"Remember, there is no replacement for experience."

Anthony B. Watkins

Founder

To ensure that our company achieves the success as envisioned by our founder, we have not hired just the right people, we have hired "the right people with the right experience".  There is no better example of this than the go-go days of the 1990's or what has become historically known as the "Dot Com Boom".  An untold number of companies came and went while chasing that ever elusive "Dot Com Rainbow".  An after the fact analysis clearly points to one common flaw with many of the companies that went bust.  In most cases it was due to bad and/or poor management.  Having realized that fact, our goal is to not let history repeat itself at our expense. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ANTHONY B. (TONEY) WATKINS,  Chairman of the Board and Director: Mr. Watkins is the Founder of the Company. Toney has worked in the audio, video, and entertainment industry as a producer, recording engineer, and talent coordinator for over 25 years. He began his career in 1974 promoting American musical acts touring Europe. Throughout the 1980’s he managed, owned, and operated audio and video production businesses both in the United States and Japan. He has recorded and produced international Jazz, Gospel, and Rock artists in Europe, Asia and in the United States. In 1985, he was instrumental in the production of a Japanese famine relief version of "We are the World™" titled "For Africa™."

In 1986, Toney assisted in the production of the largest rock concert ever held in Japan. This 12-hour event was carried live over Japanese television and Japan’s national radio network NHK. In addition, while living in Japan, he formed his own musical group comprised of Japanese musicians and toured the country promoting friendship and goodwill. Both the U.S. and Japanese governments recognized his efforts. Toney is also a former military historian and author having written books on the American war efforts both during and after World War II. He is an avid reader and archivist.  Prior to founding our company Toney continued to work throughout the entertainment industry as an independent consultant.

WILLIAM C. (BILL) LEWIS, Secretary and Director: Mr. Lewis has served as the Company's Secretary since its inception.  He is a medical executive with more than 20 years of budget and personnel management experience.  He is a certified instructor for the National Safety Council for First Aid and for the American Heart Association for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).  Mr. Lewis also has more than 15 years experience as an owner and manager of real estate properties in Colorado and Oklahoma.  Bill holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix.  He is involved in the Community as a member of the Pikes Peak Region Elks Lodge #473, serves on the Board of the Mental Health Association of El Paso County, Colorado and contributes to numerous other local charities and organizations.

ANDRE H. MCKOY, Treasurer and Director: Mr. McKoy brings to WCI over 20 years of diversified financial and operational management skills in a number of sectors. These include, investment banking, corporate banking, management consulting, financial control and technology. Most recently he was Chief Financial Officer for a technology firm. Prior to that he worked seven years for Citigroup, structuring project/infrastructure financings, commercial real estate securitizations, acquisition financings and highly leveraged financings. Andre received a B.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Pratt Institute and a M.B.A. in Finance and Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

GERI E. BOYER, Director: Prior to forming Kaskaskia Engineering Group, Ms. Boyer managed the Transportation Engineering Department for Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen (TWM). Ms. Boyer’s responsibility with TWM included managing work assignments for 18 engineers and technicians, project management for large transportation projects, marketing engineering services, and coordination between municipal governments, IDOT, and developers.

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

ANTHONY B. (TONEY) WATKINS,  President, and Chief Executive Officer: (Please see the above section titled Board of Directors).

DR. WILLIAM F. (BILL) LEE, III, President, Education Development Division: Dr. Lee is a university administrator, educator, composer, pianist, conductor, researcher, and teacher with a career spanning 45 years. He most recently served as the Executive Director of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE). IAJE represents and provides instruction and guidance to elementary, secondary and university Jazz music instructors and students in over 37 countries. Bill was a co-founder and former Past-President of IAJE. He earned B.M. and M.S. degrees at the University of North Texas and earned his M.M. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Texas. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Music Degree from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Lima, Peru. Bill did advanced work at the Eastman School of Music, located at the University of Rochester, and studied composition in Paris and Fountainebleau, France with the renowned pedagogue Nadia Boulanger. Bill will also serve as Provost and Executive Vice President of our Education Development Division’s Center for Jazz Studies.

DR. DAVID (DAVE) L. EDGELL, SR., President Development and Marketing Division: Dr. Edgell has worked in almost every facet of the travel and tourism industry. His work has ranged from specialized expertise in rural tourism development to an advisor locally, nationally and internationally on tourism planning, policy, and marketing strategies. From the mid 1970’s through the early 1990’s, Dave’s knowledge of global economics and tourism flourished as he excelled in positions within the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., receiving the Department’s highest medal awards: gold, silver, and bronze (first ever to receive all three). He later found himself playing a critical role in U.S. governmental activities in trade and tourism such as policy, trade development, and marketing/research. He also served as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism (U.S. Department of Commerce), Executive Director of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration, and Director of World Fairs and International Expositions. In 1995, Dave undertook the challenge of serving as the first Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Optimizing his personal and vast global network and extensive industry background in tourism, he developed a detailed tourism program including marketing, policy, planning, investment, culture, environment, and education, and supervised a tourism and port authority budget of over $100 million. In 1998, Dave was one of the architects of the newly established Center for Sustainable Tourism at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2001 he was named President of the National Rural Tourism Foundation. Dave has authored/coauthored more than 100 articles and five books including Tourism Policy: The Next Millennium (1999); Best Practices Guidebook for International Tourism and Attraction Development for Rural Communities (2001), and Competition: Global Tourism Beyond the Millennium (1995). He is currently working on a new book: Managing Sustainable Tourism which discusses the integration, under the heading of sustainable tourism, the natural and built environments along with culture, heritage, and historic preservation. Dave continues to teach as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and University of Hawaii. Dr. Edgell earned his Ph.D. in Management, a Master’s in Public Administration, BS in Business and a BA in Economics. He has also completed executive education programs at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute’ of Technology, and the Federal Executive Institute.

JERRY N. KILLION, President, Broadcasting and Cable Division, and Director: Mr. Killion has over 20 years experience in Management, Production, Engineering, and Operations of Broadcast, Cable, Production, and Post Production facilities. His accomplishments include the creation of award winning programming and commercials for local, regional, and national customers. Jerry came to TWC from KKTV, a CBS affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He holds a B.A. in Radio, Television, and Film.

WALTER R. DALE, Executive Vice President and General Counsel: Mr. Dale brings to TWC a combination of skills as its General Counsel.  A true entrepreneur, he has been involved in many independent projects--often combining his business, arts management, and legal skills.  As an attorney, he specializes in entertainment, tax, probate, and real estate law.  He began his entrepreneurial path while in the U.S. Air Force.  While in the service, he started managing a band, comprised of other military personnel, and continued his involvement after his discharge.  Using a very innovative marketing and promotions strategy, his  band broke new ground in 1974 by shopping a complete master instead of a demo (now common practice).  He recounts how they were turned down countless times by many record labels before they released the album independently.  They subsequently sold 20,000 albums within two weeks, and finally landed a recording deal.

Continuing his arts management ventures independently, Walter pursued his business interests--working in various financial positions and earning an MBA Degree and CPA certification simultaneously.  Recognizing that the music industry was undergoing a radical change in the 80's, he went on to pursue a law degree while working for the Internal Revenue Service.  "It is something I always wanted to do," he explains.  It also helped him to merge his two loves--music and business.  Upon graduating from law school, Walter opened his practice and began actively pursuing both law clients and music projects.  He also began teaching accounting and finance at Chicago State University (CSU) located in Chicago, Illinois.  He retired from CSU after 12 years and began teaching at Columbia College also located in Chicago.  With Columbia since 1997, he teaches Legal Aspects of the Arts and Entertainment, co-teaches Developing Record Deal Strategies, and co-teaches the Marché international de I'édition musicale (MIDEM) course--a five-week course that prepares students to attend the annual MIDEM Conference in Cannes, France.  While there, the students actively shop for licensing and distribution deals for music project that they select.  Having attended MIDEM  professionally since 1993, Walter developed original proposal to Columbia to take students to MIDEM. 

Not one to remain static, in addition to his duties as TWC's General Counsel, Walter continues to be involved in a number of external projects.  He currently manages a female vocalist, is involved in a partnership with a record label in London and serves on the board of the newly founded Chicago Music Commission (CMC).  He is also working on a project with a film company that is developing a documentary based on Chicago's gangster era, owns a partnership interest in a title insurance agency, and serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the national organization Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA).

DR. HERB WONG, President, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning: Dr. Wong is involved within a wide scope of activity in and out of Jazz and the music industry. He is Past-President of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and has served as its chair of Jazz radio and recordings for the past 18 years. In 1993, he was inducted into the IAJE Hall of Fame along with legendary drummer Max Roach and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. Herb adjudicates and hosts numerous Jazz festivals and has served as coordinator of Walt Disney World's Epcot Center College and High School Jazz Festivals, and as Musical Director or producer of others. His voice and programs are familiar to listeners of KJAZ-The National Jazz Radio Network. He also serves as its Director of Education and Record Industry Relations. Currently he serves on the National Endowment for the Arts-Music Recording Panel and as a technical consultant for the National Jazz Service Organization and the Smithsonian Institutions' Jazz Oral History Program. Herb’s indelible mark on the music industry includes discovering vocalist Diane Reeves, Saxophonist George Howard, Saxophonist Joshua Redman, Stevie Wonder Keyboardist Rodney Franklin, and musician and singer Harry Connick, Jr. Herb has been an administrator and professor at Western Washington University and U.C. Berkeley and is a published science educator and ecologist with dozens of titles.

JAMES E. TANGELDER, Senior Vice President of Finance, and Controller: Mr. Tangelder comes to TWC from LSI Logic, an international semi-conductor manufacturer. While at LSI, he oversaw the Tax and Control Implementation of all Fixed Assets totaling $2.5 billion. Prior to joining LSI, Jim was Chief Financial Officer for The Business Radio Network, a nationwide network of radio stations specializing in business news and information. Jim holds a B.S. in Accounting from State University of New York (SUNY) and is currently enrolled in the University of Phoenix’s International Business Program earning an MBA degree in International Business.

MITCHELL RANDOLPH, JR., C.P.M., Senior Vice President, Procurement and Contracting: Mr. Randolph brings to TWC over twenty-five years experience in commercial and government procurement. He has directed and supervised multicultural procurement staffs for commodity, construction, services, contract administration and subcontract administration in both the United States and Overseas.  Mitchell has held positions as Contracting Officer in the U.S Air Force and most recently senior contracting positions at several firms in the Denver area doing business in Internet Hosting, Network Cable Entertainment and Telecommunications. He has also worked for the University of Colorado and assisted the Minority Enterprises, Inc. (MEI) and National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to provide procurement assistance consulting to minority owned and Denver-based firms. Mitchell received his Bachelor of General Studies in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his M.A. in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University at Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), certified by The Institute for Supply Management and holds a certification in Contract Management from the National Contract Management Association/Air Force Institute of Technology.

JACQUIE VICK, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications Officer: Ms. Vick brings to TWC 17 plus years of work experience from the airline industry (Trans World Airlines/American Airlines) where she worked on numerous special assignments as a Communications and Promotions Specialist, Flight Attendant Training and Development Instructor, and Hiring Manager for Flight Attendant Employment.  She gained 10 years of management experience and a diverse background in internal and external communications, community and media relations, desktop publishing, promotions, policy and procedure development, product presentation, and training and curriculum development.  For two and a half years, Ms. Vick served as the Communications/Public Relations Specialist for the St. Louis Chapter of the National Black MBA Association.  In addition to creating, composing, and editing monthly communication pieces she was instrumental in increasing media coverage at local events and raising public awareness about the organization and its community initiatives by creating and managing advertisements, press releases, news publications, and promotional incentives.  Ms. Vick holds a Master of Arts in Media Communications from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saint Louis University.  Her professional and community affiliation is as follows: International Association of Business Communicators; Community Service Public Relations Council; National Black MBA Association; MS Corporate Achievers “Class of 2003”, National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Black MBA Day, St. Louis Internship Program; Junior Achievement, St. Louis Public Schools; Education/Community Service Initiatives, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; Annual Walk-A-Thons for UNCF, National MS Society, and Breast Cancer, and participates in local charity events.

WILLIAM (BILL) MILLER, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Corporate Division: Mr. Miller is responsible for overseeing all local, regional, and national government related issues that involve TWC and its subsidiaries. Bill has over 25 years combined experience working with for profit and non-profit organizations. These include: government, manufacturing, education, and media communications. He also has over 17 years experience as an elected official. Most recently, Bill has performed government liaison work for the City of Berkeley, Missouri, a St. Louis County municipality. While an employee of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, he also performed liaison duties with state and local governments. In 1978, he was elected as a city councilman in Berkeley. This was followed in 1988 with him being elected Berkeley’s first African-American mayor. Bill also has the distinguished honor of being one of the select few ever invited to attend a Joint Session of Congress. Bill is also currently president of B&R Enterprises, a communications media company. A few of B&R’s clients include: the Internal Revenue Service, the Naturalization and Immigration Service, Gateway Computers, and Anheuser Busch Corporation. Bill is also Vice President of Support Services at St Mary's Hospital, located in East St. Louis, Illinois, and is an active member in numerous community-based organizations. These include: the American Society of Human Resources, the St. Louis Leadership Center (Focus St. Louis). He also serves on a number of boards such as the Illinois Hospital Association, the East St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, the St. Louis Alzheimer's Association, Junior Achievement, and the City of Black Jack Planning and Zoning Board. Bill is also a Past President of the 100 Black Men, a renowned national education endowment organization. Bill holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Aeronautics from Tennessee State University, and a Masters degree in Business Management from National Louis University. He is also certified in Employee Relations Law, and is a Total Quality Management Instructor, and a Motivational Speaker.

EDWARD (ED) COX, Senior Vice President of Security and Safety, Corporate Division: Mr. Cox brings to TWC over 30 years of experience in Security, Safety, Law -enforcement and Administrative Security. A former United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, Ed was charged with all aspects of the Air Force’s operational security for its Cheyenne Mountain Complex, which is also the home of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). In addition to day-to-day operational security, he was also responsible for overseeing and managing the more than 40,000 annual visitors to the complex. Other U.S. Military and Government facilities managed by Mr. Cox include those found in Montana, Wyoming, Texas, California, Michigan, Philippines, Thailand and the U.S. Territory of Guam. Before joining us at TWC, Ed was employed by Honeywell Corporation as a Project Manager where he managed such projects as its $120 million Distributed Communication Control System, $20 million Space Based Infra Red System, and a $20 Million Security Upgrade of Schriever, Air Force Base located in Colorado. Ed holds several degrees in security and law-enforcement, as well as a B.S. Degree from Maryland University, and M.P.A. Degree from Golden Gate University, and M.A. Degree from Webster University. Ed is a Distinguished Toastmaster and also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

STEVEN C. (STEVE) GAASCH, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales, Corporate Division: Mr. Gaasch brings to TWC over 20 year’s experience in television advertising revenue. Steve is a profit-oriented performer who has managed national accounts for numerous "regional" television and radio stations in Colorado, Alaska, and Arkansas. Before joining TWC, Steve worked as Director of Sales for Foundation Telecommunications, an Arkansas-based satellite Teleport. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration (Management) from Western State College.

TIM OWENS, Senior Vice President of Programming, Broadcast Division, Programming Department: Mr. Owens is an Executive, Producer and Director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s (CPB’s) National Public Radio (NPR) Jazz Programming Department. Tim currently serves as Producer of NPR's documentary series “Jazz Profiles” hosted by Jazz legend Nancy Wilson and the Kennedy Center's "Billy Taylor's Radio Show.” He also serves as Producer and Executive Producer for a vast number of other national syndicated Jazz radio and television productions such as “Jazz Smithsonian” hosted by Lena Horne and the radio series “Baseball,” for noted television producer Ken Burns. Tim has over 25 years combined experience in the broadcasting industry. Tim holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of California at Santa Barbara.  

ANGELA LAWSON, Senior Vice President, Special Projects Officer, Corporate Division:  Ms. Lawson has 17 years experience as a Project Manager and consultant for public agencies with special emphasis in Right of Way. Her recent right of way experience includes managing the acquisition of over 2,000 residential and non-residential properties under a one billion dollar budget. She is the Vice President of the International Right Of Way Association Chapter 37, Educational Chairperson, and the Local Public Agency Chair; a licensed real estate agent; Volunteer Family Court Victim-Offender Mediator and Citizen Deputy Juvenile Officer; Community Mediator and Executive Board Member. Ms. Lawson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Tennessee State University.

THAD WHARTON, Vice President, Production and Operations, Consumer Products Division:  Mr. Wharton comes to WCI from Monster Music, a division of San Francisco-based Monster Cable Products, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end audio and video cable and accessories. As General Manager of Monster Music, Thad oversaw all aspects of the company’s record label, to include marketing and production control. He also oversaw the “Famous Monsters” endorsement program for Monster Cable, and produced an annual awards show and concert each year during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thad has over 12 years experience in booking and promotions and has worked with artists from a number of different music genres. They include: Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, George Benson, B.B. King, and Tower of Power, to mention a few. Thad holds a B.B.A. Degree and has over eight years of management experience with a “Fortune 25” company.

YASUHIRO (YASU) ODA, Vice President, Asia Development:  In 1976, Yasu formed the first ever Japanese Contemporary Christian Music group in the country of Japan.  Between 1976 and 1989, the group “The Messengers” performed throughout Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, The Philippines, Canada, and the United States. It was also during this period that he established Hosanna Music Company, Ltd in Tokyo, Japan.  Hosanna Music became the primary distributor of Christian music Compact Disc’s and video products imported from the U.S. from such powerhouse record labels as Word, Sparrow, Maranatha! Music, and Integrity, to name a few.  In 1986, his company successfully recorded a famine relief album whose proceeds served as Japan’s contribution to the “We Are the World” movement for feeding natives of the African continent.  Yasu took time off between 1989 and 1993 to pursue a degree in higher learning, which in turn led to him working as the Japanese director of the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS) in Los Angeles, California from 1993 to 1995.  His multilingual skills provided an opportunity for him to work as Pastor of a Japanese Christian Church in East Lansing, Michigan from 1995 to 1999 and also as a principal interpreter/translator for a number of business conferences in the U.S.  Those skills resulted in Yasu being hired as the Senior Interpreter/Translator and English instructor for Douglas Autotech Corporation in Bronson, Michigan.  Douglas Autotech is a “Tier 1” automotive manufacturing supplier for NISSAN, SUBARU, MITSUBISHI, GM,  etc., whose parent company is Fuji Kiko Company, Ltd., in Japan. Yasu holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and American Literature from Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan.  He also attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music in Michigan and holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Talbot School of Theology and Biola University located in La Mirada, California. He also an accomplished voice training instructor and most recently founded a Japanese female musical group comprised called "Hidden Treasures".  Their first CD will be released in 2006.

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Last modified: February 17, 2010