NBC
Reveals Donald Trump's Handpicked Candidates for The Apprentice 4 8/31/05
TRUMP
HAND-PICKS NEW APPRENTICE CANDIDATES; RHODES SCHOLAR, NFL PLAYER AND
INVENTOR "FIRE UP" FOURTH SEASON OF NBC'S "THE
APPRENTICE" (SEPTEMBER 22, 9-10 PM ET/PT)
"For the first time, I hand-picked an Apprentice cast and I'm
thrilled with the results," said Donald Trump.
NEW YORK -– August 31, 2005 –- A Rhodes Scholar, NFL player and an
inventor are among Donald Trump's "hand-picked" cast of eighteen
young entrepreneurs on the fourth season of NBC's "The
Apprentice" (September 22, 9-10 pm ET/PT). "For the first time,
I hand-picked an Apprentice cast and I'm thrilled with the results,"
said Donald Trump, executive producer. "This is the best reality show
cast I've ever encountered. They have it all: beauty, brains, and big
bucks."
Ranging in age from 22-41, these candidates boast degrees from Oxford,
Wharton, MIT, and Georgetown and several of the candidates are already
millionaires. A wide range of applicants will greet Trump including an NFL
player-turned ad sales executive, an inventor, a salon and spa chain
owner, a financial journalist and a risk manager. Cast photos available at
www.nbcumv.com and complete bios below.
THE 18 CANDIDATES ON NBC'S "THE APPRENTICE"
Cast photos available for download at www.nbcumv.com
· Josh (New York, N.Y.) Beauty Company Owner Josh, 30, a successful
entrepreneur and self-made multi-millionaire by the age of 24, has become
a driving force in the cosmetics and beauty industry. Josh is co-Founder
and Chief Operating Officer of GoSMILE, Inc. (www.GoSMILE.com). In less
than three years, he and his partners in the company have effectively
established GoSMILE as the innovative pioneer and leader of the newest
category in prestige retail, called Smile Beauty. Prior to this venture,
he had successfully helped build and run a multi-media marketing services
company, Student Advantage Inc., valued at over a billion dollars at its
peak in the stock market. Over a nine-year period, Josh built and managed
various aspects of the company, driving the growth of the company from 12
people, generating $400,000 in annual revenue, to nearly 500 people
generating over $85 million in revenue. He received his B.S. in marketing
and finance from the University of Albany. He married his high school
sweetheart four years ago, and they are expecting their first child this
January.
· Rebecca (Chicago, Ill.) Financial Journalist Rebecca, 23, was named
"One of 20 Teens Who Will Change the World" by Teen People
magazine in February 2000 and was awarded a Point of Light by President
Clinton. She graduated with honors from the University of Chicago, earning
degrees in economics and pre-law. As a Chicago-based investment banker,
she structured mergers and acquisitions, as well as equity and debt
transactions. Prior to that, she traded short-term interest rate options
on Citigroup's foreign exchange desk in London. Outside of business,
Rebecca founded a non-profit organization, raising over $750,000 to
support disenfranchised children. In conjunction with this effort, she
lobbied state and federal government officials, speaking at a wide range
of national conferences and sharing the stage with Al Gore and Colin
Powell, among others. She also reported on-air, wrote and helped produce
hard news, features, and entertainment segments for a weekly show on an
NBC affiliate in her hometown of Minneapolis. She is currently a financial
journalist in Chicago.
· Brian (New York, N.Y.) Print Company Executive Brian, 23, originally
from Old Beth Page, NY, is Director of Business Development for The True
Type Printing Company, a New York City-based commercial printing company.
During his tenure, Brian effectively launched new initiatives within the
print and graphic arts vertical market. He helped orchestrate a
comprehensive overhaul of this 70-year-old company into a 30,000 square
foot modern state-of-the-art commercial printing facility – increasing
its overall capability and profitability. Prior to this position, Brian
has been a consultant with many of the industry leaders in technology
including America Online, Inc. and Razorfish, Inc. developing successful
software application systems for their clients. From 1997-1999, Brian
helped cultivate an Internet startup company on Long Island called The
Fountainhead Management, which was sold to the publicly traded e-commerce
company, Intershop Communications in March of 1999. Additionally, at the
age of 18, Brian was the youngest citizen panelist on the show
"Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher."
· Toral (Philadelphia, Pa.) Investment Banker Toral, 29, currently a
Vice President in the Capital Markets group of a major investment bank in
New York City, is among the handful of officer level women in her group
responsible for originating, structuring, negotiating and closing
multi-million dollar business deals. Fluent in French, Hindi and English,
Toral has traveled to more than 15 foreign countries over the course of
her career, working with top business leaders in both the public and
private sectors. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania, Toral has worked for some of the country's leading financial
institutions including Goldman Sachs and American Express. In addition,
Toral is a skilled day trader and self-made multi-millionaire. Her recent
investments include luxury real estate and upscale restaurant projects in
Manhattan and Brooklyn. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Toral now resides
in New York City, and likes to spend her free time at her homes in Miami
Beach and London.
· Chris (Dallas, Texas) Marketing Executive Chris, 27, is a former NFL
player for the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay
Buccaneers. He earned a B.S. in speech communications and rhetoric with a
minor in political science from Texas A&M University, where he was an
All-Conference Offensive Lineman and a four-year letterman. He currently
works in advertising sales as an executive at KRLD News Radio 1080-AM in
Dallas, Texas, where he was recently named "salesperson of the
year," for generating over $1,500,000 in new revenue and breaking the
company's 79-year record for first year sales. During this time, he
started a company called Big Tree Investments LLC., a transactional real
estate company that uses land trusts to acquire and wholesale properties.
In 2004, Chris and his wife Lacie founded C&L, Inc., which operates
their 100-acre tree farm in East Texas, where they raise and harvest pine
trees for long-term investment growth. He and his wife enjoy traveling and
spending time on their ranch.
· Kristi (Gainesville, Ga.) Sales Executive Kristi, 24, top sales
executive for Gold Creek Golf Club, a high profile 27-hole golf course in
Dawsonville, Ga., exceeded her yearly quota of $600,000 in her first four
months on the job. Kristi went on to reach a total of $1.3 million in
sales while becoming a Vice President and leading her sales team. She
received a full scholarship to play soccer at Truett McConnel College and
Brenau University. She was an All-American Nominee and was nationally
ranked. Kristi was able to accomplish all of this after having a premature
child at the age of 16. With her daughter now in second grade she has
found the man of her dreams who she is to marry this fall. They will
continue to live in Gainesville, Ga.
· Clay (College Station, Texas) Realtor Clay, 28, originally from the
small town of Stephenville, Texas, has been involved with real estate his
entire life, both through his parent's custom home business and the very
detailed homes he built using the thousand's of Lego's® he still owns.
Clay attended Texas A&M University for three years where, during his
freshman year, he realized his passion was real estate and began working
as a REALTOR®'s assistant. A year later he moved his real estate license
to Century 21 Beal, Inc. where he has worked for almost nine years. His
unique attention to detail and creative abilities have driven him to be
one of the top real estate agents in the Bryan/College Station area.
Clay's specialty is new construction where he loves to help buyers and
builders design and create unique properties to fit their lifestyles or
market demands.
· Felisha (Kansas City, Mo.) Real Estate Developer Felisha, 29, earned
a B.S. in Aviation Human Factors and Systems from Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University, and then traveled to Atlanta where she was
contracted to do research for the Federal Aviation Administration. In
2001, she took the opportunity to assist an Illinois-based real estate
company in its growth. She quickly learned management and development, and
started her own development companies: 4010 Washington, Mason Management
and Mason Hotels. She currently owns real estate throughout the U.S., and
recently purchased a 100-room hotel development in Lafayette, La.
Originally from Middleton, Idaho, Felisha's motivations for success are
her twin brother, two other siblings, and deceased parents. Her passions
are flying (she is a pilot) and racing sailboats.
· Randal (Somerset, N.J.) Consulting Firm Owner Randal, 34, is the
founder, president and CEO of his fifth venture "BCT Partners,"
a multi-million dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm
based in Newark, N.J., that works with corporations, government agencies,
philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Born in Philadelphia and raised
in Hightstown, N.J., he holds five academic degrees in engineering,
business and technology including a B.S. from Rutgers University, an M.S.
from the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar, and an M.S.,
M.B.A. and Ph.D. from MIT. A former college championship track and field
athlete, he has received numerous awards for his accomplishments as an
entrepreneur and technologist including the National Society of Black
Engineers "National Member of the Year." A Leadership New Jersey
Fellow and Next Generation Leadership Fellow, Randal has been featured by
Black Enterprise magazine and Ebony magazine in their "30 Leaders of
the Future" issue. He is a proud member of First Baptist Church in
Somerset, N.J., where he resides and is happily married to his wife Zahara.
· Jennifer M. (Los Angeles, Calif.) Ad Sales Manager Jennifer M., 26,
former Miss Oregon USA, is a consultant and speaker with a national
advertising firm. One of twelve children, she was home-schooled and,
inspired by her father's entrepreneurial spirit, she dove into business at
age 17. By the age of 21 she started investing in and developing real
estate ventures. At age 23, Jennifer secured a management position with an
advertising firm, and developed new businesses throughout the state of
Oregon. She recently moved from Southern Oregon to Los Angeles where she
continues to oversee her real estate development business.
· James (Alexandria, Va.) Sales Executive James, 27, is in the top
three percent of sales for Cingular Wireless and is a Cingular Summit
award winner. He recently started a real estate investment firm, J.S.
DILLON, with his wife Shawna and they currently own properties in
Alexandria, Va., Washington D.C., and Chicago. James graduated cum laude
from Frostburg State University with a B.S. in business administration and
was also Vice President of Sigma Beta Delta and a four-year baseball
letterman/captain. Upon graduation, he earned his second diploma in
broadcasting and interned at "The John Thompson Show" and
"The Sports Reporters" on SportsTalk980. He was dubbed
"Gentleman Jim" while interning on Z104's, "The Bush League
Morning Show." This experience led him to a position as a roaming
reporter, production assistant, and weekend sportscaster at WHSV TV3 in
Harrisonburg, Va.
· Alla (Las Vegas, Nev.) Salon & Spa Chain Owner Alla, 31, a
self-made multi-millionaire, owns a chain of upscale Dolphin Court Salons
& Day Spas in Las Vegas. She also builds million dollar custom
mansions for resale and invests avidly in commercial and residential land.
Born and raised in Kishinev, Moldavia, formerly of Russia, Alla moved to
the U.S.A. with her parents in 1988 to fulfill the "American
Dream." At age 19, she purchased her first building, and at age 23
she was one of the youngest pioneers of the spa boom. Recently, she
negotiated one of her most lucrative business deals by selling the spa and
the salon she owned at a star studded Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev.
Encouraged by her celebrity clientele, Alla has been developing her own
European-derived skin care and hair care lines. She successfully balances
a happy marriage, motherhood to her four children, and a thriving career
in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas.
· Jennifer W. (Anthem, Ariz.) Realty Company Owner Jennifer, 31,
received a B.A. in public relations and political science from Murray
State University while playing on the university's women's golf team.
Originally from Tennessee, Jennifer was a former president of her local
Future Farmers of America Association. She enjoys riding horses, camping
and even earned her first dollar showing sheep. Jennifer moved to Arizona
in 2000 and opened her own real estate company called "Hot
Realty." She is the designated broker overseeing 70 plus agents and
employees. In its first year of business her company grossed over $1.3
million dollars and is on target to more than double that in 2005. In
addition, she recently opened her second business "Off the Hook Sushi
& Martini Bar." Proving itself to be a hip and trendy local spot
to dine on delicious cuisine, she and her partners plan to open two more
restaurants in the next year. Jennifer is also the proud "Mommy"
of two children.
· Markus (Sarasota, Fla.) Inventor Markus, 41, grew up splitting his
time between Chicago and Sarasota, Fla. and has lived in many other cities
including Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. While attending Santa Monica
College for pre-law, Markus chose to breakaway in favor of pursuing the
life of an entrepreneur. He had involvement in the ultra high-end
furniture industry for ten years, focusing on distribution and furniture
design with clients including Disney, Universal and select residential
properties. Markus invented, developed and marketed The FootMateTM System
and currently is reintroducing the system with key industry partners and
has many other products in the works. In addition, he continues to manage
and invest in numerous waterfront real estate properties. Markus has an
intense passion for life and adventure; ranking high on the list are
skiing, auto racing, flying and pursing a passion for fine wine –
frequently traveling to Bordeaux, Champagne and Paris.
· Melissa (Tampa, Fla.) Real Estate Investor Melissa, 30, was a star
softball and soccer athlete for much of her youth. She graduated magna cum
laude from the University of Denver, with a dual B.S. degree in Accounting
and International Finance, and two Master Degrees in Accounting and
Computer Information Systems. Melissa's Fortune 500 professional
foundation includes accounting and tax consulting at KPMG, followed by
becoming Vice President of Investments at Wachovia Securities. She built a
portfolio of investments valued more than $48 million in her first year as
a stockbroker. True to her entrepreneurial spirit, Melissa founded Mosaic
Co., offering title and inspection services, mortgage lending, and
lease-option housing, after many years of buying, selling, and rehabbing
properties. She recently acquired several apartment buildings in Fla. and
is currently expanding into the hospitality and senior housing industries.
· Mark (Louisville, Ky.) Wealth Manager Mark, 35, graduated from the
University of Louisville with a B.A. in finance and completed his M.B.A.
from Bellarmine University. He founded and sold more than eight successful
businesses over the past ten years while working for PNC Brokerage. During
his time at PNC, he was also the firm's top producer for nine consecutive
years in the Kentucky and Indiana region. After leaving the firm, he
launched Lamkin Wealth Management, which has vaulted to the top two
percent of LPL firms nationwide in just three-and-a-half years. Mark's
goal is to manage $100 million dollars in five years. He and his wife
Jennifer have two children.
· Marshawn (Atlanta, Ga.) Recent Law School Graduate Marshawn, 26, is
CEO of Communications Counts!, a national professional development and
public speaking consulting agency where she travels the country working
with politicians, athletes, entertainers, and media personalities. As Miss
District of Columbia, she finished 3rd runner-up at the Miss America
competition. A national spokesperson on youth crime prevention and
leadership development, and she has worked with the U.S. Justice
Department as a co-founder of the National Youth Network. She graduated
magna cum laude from Texas Christian University with honors, and was named
a Harry S. Truman Scholar, an ambassador to the International Summit of
Achievement in Ireland, and one of Glamour magazine's "Top Ten
College Women." She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law
Center, where she served as a criminal defense attorney in the Juvenile
Justice Clinic and as a litigator on Georgetown's International Commercial
Arbitration Team competing in Vienna, Austria. Born and raised in Dallas,
Texas, she relocated from Washington, D.C. to Georgia where she will begin
her career as a litigator with a top Atlanta law firm.
· Adam (Atlanta, Ga.) Risk Manager Adam, 22, graduated at the age of
20 in the top of his class from Georgia State University with a B.B.A.
majoring in risk management and insurance. He began his career at the
early age of 19 at Marsh & McLennan Companies, a fortune 200 Company,
in their investment banking division. By age 20, Adam was managing a book
of business, at Marsh USA Inc., exceeding three million for blue chip
companies providing them with tailored risk management solutions. He
recently moved to New York City where he is currently working for one of
the Big 4 Accounting/Advisory Firms where he advises the head of fortune
500 Companies on risk management strategies. As a first generation
American, Adam derives his inspiration and entrepreneurial spirit from his
parents successful business that they started from nothing and grew to a
multimillion-dollar enterprise. Additionally, growing up, Adam worked in
the family tool and dye machine shop business and managed the family's
multimillion-dollar real estate business located in the heart of metro
Atlanta. Adam's summers were spent in Israel, his family's origin, which
had a tremendous influence on his values.
"The Apprentice" is produced by Mark Burnett Productions.
Mark Burnett, Jay Bienstock and Donald J. Trump are executive producers.
Conrad Riggs and Kevin Harris are co-executive producers.