Mr. Jackson is a Chicago native who graduated from Marshall High School, where he played on the school's championship basketball team. He attended Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship and was captain of the University's basketball team. Mr. Jackson earned his B.S. in Radio, TV, and Film from Northwestern in 1965.

After graduating from Northwestern, Mr. Jackson worked in the media and broadcast industries as an advertising sales manager for several top radio stations in the Chicago market.

In 1970, Mr. Jackson founded CENTRAL CITY MARKETING, INC. For nearly three decades the company has specialized in marketing, promotion, sales, and the production of media and television programs for Black Americans.

Today, CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS, INC., is the full-service arm of CENTRAL CITY MARKETING that produces, syndicates, and manages advertising sales for all of the company's local and national television programs.

Under his guidance and vision, CCP has launched many new and unique television programs to Black Americans nationwide. Many of these programs have more than 15 years of consecutive airing over local and national television, including:

• The "Bud Billiken Back-to-School Parade" - Now in its 22nd consecutive year on television. This 70-year-old event is the first and only Black parade on television.
• "MBR: The Minority Business Report" - Entering its 17th consecutive year on television, "MBR" is the first nationally syndicated business show geared to the minority business community.
• The "Stellar Gospel Music Awards" - In the year 2002, this annual special will celebrate its 17th consecutive year of showcasing the greatest gospel music performers.
• "Know Your Heritage" - Now in its 22nd year as the first African-American quiz show on television.

Mr. Jackson also gives back to the community as a member of several organizations. He is chairman of the board of the DuSable Museum of African American History and serves on the boards of Northwestern University, the Chicago Transit Authority, Columbia College, Gateway Foundation, and Junior Achievement of Chicago. In addition, Mr. Jackson is the founder and a member of A.B.L.E. (Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs), as well as a member of Chicago United, Urban League, Rainbow/P.U.S.H. Coalition, and "N" Men's Club of Northwestern University.

Mr. Jackson is married to Rosemary Jackson. The couple have two adult children and one grandson, Donovan. Their daughter Rhonda is a graduate of Syracuse University, and their son Dane graduated from the University of Minnesota.

Erma Davis is the new President and COO of Central City Productions, a 32-year-old television production, sales, and syndication company based in Chicago, Illinois.  Ms. Davis joined Central City Productions after an 11-year career in management at the McDonald’s Corporation. 

Her primary role at McDonald’s was International Technology Strategist for Asia Pacific and Latin America.  Erma was also the International Year 2000 Strategist for all countries except the United States.  Her international strategies were adopted by the McDonald's Corporation’s Auditors.  While performing the direct duties assigned to her, she also developed and implemented a school-to-work program for an inner-city high school that was designed to keep at-risk students in school.  The McDonald's National Youth Apprenticeship Program was modeled after this program.

The majority of Ms. Davis’ career has been spent in the information technology field (I/T) working for well-known companies such as Bell Laboratories, the Veterans Administration, CNA Insurance, and McDonald’s Corporation.  She has had broad exposure to the major functional areas in the I/T organization and has had direct responsibility for many of them.

Ms. Davis is a native of Chicago who graduated from Marshall High School.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Roosevelt University.  She also earned her master’s degree in Management from National College of Education (now known as National-Louis University).  Ms. Davis was also a certified Diversity Facilitator for the McDonald’s Corporation and has a certificate from the Center for Creative Leadership.

Ms. Davis has been in “Who’s Who in the World of Women,” “Who’s Who in American Women,” and “Who’s Who in International Women.”  She is affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Women in Management (WIM), the American Management Association, the Society for Information Management (SIM), Youth Motivation Programs, and Leadership Illinois.

Ms. Davis is married to Dan Davis, a Professor at Malcolm X College.