OUR STAFF

Tarik Edmonson, CEO

Some individuals are born with the distinct ability to sell anything. Occasionally, such individuals are additionally blessed with such heightened creativity that it becomes a vision. When these two gifts are combined with a true passion for one's business, the result is an entrepreneur to rival the likes of Donald Trump and Russell Simmons. Bronx, NY born Tarik Edmonson is one such entrepreneur and music is his passion. The decision to start his own company came as Edmonson worked on an Associate's Degree in Telecommunications Management at Devry Institute in Brunswick, NJ. While continuing, his studies at Savannah State University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Edmonson also entered the corporate workforce, gaining experience in both technical and customer support. But his entrepreneurial spirit could not be denied. His first venture was Nubian Styles, a retailer of men's and women's apparel. In 1999, Edmonson founded Stargate Worldwide Entertainment, combining his "gift of gab," corporate experience, and his passions. Now, some five years later, Edmonson has brought his company and life full circle, adding a merchandising aspect to Stargate. "After the Popa Wu deal, I was awakened to how distribution works in America," he says. "And I realized I can apply the same principles in any industry." The 38-year-old father attributes his success to keeping his eyes open to new opportunities and is additionally motivated by the desire to leave a legacy for his children to continue.

Edmond "Nasiyr" Brown, CFO/COO

More than just a financial professional, Nasiyr Brown is passionate about his career. Since graduating from Virginia State Universtiy in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Brown has consistently proven his prowess in his chosen field of expertise. For approximately 5 years, he worked with American Standard in the finance department, moving up to the position of Cash Manager, managing over $2 Billion in cash transactions in one year. While in his various positions with American Standard, Nasiyr earned his greenbelt certification in Six Sigma, an extremely successful management strategy developed by Motorola in 1980, and currently used by some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including General Electric. With that experience under his belt, Brown felt sure that he could parlay those same skills into a successful business of his own. Partnering with his fraternity brother presented itself as the ideal opportunity. "Tarik has proven to him that he has the natural business savvy not only coming up with an idea, but putting forth the effort to cultivate the idea," says Brown. "And since he has access to high profile people and the ability to our ideas heard, I see this being a six-figure grossing venture." As Stargate Worldwide Entertainment's CFO, Brown's day-to-day duties include negotiating contracts, agreements and seeking out both investment opportunities and investors for the company. In addition, Brown is also responsible for recruiting new talent to the company and shaping its infrastructure. Brown is a father of two: an eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter.

Abid Khaleel, Director of Sales

The newest addition to Stargate's corporate staff, New Jersey native Abid Khaleel, brings 17 years of sales and client relations experience to his position. Interestingly enough, this was not his original choice of a career was not sales, but rather medicine. It just so happens that during with his counselor at Monmouth University, Khaleel made such an impressive case for why he should drop his Organic Chemistry course, that the counselor automatically realized where his true talents where. Khaleel proceeded to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in both Marketing and Biology, and the rest, as they say, is history. Equally as impressive as the amount of experience he possesses is that all of Khaleel's professional experience has been with one company. In his positions with that company, Khaleel has worked in several areas of sales, from presentation, to product launch and management, to director of regional sales (both wholesale and retail), to national director of accounts. In addition to spearheading the successful national launch of a new product, Khaleel has worked with such retailers as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Lowes. He is excited about the prospect of bringing this experience not only to a new product, but to a new company as well, which serves as a true test and testament to what he's learned over the years. With Urban Air Fresheners, Khaleel hopes to create true brand loyalty that will carry on to any of the future merchandise the company will present to the public. He believes that the best sales strategy for the automobile detailing products the company will offer will focus on image marketing: aligning the company to some of the greatest names in Hip-Hop culture, thus making Urban Air Fresheners' products as essential to the 16-28 demographic as the newest NBA-endorsed athletic shoes or the coolest rapper-supported gadget. "I really see what we're working on becoming a great success and volume story," says Khaleel. The married father of two sons and a daughter is also an avid sportsman, taking interest in cycling, scuba diving, snow skiing, surfing and occasionally participating in triathlons.