Jonathan M. Herman

Starting his career at Columbia Records in 1990, Jonathan’s journey as a consultant began marketing music releases for recording artists such as Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, Nancy Wilson, Diana Krall, Peabo Bryson, Regina Bell and Public Enemy (working with Sandra Trim-DaCosta and Ruben Rodriguez); managing sports marketing campaigns for NBA draft picks Brian Grant, Tyrone Hill and Derek Strong (working with Steve Cobb); conducting legal services for actress Kim Fields and Death Row Records (working with Darrel D. Miller and Virgil Roberts); coordinating legislative affairs for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; and assisting multiple start-up businesses through planning and launch.

Jonathan established a management and marketing consultancy in 2002 that served, among others, the online branding needs of Strickland & Ashe, the largest African-American sports agency at the time. Two years later, Jonathan began working full-time with Allan Houston, the NBA All-Star and Captain of the New York Knicks, to manage his business and charitable activities – resulting in the development of original programs in fatherhood and entrepreneurship that have served 1,350 participants in New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas and Louisville, KY. This work has also led to emerging opportunities to affect public policy through the Obama administration, and has generated over $1 Million in corporate sponsorships and private donations.

While serving as Executive Director of the Admiral Center at Living Cities, Jonathan developed methodologies for maximizing celebrity impact in both program development and systems change on a variety of issues. Overseeing all aspects of the Center’s growth and development during his tenure, Jonathan took the initiative from concept to reality and brought to membership Eva Longoria Parker, Chris Paul, Russell Simmons and Allan Houston.

Jonathan's entrepreneurial experience includes the founding of Strong Representation, Aspire Holdings (overseas real estate investment firm), and HitMeOff.Com (online entertainment distributor and subsidiary marketing firm). The recipient of collegiate leadership and academic awards, Jonathan holds a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Business Administration from Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) and a Juris Doctorate from the Northeastern University School of Law (Boston, MA). Jonathan has also served as a panelist and judge for various symposiums and business plan competitions for the Kellogg Foundation / Council on Foundations, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Tulane University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.