ATLANTA, GA (August 2013) – HBCU Direct, LLC (HD), a marketing collective specializing in HBCU relations, has been busy in 2013 developing the next HBCU workforce and they are just getting started. This past May marked the company's foray into the world of government contracting landing a contract with NASA vendor Qinetiq to supply engineering and computer science students at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. HD, through its relationship with Alabama A&M University (Huntsville) was able to fulfill the contract requirements with a robust number of qualified students for the 10-person contract. HD recently partnered with NASA vendor Teledyne Brown Engineering to fulfill a 6-person co-op contract at Marshall Space Center in Huntsville. With the contracting partnerships, the three-year old HBCU agency follows its mission of bridging the gap between corporate and government entities and the nation's 100+ HBCU's.

 

“We have a tremendous partnership with Alabama A&M and their career services department to support the needs of their students. The relationship allows us to help prepare future business leaders and entrepreneurs to access opportunities in the government contract fields," said HD CEO/Executive Director and Morehouse College graduate Rod Chappell. "This relationship also aligns perfectly with our mission of servicing HBCUs," added Chappell whose events company Grassroots Promotions has produced the BET Black College Tour for more than and decade. 

 

Founded in 1875, Alabama A&M University (AAMU) is a public, Huntsville, AL-based HBCU that has been nationally recognized for its innovative research and technology practices. "Our partnership with HBCU Direct fits perfectly with our mission of providing students with cooperative education and internship placement opportunities. We look forward to extending the partnership with more contracts and new opportunities for our students,” added Yvette Clayton, Director of Career Development Services at Alabama A&M University.

 

In addition to the new partnerships, HD is working on HBCU Stream (www.hbcustream.com) -- a new internet television network that features content developed for and by the HBCU community. HBCU Stream will be an additional resource for announcing contracting opportunities and online training for students and alumni.