The Politics In Color Team covered the 2024 HOPE Global Forums in Atlanta, Dec. 9 – 11 where they college interviews with newsmakers, thought leaders, elected and appointed politicians, celebrities and many others.

Michael T. Hill, president emeritus, Atlanta Black Chambers, is a proven business strategist and investor, widely recognized for his expertise in market analysis, strategic planning, and SMART marketing strategies. With over 20 years of experience, Hill has become a trusted advisor to CEOs and small business owners throughout the Southern region of the United States.

As the Senior Advisor of Strategic Initiatives for TheMarketPlaceUSA, Hill has led the development and implementation of innovative business strategies that have delivered impressive results for clients across various industries. He is also the Founder and President Emeritus for the Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, and Co-Founder and Executive for the Atlanta Black Chambers Foundation and Georgia Coalition Black Chambers. Hill’s passion for mentoring and developing member-based organizations, social enterprises, and minority chambers has earned him a reputation as a thought leader and influencer in the business world.

Hill holds certifications in Corporate Sustainability (Green) Supply Chains and has conducted presentations, training, and speaking engagements for a variety of prestigious organizations, including the SBA, FDIC, Federal Reserve, Black Enterprise Conference, My Brother’s Keeper White House Initiative, BBC News, PBS, BET, and many others. Hill’s commitment to driving economic growth in the Southern region is evidenced by his role as the Organizer and Facilitator for the Southern Regional Economic Roundtable. This weekly gathering of key stakeholders, chamber presidents, small business owners, county and city officials, and other member-based organizations from across the region focuses on opportunities for small businesses and social enterprises.

To date, the roundtable has conducted over 1000 meetings across 7 states, impacting 616 counties in the Southeastern states. Hill is a native of Georgia, having grown up in Athens and Augusta. He is a proud alumnus of Clark Atlanta University, where he studied Marketing. Hill is the proud father of three daughters and has been married to his wife Dr. Melonie Bell-Hill for over 20 years. With his extensive knowledge and experience, Hill is a sought-after speaker and business leader, dedicated to helping companies achieve their goals and drive economic growth in the Southern region.

The HOPE Global Forums convene the most influential leaders from government, community and the private sector to outline a vision for the modern global economy – where the benefits and opportunities of free enterprise can be extended to everyone. Our Annual Meeting is now the largest gathering in the world focused on the empowerment of the underserved. The 2023 events were viewed by 5.1 million people in 30+ countries. Participants are challenged to make HOPE in Action Commitments – large or small, individual or collective – focused on creating positive change in the world. #hope #newsmakers #impact

The Politics In Color Team covered the 2024 HOPE Global Forums in Atlanta, Dec. 9 – 11 where they college interviews with newsmakers, thought leaders, elected and appointed politicians, celebrities and many others. As one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers, Les Brown is a dynamic personality and highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunity.

For three decades he has not only studied the science of achievement, he’s mastered it by interviewing hundreds of successful business leaders and collaborating with them in the boardroom translating theory into bottom-line results for his clients. As a premier Keynote Speaker and leading authority on achievement for audiences as large as 80,000—Les Brown energizes people to meet the challenges of the world around them. He skillfully weaves his compelling life story into the fabric of our daily lives.

The thread is forever strengthened, touting why you can’t afford to be complacent and to aim high, achieve and actively make an impact on the world. Les Brown never tires of using his energies to transform the world, well-beyond the podium and public appearances, meshing traditional and social media to empower his audiences. Hundreds of thousands are watching him on YouTube and tens of thousands interact with him regularly on Facebook. He has a keen way of turning what he touches into gold.

Over 20 years ago, he won a Chicago-area Emmy® for his unsurpassed fundraising pledge drive for the Public Broadcasting System. Followed by several bestselling books and hosting popular national talk shows on television and radio.

Addressing audiences from Denmark to Dubai, Canada to the Caribbean, Les Brown is invited back again and again for his powerful message and the ability to connect deeply with people from all walks of life. It isn’t just his great smile and his way with words that motivates people to take action like never before; when people face roadblocks or adversity it is the depth of his knowledge on achievement that creates lasting results.

The HOPE Global Forums convene the most influential leaders from government, community and the private sector to outline a vision for the modern global economy – where the benefits and opportunities of free enterprise can be extended to everyone. Our Annual Meeting is now the largest gathering in the world focused on the empowerment of the underserved. The 2023 events were viewed by 5.1 million people in 30+ countries. Participants are challenged to make HOPE in Action Commitments – large or small, individual or collective – focused on creating positive change in the world. #hope #newsmakers #impact