League of EXTRAordinary Black Men: Renard Antonio Green

Respect yourselves, respect your culture, understand your history and protect, uplift and support women. ~Renard Green

TheBlackManCan is back in the Midwest for its next League of EXTRAordinary Black Men feature. We bring to you this week a Talented, Innovative and results-producing Black Man. Mr. Renard Antonio Green is the Chief Executive Officer and President of The R2 Consulting Group. Brother Green disucceses a variety of topics with TheBlackManCan which include but are not limited to youth developing finiacial skills, being awarded the Pacesetter Award by The Ohio State University Max. M. Fisher College of Business and his upcoming presentation on Technology Transfer and Commercialization.

TheBlackManCan: What provided the inspiration to start The R2 Consulting Group? Why the name R2?

RG: The name actually comes from the initials of the two company principals, Richard and Renard, R2 Consulting Group.

TheBlackManCan: What services are offered on behalf of R2 Consulting Group?

RG: We offer financial, marketing and project management services.  We are currently setting ourselves up to work in the Technology Transfer and Commercialization space as our core and niche area of expertise.

TheBlackManCan: How has your previous academic and professional experiences helped you build your own consulting firm?

RG:  There’s a few ways that my academic and professional experience has helped me.  I attended an HBCU, Florida A&M University.  That’s where I discovered my scientific foundation and graduated with my Bachlors of Arts and Science in Chemistry.  This scientific foundation set me up for what I feel is my development stage.  I moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and worked for Dow AgroSciences as a Discovery Research Chemist.  I honed my skills in this environment and began to encounter and learn how to be professional and polished.  I learned so much in that very competitive and unique environment. When I started the MBA program at Fisher College of Business, I was looking to round out my overall business knowledge and really understand the drivers behind business decisions.  This is where I learned how valuable all of my past experiences were.  I was able to exist in two worlds (business and research) and that made me a valuable asset in certain arenas.  It has also allowed me to truly think out of the box which has been a major plus within our business model.  We don’t believe in one size fits all!  We know that true value is driven by solutions tailored to our customers’ business models and environments.

TheBlackManCan: Can you tell us about the Account Awareness Program of Ohio. Why is it important for the youth to develop financial skills?

RG:  The Accounting Careers Awareness Program (ACAP-Ohio) is an innovative career development program designed specifically for minority high school students. During the week-long campus residency program, a select group of students will have the opportunity to explore careers in accounting and business.

ACAP-Ohio introduces minority high school students to accounting, finance, economics, technology, and management. Minority business leaders share their experiences, provide tips for success and discuss educational opportunities. Students learn about accounting careers first hand through tours of local CPA firms and companies. The program wraps up with an all-star awards banquet for students, parents, speakers and corporate sponsors.

ACAP-Ohio is an all-expenses paid program backed with donations from leading business professionals. Students selected to attend will receive free tuition, room and board, books, materials, tours, and mentoring.

Within the CPA field of work only 1% of that population is African-American and 3% of the same population is Latino.  These are sad numbers but they also represent a very good opportunity for minority youth.  But, let’s be honest it is not a very sexy industry and is often misunderstood.  So, I think ACAP-Ohio puts an intriguing and engaging face on the industry and allows the kids to see it in a different light.

We find charismatic speakers that are successful and these speakers wipe away the “Steve Urkel” image when one thinks of accounting and CPAs.  I think the program is a winner and I still keep up with a couple of the kids that have gone through the program.

TheBlackManCan: You were the recipient of the Pacesetter Award by The Ohio State University Max. M. Fisher College of Business. It is the highest award given to Fisher graduates. How did it feel to receive such an accolade?

RG:  Unreal!!  The award was not only about academic success it also judged leadership, community service and then of course academic success.  So, it was like winning the MVP title.  It meant I was not only smart but well rounded.  To make the occasion that much sweeter, I found out that I was nominated by several of my peers, teachers and a couple school administrators.  Winning was definitely one of my favorite moments while at The Ohio State University’s, Fisher College of Business.

The award was not only about academic success it also judged leadership, community service and then of course academic success. So, it was like winning the MVP title. It meant I was not only smart but well rounded. ~Renard Green

TheBlackManCan: Share with us your work with After School All-Stars and SEM Link.

RG:  SEM Link: Our mission at Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc. (SEM Link) is to promote student achievement and career exploration in math and science while increasing student exposure to  science, technology, engineering and mathematics communities.

After-School All-Star Columbus (CASAS): The mission of Columbus After-School All-Stars is to provide free, quality comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life.

Our goal is to fuel children’s passions in academics and enrichment activities, provide them with the academic foundation to succeed in school, and equip them with skills to become productive members of their community.

I am on the Advisory Board for SEM Link and a board member and past Treasurer for After-School All-Stars Columbus.  Both organizations are tied to academic success for kids while CASAS ties in enrichment and physical fitness.  I am extremely proud to be a servant of both organizations.  I think as you get older you start realizing how blessed you are but also how much more you can bless others with your time, talents and works.  So, I try to fuel my passions for giving and serving at both organizations.

TheBlackManCan: Please share a little about your upcoming presentation: Technology Transfer and Commercialization: A new way of creating university wealth while promoting scientific accomplishments for greater societal good.

RG:  I am hoping this will be the first of many to come for this year.  The high-level view of our presentation will be to address the issues of communication gaps that exist between researchers and the business world.  However, we will be looking at this through the lens of academia.  So, the discussion will be more dynamic because things are regulated differently and there is this sense of greater good for society rather than maximizing school profits.

So the twist is how should one bridge this gap where all parties can agree and get what they want from the transaction.  This should be a very interesting and thought-provoking session.

TheBlackManCan: Please share with us your story of going from 315-140 lbs in less than two years.

RG:  I hit 315lbs while I was working on my MBA.  I never even noticed as I was so focused on my degree.  But, I got a nice little wake-up call courtesy of an unexpected health issue.  I woke up in the middle of the night and had to be taken to the hospital as I could not breathe.  I got there and the medical staff was able to regulate my breathing but my blood pressure was so high that they thought I could have a stroke at any time.  I was in the hospital for two days; additionally, they could not find a vein to draw blood or place an I.V.  It was the worst experience of my life at the time.  During one of those nights, I had a little talk with Jesus!  I asked him to bless me and allow me to leave the hospital.  I promise I would never be back in the hospital for weight-related issues again.  So in keeping with my promise, I started walking which progressed to weight lifting and then running.  In fact, I am in preparation for a mini-marathon and have already run 14 miles.

I have been truly blessed as I have done it without surgery just diet adjustments and smart training as well as hard work.  In the end it is all about Faith, Hard Work and Discipline.  With faith being the foundation of which I built the other two pillars.  It has been an amazing journey that so many of my friends are being blessed by as I have provided help to anyone of them that has asked.  So, I feel like GOD has taken my issue and turned it into something good and has been blessing others with it.  I never ask why anymore when it comes to my problems because I know there will be a blessing somewhere in it for either myself or someone else.  To God be the glory!

I have been truly blessed as I have done it without surgery just diet adjustments and smart training as well as hard work. In the end it is all about Faith, Hard Work and Discipline. ~Renard Green

TheBlackManCan: Where do you see STEM going within the next 5 years?

RG:  I think it will remain in the forefront in terms of jobs.  You see the world community really placing a premium on preparing their kids to compete in this arena.  So, America has to continue to compete in this area as well and begin to lead the world in terms of innovation.  You also see the government placing more financial investment in this area which leads me to think they see things headed there in the future.  As with any investment, it takes time to mature.  I believe with all of this investment in STEM education today we still will not see it full mature until 5 – 10 years from the time of investment.  So, the future looks really bright for STEM!!!

TheBlackManCan: What words of advice do you have for young black boys?

RG:  Respect yourselves, respect your culture, understand your history and protect, uplift and support women.  Pretty simple but at times extremely hard to do.

Our mission is to actively promote a positive black male image. Welcome to the Spotlight: League of EXTRAordinary Black Men. Here, we spotlight black men weekly who are having a positive impact in communities across the country. These men are actively promoting a positive black male image each and every day. If you know a man that should be spotlighted please send an email to theblackmancan@gmail.com In that email please state who you are and why you are nominating this individual. Please leave your contact information and the contact information of the individual you are nominating.