Ken Porter is the Chief Visionary for PMG Agency. Formally known as Porter Media Group, is an Asset-Framed Communications company that provides its clients with curated content using brand strategy and digital marketing. The company, established in 2010, has worked on several notable projects including Bridging North America, Walbridge, The National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc and the 2019 Detroit Startup Week.
Winning awards for branding and content creation of those projects, the organization has been successful during its more than 10 years in business. However, being one of few Black chiefs in this space comes with its unique set of challenges.
“I have experienced implicit bias when being awarded communication contracts; suggesting that we (PMG Agency) have an ‘overseer’ to make sure all deliverables are met and being forced to collaborate with a non-black agency to make the buyers feel more comfortable,” says Porter. “The color of my rich skin tone and the confidence that my team and I have in the impact we deliver can feel intimidating to some. Professionally, I have found myself working hard to make others feel more comfortable with my intelligence, knowledge, and ability to drive results and raise the profile of our clients.”
Building the number of African Americans in C-Suite roles takes a concerted effort, but starts with first having the opportunity to effect change. Sometimes pushed from tables where the demographics are stacked against the minority, African Americans are encouraged to work to build Black business and circulate the Black dollar.
“Build your own table and purchase all the raw materials from other black business owners that you can collaborate with. Train and mentor the younger generations and normalize working together to reach success as a unit. I also understand that not everyone is a carpenter. There are other avenues to success. I am a major advocate for joining fellowships and cohorts where you can network and really nurture healthy relationships. Being able to connect with your peers outside of the work environment can truly break barriers.”
For generations, African Americans have lived under racial stigmas and generalizations. This has made it particularly difficult for Black professionals to break into select companies and organizations. Black men have long since been subjected to scrutiny unmatched to other candidates. Categorized for their appearance and not credentials often eliminates qualified African Americans from the table.
“At PMG Agency, we elevate positive stories to combat false narratives that have been a dark cloud over communities of color for centuries. We simply choose to tell better stories and we refuse to deficit-frame Black men. You can’t constantly define a community by focusing on their challenges, and we all have our own personal struggles. But to lead and define people by those challenges is the definition of stigmatizing them. Changing your mission statement and updating some of the language on your corporate website is not enough. There must be an overhaul of the tone and culture of these organizations. As a community, we also must challenge each other to simply do better and make better choices.
With mounting accolades and awards, PMG Agency strives for excellence on behalf of their clients. In doing so, the company is also changing the face of what it looks like to be Black in this professional space. Working to create true change, the Agency works to ensure people of color are in a winning position through its team and their projects.
“I am at the point now where I am unapologetic about my race, and we come strong for the culture by making sure that our Agency is truly positioning People of Color in the absolute best possible way. We do this through our Asset-Framing Communications Strategies at PMG Agency,” says Porter. “We focus on aspirations and not deficits when elevating stories of impact from our non-profit and foundation partners. There are better stories to be told, and we have challenged ourselves to uplift a more positive and accurate narrative for People of Color.