IBA


Bernard Garrett Publisher		Co-founded and directed the start-up and development of the company and the publication. Bernard Garrett, with 20 years of publishing experience, has invested significant time and personal resources in IBA Publications since its initial foundation. Due to Bernard Garrett's unremitting passion, commitment, dedication and tenacity , Issues In Black America Magazine is the beneficiary of a magazine executive in possession of leadership skills and ability, technical insight, marketing knowledge, network and contacts, and substantial sweat equity. `Garrett has developed personal relationships with national distributors, publication printers, subscription and fulfillment agencies, production and design companies and many other entities vital to magazine publishing.` `In 1995, Garrett was selected and awarded the "Businessman of the Year" by the Greater Atlanta Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club.` `Garrett has a Bachelor's Degree from GSU; and is a member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Masonic Order.`

Deric Gilliard Managing editor		Experience and background includes 20 plus years as a communication practitioner with the private sector, federal government, educational environments, as well as for advocacy groups. Served for 10 years as the Georgia correspondent for USA Today, wrote for Time magazine and headed up communications elements at historically black colleges and universities for five years. Later served as the national communications director for Dr. King's organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), for four years. In that role, served as chief spokesman for the organization and managed media relations on a regional, national and international level, as well as serving as editor of the groups four-color, 200 page quarterly publications. Established Gilliard Communications in 1998 and served clients in the business, religious and activist communities. Also produced and co-hosted a weekly television show, as well as published a newspaper. An award-winning journalist and author, Gilliard also produced television commercials that aired in the top-ten Atlanta market. Later wrote and published a book on civil rights legends entitled, “Living in The Shadows of a Legend: unsung heroes and heroes who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Later served as the nation's only African-American public affairs consultant to the regional director of the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. In that role, Gilliard provided media relations and public affairs counseling to the head of the eight-state, southeastern region. Gilliard also presents, in conjuction with Emory University, a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation entitled "How To Make The Media Work For You" to hundreds of people at a variety of conferences throughout the southeast. Gilliard resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Jerry Dyson Advertising Director		Experience and background includes selling of advertising space in Washington, DC and the northeast area, for Success Guide Magazine. Being Sales Director for the sales representative staff, Dyson affords IBA Magazine the knowledge, skills and ability to sell advertising directly. Additionally, Dyson has the resources and network developed through his colleague contacts and assistance in which to retain and draw from, in order to accomplish the advertising sales goals for the company to be successful. Dyson background is further advanced through the founding of his marketing, advertising and public relations company, Array Services. Jerry Dyson is a native of Louisiana, and resides in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of Southern University, and a member of the Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity.

Brian Woods Production Manager		Brian Woods, along with Publisher, Bernard Garrett, founded Inside Black America Publications and created Issues In Black America (IBA) Magazine, with the purpose of providing quality information for the Black African-American population in the United States. Woods and Garrett, with the help and assistance of the founder's team and other supporters, successfully launched the first nationally resource information magazine of its kinds. During the development of the company as well as the magazine, Mr. Woods, while involved in all facets of the publication, was directly responsible for production and design/layouts, in addition to securing individuals to grace covers of IBA Magazine. Woods background and experience includes employment with Food and Drug Branch of the State of California (FDA). Thereby, providing him extensive training in public health and community relations. Woods has a Bachelor's Degree from UCLA and a Masters Degree form the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and is a Deacon in the Baptist Church. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Woods was raised Los Angeles, California, where he currently resides.

Lithangia Robinson Circulation Manager		As Circulation Director for IBA, Lithangia (Angie) Murray is responsible the overall circulation direction of the magazine, inclusive of new readership, subscriptions, the Organizations & Associations Members (O&AM) program, and the Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU’s) Alumni initiative. Ms Murray also writes the Religious Column for Issues in Black America…. Ms. Murray is a senior executive with 16 years experience in the magazine industry. Prior to joining Issues in Black America, Ms. Murray taught Music Education in Oklahoma and Georgia. She also served as the Director of several Operettas’. Ms. Murray is a graduate of Morris Brown College, where she obtained a BS in Music Education. She studied at Georgia State University for middle school education and Mercer University for early childhood education. She is a candidate for a Master of Education in Teaching and English as a second language at Cambridge College in Massachusetts. Ms. Murray is the daughter of the late Mrs. Lithangia Robinson who was the first African American president of the Georgia Education Council. Ms. Murray carry’s on her mother’s passion to educate our youth. Ms. Murray spends countless amounts of hours volunteering for worthy causes. Some of the organization she has volunteered with includes; Aid Atlanta, 1996 Olympics, Councilman C.T. Martin’s sponsored Youth Fest, National Democratic Convention, The High Museum of Art and so many others.