John E. Girton, Jr., Multimedia Consultant

As early as 1982 John began developing his God given gifts in the television and radio industry. By age eighteen he had been selected as the youngest and only African American cameraman during the 1987 Pan Am Games in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before his twenty-first birthday he had produced an anti-drug, crime and violence music video which aired in regular rotation on Black Entertainment Television (BET). By the time John earned his B.S. degree in communications from Ball State University he had already accumulated numerous awards, working for companies such as CBS Sports, BET's Video Soul Live, and as the Producer/Director of the Bea Motten Foster daily talk show.

In early 1993 John began traveling the world as a concert tour manager for the popular recording group "High Five." Two years later he moved to Chicago, Illinois to continue his career as an audio, video and print producer for companies such as J. Walter Thompson, Walgreen's, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the 7-up Corporation. He was later hired as the first African American designer for David C. Cook Publishing, the largest distributor of Christian education literature in the world.

Upon moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1995, John was retained as the Artist Relations Manager for Compassion International, an International Christian child development organization. A few months later he was promoted to Compassion USA's National Marketing Manager, servicing the marketing needs of Christian child development programs across the United States.

In 1997 the now married Girton's relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to focus their attention on the couples four year old business. Within one year Mass Media Consulting, the couples creative services agency, had not only taken the leap from part-time to full-time operation, they also landed several major projects including the development of the Bobby Jones Gospel image, Fisk University's Race Relations Institute program designs, and developing the corporate image for the 8,000 member Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville. Mass Media Consulting was also selected to move into the Nashville Incubation Center where they grew from $12,000 to over half a million dollars in yearly revenue. Clients included the Nashville Electric Services, Vanderbilt University, Metropolitan Baptist Church of Washington, DC, and The Temple Church of Nashville, Tennessee.

After over twenty years in the media industry, John, as the co-founder and President of Girton & Associates is now an accomplished multimedia professional who spends his time not only mentoring others in business, but also trains and develops organizations throughout the country in the areas of communications and technology, leadership development and image building. Learn more about his empowerment speaking services at johngirtonspeaks.com.

John is an Adjunct Professor at both Tennessee State University in the Mass Communications Department. John recently served on the speakers circuit as a featured Empowerment Speaker and spoke to high school and college audiences nationally with Making It Count a division of Monster Worldwide, Inc. When Mr. Girton isn't traveling, he spends quality time with his wife and two small children and stays connected to his community serving as the Ordained Minister of Global Media Ministries at the historic Temple Church of Nashville, Tennessee.

John is a member of the Nashville chapter of the Urban League, the National Association of Black Journalists, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. John is the founder of the Youth In Media Institute which is dedicated to educating under served youth in the areas of audio, video, print and world wide web technologies. John is the co-founder of Girton Empowerment Ministries, Inc. along with his lovely wife LaWanda. He is also the founder and director of New MENtality Ministries which is geared toward the wholistic development and support of men. To learn more about the Girton family or to schedule a speaking engagement visit their ministry website at http://www.girtonministries.org.