Codeblack Enterprises CEO Jeff Clanagan to be honored as Hero of Business Feb. 22
Tristan Brew |
On Thursday, Feb. 22, Lipscomb University’s College of Business will recognize president and CEO of Codeblack Enterprises Jeff Clanagan as its latest Hero of Business. Clanagan is a part of the College of Business's Centennial Speaking Series, part of a yearlong series of events celebrating the 100th anniversary of business education at Lipscomb. Clanagan is being recognized for his work in the creative realm of business.
He is also president and founder of Laugh Out Loud, the new comedy network from Kevin Hart and Lionsgate. In his roles with Codeblack Films, a division of Lionsgate dedicated to serving the black community worldwide, Clanagan and his team have acquired and developed films for distribution such as the Golden Globe®-nominated indie drama Frankie and Alice and Addicted.
Lipscomb’s Heroes of Business program was developed in 2009 to highlight business leaders who have achieved great success in their business, but have also displayed their faith and character in their industries.
“Jeff not only exemplifies solid business skills and the values we want business students to model in their careers, but demonstrates that business can be a force of good,” said Ray Eldridge, dean of the College of Business. “Just look at Clanagan's CodeBlack Entertainment which was created to facilitate diverse representations of African-Americans in film.”
During his day at Lipscomb, the award-winning producer and innovator will speak at several events including a breakfast, breakout chapel with students and an evening lecture, which is free and open to the public.
Clanagan will kick off the morning breakfast discussing “The Diversity Challenges and Trends in the Entertainment Industry.” He will then join a group of business students for a roundtable discussion that will focus on current trends in the entertainment industry and the value diversity has within the film industry.
An evening lecture in Ward Hall at 6:30 p.m. concludes the day. Clanagan will discuss “Industry Insights: A Focus on Faith, Diversity and the Future of the Entertainment Business.” The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Register here.
Clanagan has a passion for mentoring young people. In 2015, he created a sports division within his company called Codeblack Elite Track Club, which allows him to coach and mentor young adults in track and field at Calabasas High School.
Clanagan graduated from the University of Washington before attending Harvard Business School in its prestigious executive program. Clanagan was awarded the Pioneer Award from the African American Film Critics Association in 2014 and the Game Changer Achievement Award from Uptown Magazine and Kia Motors.
Recently named by Variety Magazine as one of the top Digital Entertainment Executives to watch in 2018, he has also been named in the Ebony Power 150 and Black Enterprise top 50 Power Brokers and has been profiled in The New York Times, The L.A. Times and GQ Magazine.
Want to know more about the college that has the No. 1 Undergraduate business program in Tennessee? Visit www.lipscomb.edu/business.