The farmlands of my family's (dad's side) hometown of Rock Hill, SC. It's here where this Jersey boy spent his summers as a kid.
Biography
Christopher D. Cathcart is a renowned branding and public relations expert with more than 30 years of experience across a host of professional and non-profit arenas. He is also a published author, inspirational public speaker, college professor, and proud advocate of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). One of his projects is HBCU Experience – The Book, a collection of essays celebrating the Black college experience he co-edited with Howard University professor Tia C.M. Tyree, Ph.D.
A graduate of Howard University's School of Communications, Cathcart has excelled as a key PR executive at some of the world's leading media and entertainment companies, including CNN, Motown Records, and Warner Bros. Television. In 1995, the New Jersey native launched OneDiaspora Group, a communications consulting firm, where he serves as president and founder. His clients have included Jaguar Cars, Hidden Beach Recordings, Virgin Records, Interscope Records, Muse Communications, Heart & Soul magazine, and UniWorld Group.
Over many years as a PR pro, Cathcart has worked with a host of prestigious individuals, organizations, events, and businesses. Specifically, in the realm of music and entertainment, he has worked with such icons as Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Boyz II Men, the Temptations, Brenda Russell and Take 6, as well as many other talented performers. Through his work as a media trainer, he has helped improve the interview skills of well over 60 recording artists, both established and up-and-coming, as well as leading businesspersons and political figures.
As an inspirational speaker, Cathcart has addressed a broad variety of audiences, from students of all levels to industry professionals and community activists. His diverse speaking client list includes such entities as Verizon, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Viacom, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, The Blaac @ Ross Network (an organization of Black employees at the Ross Stores, Inc.), and the gaming company Roblox, among many others.
He’s also a sought after expert on the college circuit, frequently speaking at well-respected institutions such as USC, UCLA, Howard University, several California State University campuses, Morgan State University, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University, The University of the District of Columbia, and the City College of New York, to name a few. Additionally, Cathcart has served for more than nine years as an adjunct/part-time communications instructor for both Syracuse University and California State University/Northridge and was a 10-year (2007-16) faculty member at Columbia College Hollywood, a leading film/TV school in the Los Angeles area where he taught marketing/public relations.
Closest to his heart, however, is an unyielding drive to encourage volunteerism and community service. In 2007, Cathcart published his first book, The Lost Art of Giving Back, a how-to guide for those seeking to empower themselves through service to others.
A long-time advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, he helps educate groups on the disease's continuing impact and the role all can play in combating it. In particular, he takes pride in encouraging heterosexual men to join the fight against HIV/AIDS and reject the crippling effects of homophobia. He served for 10 years as a board member for the Black AIDS Institute (BAI), a group committed to ending AIDS in the Black community. Through his work with BAI, he founded Ledge magazine (2004-2010), the first and only HIV/AIDS awareness magazine written by and for Black college students. Two hardcopy issues were distributed to many of the nation’s 100 HBCUs, before publishing online.
Cathcart tirelessly promotes mentoring, and he regularly visits schools and colleges, including his alma mater, to speak on a variety of issues—from leadership and volunteerism to branding and excellence in the field of public relations. He has personally mentored scores of young people in a variety of ways, including coaching sports and sponsoring internships for Howard University communications students.
Also, he was a Big Brother/Mentor for Big Brothers of Los Angeles for more than 20 years and, in 2002, was named the group's Los Angeles School-Based Mentor of the Year. Some of his other honors include receiving the Martin Luther King Achievement Award from D.R.U.M., a community assistance organization comprised of Black telecommunications professionals; being presented with the Key to Brown, from Brooklyn, NY’s Brown Memorial Baptist Church for “Dedicated Service to the Community”; and receiving a Howard University School of Communications Alumni Legacy Award, among others.
His speaking topics include (but are not limited to):
"Self Empowerment Through Volunteerism"
"Communicating Your Message Effectively"
"PR Techniques for Business and Beyond"
"Branding Yourself for Success,"
“Messaging and Branding -– Tools for Sound Leadership”
"Why We still need our HBCUs”
“Making New Mistakes – Lessons for Today’s College Student”
Cathcart lives in Los Angeles and works out of both LA and Washington, DC.
5/22
Contact Me
You can contact me here with any questions and/or comments – and thanks much for visiting the site. Also, feel free to connect with me via any of our mutual social media outlets.
I appreciate your time and interest. Be well.
Chris
213/840-8740
Twitter Handle: @ccathcartspeaks
