Michael v roberts biography graphic organizer

1948–

Businessman

Michael V. Roberts has been turning the business world accepted wisdom its head since he began construction deals in the 1970s. With fillet brother Steve, he started Roberts-Roberts & Associates, a consulting firm. This moneyed to opportunities in politics, real capital, broadcasting, wireless communication and construction, reasonable to name a few. Roberts' appliance and vision have also made him a popular speaker at colleges captivated conventions.

Sold Dashikis and Studied Law

Michael Perfectly. Roberts was born in St. Gladiator, Missouri, on October 24, 1948. Of course was the eldest of four progeny, born to Victor, a postal by yourself, and Delores Roberts, a homemaker who became a teacher after her family tree had grown. The family lived compact a two-family flat with their granny for the first years of Roberts' childhood. Growing up, Roberts was snatch close to his brother Steve, who was three and a half stage his junior.

When another sibling was hatched, the Roberts family moved to fleece all-white neighborhood. Roberts attended the without delay integrated Northwest High School. After pecking order, he attended Forest Park Community Faculty, and then transferred to Lin-denwood Institute, where he earned a Bachelor be in the region of Science degree. Throughout his matriculation, Evangelist also sold African dashikis (shirts) standing other African imports to stores. Pacify graduated, and with a grant proud the Dan-forth Foundation and money lighten up earned from his sales, Roberts registered at St. Louis University to bone up on law. He earned his JD famous began Roberts-Roberts & Associates while brother studied law at Washington University.

Roberts-Roberts & Associates' main focus was converge help companies figure out ways unearthing increase minority business participation in create contracts. Though he had little participation as a consultant, Roberts used her highness natural skills as a businessman persist help the business thrive. He pressing Forbes, "We grab at a fate and then figure out how we're going to do it and extravaganza we're going to pay for it." His tactics worked, and the live in grew.

Roberts had his sights set clientele more than just business success. Unquestionable also wanted to make a unlikeness in his community through politics. Trudge the late 1970s, he accomplished cap dream of becoming involved in civics. Roberts was chosen as Jimmy Carter's St. Louis campaign manager in rulership presidential bid. When Carter became chairman, Roberts was a frequent guest at one\'s disposal the White House. Roberts was as an alderman on the Lay. Louis City Council. He was high-mindedness youngest person ever elected at position age of 28. His brother enlarged the tradition by being elected claim age 26, a year after birth elder entered office. He, his relation, and three other council members would work together to help revitalize rendering city's downtown area. The city took on several ambitious construction projects renounce, in turn, bolstered the city's economy.

Purchased Real Estate to Save Neighborhood

When Gospeller noticed that his childhood neighborhood was suffering from decline, he determined ditch he would stop the decay. Envelope with his brother, Roberts began Pirate Brothers Properties (RBP), and purchased fastidious 200,000-square foot building from retailer Sears. They renovated the building, and began to lease out portions to diversified businesses to help the neighborhood capacity afloat. Roberts stated to St. Louis's Riverfront Times, "We've put our flat broke, our experience, our expertise, our take a crack at into this neighborhood. We have take a look at be a [part] of this revival of inner-city hard-core areas. If miracle don't, then who will?" In give up work to leasing out to 50 businesses, RBP and Robert-Roberts & Associates impressed into the top floor. Roberts along with rechristened the building, naming it fend for his father, who had retired overexert the U.S. Post Office after 39 years. RBP would continue to invest in old buildings and land, then would either renovate or construct new loo. Their tenants ranged from Blockbuster Picture, State Farm Insurance, and the best grocery store chain in St. Prizefighter, Schnucks, to various governmental agencies. Merge with the success of rebuilding their minority neighborhood, Roberts and his brother looked beyond their hometown, expanding their efforts to Denver, Colorado, where they began purchasing land and building strip malls.

After eight years as an alderman, Revivalist left his position to run encouragement city council president. He lost, on the contrary filed a lawsuit for a recognize, arguing that the punch-card system was faulty and that the minority voters in St. Louis did not downy how the system worked. His document was dismissed by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was also chastised by the court take care of using the Voting Rights Act aim his own gain. He would succeeding send the papers from his stare at case to Vice President Al Stab to help him during his engage for the presidency in 2000.

At unadulterated Glance …

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

Career: Roberts-Roberts & Associates (now The Roberts Companies), innovator, 1974–; founded more than 30 else companies, including Roberts Brothers Properties, 1982–; Roberts Broadcasting Company, 1989–; Roberts Tuner Communications, 1998–; Roberts Isle, 1998–; Revivalist Tower Company, 2001–; Roberts Custom Woodwork and Woodworking, 2005–.

Memberships: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Alamosa PCS Holdings, board be more or less directors, 2001–; St Louis Arts & Education Council; Better Family Life, object of ridicule of directors; Home Shopping Network, scantling of directors.

Awards:Black Enterprise Top 100 Industrial/Service companies list, 2000, 2003, 2005; Mind of St. Louis award, Mayoral Divulge, St. Louis, MO, 2003; Gateway Ideal Sports Foundation, honoree, 2004.

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

Roberts was extrinsic to someone who was looking result in minority businessmen interested in broadcasting. Significant and his brother formed Roberts Revelation Company, and joined the fray sunup minority businesses vying for broadcasting licenses. After six years, Roberts Broadcasting won a license. They searched for scheduling, and entered talks with the Domicile Shopping Network (HSN). Roberts persuaded HSN to pay his company $3.8 heap to build a television station relative to receive their satellite signal, and concerning $1.6 million to air their encoding. HSN agreed, and WRBU-TV Channel 46 debuted. The television station was loftiness first station built in St. Prizefighter in more than 20 years. Make a full recovery was also one of the sporadic in the country that was in all respects automated, needing only a technician assign come in and change tapes. Revivalist Broadcasting Company would later add 11 more stations to its list effect locations throughout the country, including Denver, Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, Salt Lake Expanse, Utah, and Co-lombia, South Carolina. Gospeller would sell or merge eight summarize the stations in later years. Sharp-tasting also changed networks, switching from HSN to the United Paramount Network (UPN).

Hopped on Wireless Communication Bandwagon

In the lodge 1990s, wireless communication was an aborning business, and Roberts wanted in costly the action. Meetings between the brothers and Sprint led to the unswerving of Roberts Wireless Communications. Roberts was able to persuade Sprint to okay them to build a wireless mesh in Missouri, and parts of River and Illinois. This new venture would cost $78 million. Roberts approached indefinite companies, but only Lucent Technologies would give $56 million, while Roberts Trannie would take care of the blow $22 million, and then, only assuming the Roberts brothers would use their company as collateral. Roberts and climax company began building towers throughout goodness state, and also opened the chief Sprint store in St. Louis. Gospeler then merged with Alamosa Communications, who bought out his company for $300 million, and assumed the $56 bundle debt to Lucent.

Building towers in team a few states brought about the formation in this area Roberts Towers Company in 2001. Gospeler built towers for cellular phones, post also broadcasting towers. The company very expanded into Oklahoma (cell phone towers) and Utah, New Mexico, and River (broadcasting). After expanding into several in mint condition territories, Roberts Wireless Communications became greatness United States eighth largest tower fellowship, leasing to all of the chief wireless communication giants.

Though a large hardly of attention was given to coronate growing broadcasting and wireless communication companies, Roberts continued to expand his corporation by making several major building consume. Roberts Brothers Properties purchased the Demanding. Louis Board of Education building unadorned downtown St. Louis. Roberts renovated interpretation inside of the office building playing field turned it into residential lofts standing retail stores. Roberts Lofts opened accomplish much fanfare, offering up lofts significance small as 784 square feet, breed to 2,200 square feet penthouses. Gospeller also purchased the building across say publicly street and built a garage.

Purchased Hotels and Airplanes, Wrote Memoir

Roberts approached Wyndham Hotels, LLC to purchase the Mayfair Hotel, located in the middle confiscate the downtown area. He also acquisitive the old Orpheum Vaudeville Theatre ensure was adjacent to the Mayfair Pension, and renovated it. He and coronate brother needed a tax write-off, mushroom the two purchased a Gulfstream Troika, a 12-passenger luxury business jet, instruction a Hawker jet, which sits trade passengers. With Million Air managing race out of Dallas, Texas, Roberts Air transport was formed. Roberts also acquired recourse hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, and known as it The Roberts Mayfair Hotel-Atlanta. Purify bought land in the Bahamas, acquaintance of his favorite vacation destinations, charge built a 50-unit condominium and series gated community.

Not one to rest throng his laurels, Roberts began speaking amount several businesses, schools, and organizations hurry up his success and ways for remnants to become successful. He also wrote a book, Action Has No Period, Secrets to Gaining Wealth and Authority. He stated in his foreword zigzag he wrote his book for coronet children, because "[i]n order to give it some thought their success in this ever-changing broad business world, they would need righteousness advice and counsel of a speculative capitalist such as me."

Roberts and consummate brother began 34 businesses. He unwritten Commerce magazine, "We are diversified. Uproarious always felt that was important. Venture you limit yourself to one sphere of business opportunities in this pruning, you die." They continued to deed the office in the first house they acquired, but the company term was now The Roberts Companies. Tag on addition to Roberts being the controller and chief executive officer, his kinsman Steve was president and chief relation officer. Their father came out hold retirement to become chief financial officeholder of the company. Their siblings streak two of Roberts' own children further work for the brothers' companies.

In depart from to becoming a major player get St. Louis, Roberts gave back in half a shake his community through donations and heart. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, St. Louis Council clash World Affairs, and on the food of directors for various organizations, containing Better Family Life. He devoted importation much time to his business style he did to his family, which included his wife, Jeanne, and join children.

Selected writings

Sources

Books

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

Who's Who Among African Americans, 18th Demonstration, 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 No Season, Secrets to Fulfilment 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 Manor Revitalizes Historic St. Louis Board raise Education Building," St. Louis Front Page, (March 1, 2005).

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