More About the Author
C. Sunny Martin has always defined his primary mission in life as making a positive difference to enhance, uplift and economically empower minority communities. He has been described as one of America's top networking authorities, and a recognized expert in multicultural marketing.
Described by many as a gifted visionary, Sunny's thirty plus years of experience and achievements in publishing has afforded him face-to-face audiences with four United States Presidents.
In 2008, President Barack Obama said of Sunny, "I'd like to congratulate Sunny on all his work to showcase the positive achievements of African-Americans nationwide." In 2004, former President Jimmy Carter held a special tribute to Mr. Martin at the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, Georgia to honor his outstanding achievements in publishing.
C. Sunny Martin is one of America's most distinguished and renown African-American publishers, having self-published 60 books in twenty-two short years. Sunny has also produced signature events at such prestigious venues as The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky, The Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, California, The Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, The Muhammad Ali Museum in Louisville, Kentucky and at each Ritz Carlton, location in Atlanta, Georgia.
Previously, Mr. Martin was the founder and CEO of Who's Who Publishing Company. (www.whoswhopublishing.com) As a result, the company became recognized as the largest African-American directory publisher in the country. In February of 2009, Mr. Martin sold Who's Who Publishing resulting in a multimillion-dollar deal transaction. Mr. Martin is credited with building one of the largest networks of influential and affluent African-American achievers in the nation. Sunny has now focused his time, energy, and talents in private label publishing projects, and multicultural marketing consultation, and assisting various clients in the planning and staging of signature events nationwide. It has been said that one will ultimately become the person he or she is in life by the company they keep. The list of well-known leaders and achievers, celebrities and politicians who have written greetings, introductions or forewords to his publications truly is a noteworthy list of achievers!
They include such dignitaries as:
* President Barack Obama
* President George W. Bush
* President George H. W. Bush
* President Jimmy Carter
* Former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young
* Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
* Dr. Dorothy Height
* Dr. Mae C. Jemison
* Super Bowl Coach Tony Dungy
* Mr. David Steward
* Mr. John W. Rogers, Jr.
* Mr. Johnny Furr, Jr.
* Mr. Kevin McDowell
* Mrs. Linda Johnson Rice
* Congressman John Conyers
* Hon. Congressman Charles B. Rangel
* U.S. Federal Judge Damon Keith
* Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge
* Mayor Mark Mallory, Cincinnati
* Mayor Shirley Franklin, Atlanta
* Mr. Tyler Perry
* Mr. Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Jr.
* Mr. W. Frank Fountain
* Mr. William G. Mays
In addition, Sunny has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including but not limited to:
* 2009 & 2008 Spirit of Detroit Award- Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Former Mayor of Detroit
* 2007 Haki R. Madhubuti Independent Publisher of the Year Award- Book Expo America
* 2007 Man of the Year Award - Women Looking Ahead Magazine, Atlanta, Georgia
* 2007 Kentucky Colonel- Commissioned by Former Kentucky Governor, Ernie Fletcher
* 2006 Businessman of the Year Award- National Republican Congressional Committee
Mr. Martin has been an invited guest to the White House on four separate occasions and was personally invited to Bermuda in 2008 by the Honorable Premier Dr. Ewart F. Brown to help promote African-Americans to explore business opportunities in Bermuda.
Sunny has now embarked on a fresh journey to continue his quest to shine a spotlight on other untold stories of success and achievement.
