil-a)

“Customers and Service providers – young and old alike – will benefit from this book, and from this new author who surely will make great and welcome contributions to our world.” — Ron Kaufman (Author and Founder of UP! Your Service)

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Art

After 10-Year Wait, Fillmore Heritage Center Reopens in San Francisco

After serving as the economic and cultural hub of the Fillmore’s historically Black community for more than a decade, the center’s closure ended what was called the “Rebirth of the Cool,” referring to the neighborhood’s role during the height of Black Jazz in the United States.

Published

2 hours ago

June 10, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Rev. Amos Brown of Third Baptist Church addresses community members at the Fillmore Heritage Center ribbon cutting. Photo by Linda Parker Pennington.

By Linda Parker Pennington, Special to The Post

Last Saturday morning, the cloudy skies cleared just as the highly anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony began, marking the reopening of the Fillmore Heritage Center at 1330 Fillmore and Eddy.

The complex – which had once included Yoshi’s Jazz Club, the Lush Life Art Gallery, the Koret Heritage Lobby, a 54-seat microcinema, and the Black-owned 1300 On Fillmore restaurant – shuttered in 2015.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announcing the reopening of the Fillmore Heritage Center. Erika Scott, owner of Honey Art Studio, looks on with pride. Photo by Linda Parker Pennington.

“The Fillmore is the most important neighborhood in San Francisco’s history for centering Black culture, music, business, and community, and has shaped this City and influenced the entire country,” said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to the gathering of more than 100 community leaders, business owners, and public officials. “This building reflects the deep roots of the Fillmore. Urban renewal left deep scars that are still felt today. This Center celebrates a strong Black community that continues to shape San Francisco. I am proud to join the community as we reopen the Fillmore Heritage Center.”

Although the previous stakeholders will not be returning to the center, spaces are available for nonprofit organizations and ventures, such as Fillmore native Ericka Johnson’s Honey Art Studio.

“This Center will be an economic engine and a thriving venue that shines a light on the Black-owned businesses in this neighborhood and lifts the entire district,” Lurie continued. “Our City is committed to this community for the long term.”

“We’re excited to collaborate with the City to finally reopen these doors,” said Ken Johnson, a videographer and community leader who’d been lobbying for the reopening of the center. “It’s an opportunity to showcase the entrepreneurship and creative spirit of this ‘Harlem of the West’ and the ‘Rebirth of the Cool,’ grounded in our uniquely gifted Fillmore community.”

This month, through its Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the city will begin renting the building’s noncommercial spaces for pop-up events celebrating local talent, arts, and entertainment primarily centered in the Fillmore.