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Entrepreneur Vision Award given to IN FOCUS Publishers

The dynamic-duo of Tony and Woodie Lesesne (seen at left giving acceptance speech)were presented with the first-ever 2008 Entrepreneur Vision Award by the Urban League of Broward County. Their multi-media company, which includes IN FOCUS Magazine and LMG Video and Internet productions provide powerful images of diverse leaders, achievers and innovators and continues to gain momentum after 15 years. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Tony Lesesne was a high school basketball star in Dover, Delaware. At the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, he played basketball and became editor of the college newspaper. After graduating, Lesesne moved to Miami where he found work in televise production, education, and workforce development for talented youth. He decided to remain in Florida to pursue his career. Born in Kingston Jamaica, Woodie Lesesne’s family moved to Rochester NY in the early 70’s. There, she distinguished herself as a top vocalist at her high school. Unable to complete her college stint, Woodie turned her attention to real estate, honing her skills in marketing, sales, and client services. She ultimately moved to South Florida to help launch her family’s furniture manufacturing business, while continuing to work in real estate. These past experiences would lay the foundation for her role as a leader of one of South Florida’s most innovative multi-media organizations. In a magazine marketplace where dazzling wealth and extreme success are over-emphasized, Tony and Woodie crafted media company that focused on real people making a difference, including women, minorities, civic leaders and community champions. It was a completely new concept, never before seen in South Florida. They were up against tremendous challenges; apathy, racism, little funding and fierce competition. They did, however, have passion, creativity, energy, had one another. Leveraging their collective strengths, passions and concerns, Tony and Woodie first established a media presence with the launch of IN FOCUS Magazine in 1993. At the same time, they began targeting impressionable youth in crime-riddled areas by developing interactive programs that focused on elevating the mindset of inner-city youth through rigorous training, exposure and career education. Today, many of the youth impacted by their programs are successful young adults.

After 15 years, IN FOCUS Magazine continues to be one of the premier publications in the region, and clearly the most diverse in its content and coverage. LMG Vidoe and Internet Productions is a growing division of their small firm, which provides video content for clients interested in using it for the internet, television and promotions purposes. The Urban League of Broward County is known as one of the most effective community-based organizations in the region.ULBC focuses on empowering the community, developing children and changing lives through a myriad of services to the Broward County community.
Wellington Blair
9 17 2008