KING CRUSH THURSDAY EPISODE 176 FEATURING | KEITH SHANNON
Welcome to the 176th Episode of King Crush Thursday, the Podcast Interview. In this series, we highlight and uplift black men, because we need to support our community. The men who are featured in this series come from different segments of our society and are successfully living their lives. Now, when I say success, I define that word in multiple ways. Some are professionals, some have lucrative businesses, some are blue collar workers. All of them embody strength and dignity and have something to say. And I want them to say it here.
EPISODE 176 Keith L. Shannon @kshanpr is the Director of Community Relations for Preparing America’s Tomorrow Today. PATT Encourages, Inspires, and Motivates students to realize their full potential through exposure to opportunities and information, educational enrichment, and expanding relationships. PATT turns dreams into realities by contributing to student scholarships, by taking students on college and cultural tours, and by assisting students to gain admission to institutions of higher education.
Mr. Shannon received his post secondary education at Florida A&M University, Vincennes University (IN) and Regents College (NY). He holds a BS degree in Political Science, and an AAS degree in Leadership and Military Science. Keith is past Chair of Deacons at Baptist Grove Church in Raleigh, NC. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is a Prince Hall Affiliated Mason (Past Master), Consistory member, and a Shriner. He is a Past Commander and current National Executive Board member in the National Society of Pershing Rifles Alumni Association and is a Life Member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Keith’s executive board experience and committee/community service includes significant work with the NAACP, the PTSA, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, student tutoring and mentoring, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee (Raleigh, NC), YWCA Race Relations Study Circles, the National Pan-Hellenic Council / Greater Raleigh, Strengthening the Black Family, Inc., the Triangle Community Foundation (Durham, NC), 100 Black Men in Los Angeles and the Triangle (NC), and North Carolina Theatre. Keith is a co-founder of both the Cornel West Academy of Excellence and Race Relations Tours, LLC., and he is the National Chaplain of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association. Some of Mr. Shannon’s awards include The Fort Valley State University (GA) President’s Trailblazer Award, the NC Alpha Phi Alpha Charles Green Community Service Award, The Light 103.9 FM (Raleigh-Durham, NC) Youth Lamplighter Award, the NAACP (NC) Youth Mentor of the Year Award, and the Glen E. Morrell Award (highest award in US Army Recruiting).
Keith settled in North Carolina after gaining a combined twenty years of leadership experience in the US Army Airborne Infantry and the US Army Recruiting Command. Mr. Shannon frequently speaks to classes (elementary through college), youth groups, transitioning military professionals, and social and civic organizations, emphasizing life-long learning and the importance of the connection of people to other people and the need to improve our society. Mr. Shannon and his wife, Belinda, have conducted cultural and educational tours across the United States and to Kenya, East Africa, and China.
Mr. Shannon is a Goodman Fellow (graduate of Leadership Triangle; Raleigh-Durham, NC), and is a founding mentor of the NGAAP (Next Generation of African American Philanthropists), and A LoT (A Legacy of Tradition), of the Community Investment Network (CIN), which both pay strict attention to the needs of, and give back to communities, utilizing and maximizing collective time, talents and treasure, and testimony. Keith and his wife are the proprietors of SiaRA Productions, Inc., based in Los Angeles, CA and Raleigh, NC. He serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SiaRA. He has co-managed entertainment services resulting in substantial contracts with Broadway’s first national tour of Motown the Musical, Nickelodeon Studios, The Turner Broadcast Networks Cartoon Network, Amazon Prime, Disney, Riot Games, and ABC. Mr. Shannon is the husband of Belinda Reed Shannon, Esq., retired Vice President at GlaxoSmithKline plc., and recently retired Global VP of DEI&B at Scopely. Keith and Belinda are the parents of US Army MAJ Sabrina Shannon Gammage (graduate of Florida A&M University), Washington, DC based entrepreneur Ms. Tobi L. Shannon (graduate of Spelman College and Presidio Graduate School), and professional entertainer Reed LoRenzo Shannon. They are also the proud grandparents of three granddaughters, Nala, Journee, and Jayda Gammage.
Val Gay is a serial entrepreneur and all around Creative. Be sure to follow her on Instagram: @valgaysings Facebook & Twitter: @valgaysings NOMINATE A BLACK MAN TODAY! Click the link https://www.flowcode.com/page/valgay and be sure to visit https://www.valgay.com/
