#1 Billboard Jazz, Grammy-nominated Jazz Artist Ski Johnson Entertainer for The Training Source Gala

Sept. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Laurel, MD - Black Bag Productions, an event planning company based in suburban Maryland, proudly announces that #1 Billboard Jazz and Grammy nominated Jazz artist Ski Johnson will be the headline entertainer for “Masquerade! Revealing Excellence!” The Training Source Inc.’s 2010 Gala fundraiser.  The gala, which will be on Friday, November 12, 2010, will feature a silent auction and cocktail reception beginning at 6:00pm, with dinner to follow and special performance by Mr. Johnson.  During the 2010 National Urban League Centennial Conference held in Washington DC this past July, board member and event co-chair Dr. Lynn Locklear had an opportunity to meet Mr. Johnson and subsequently introduced him to The Training Source's founder and  Executive Director E. Kim Rhim.  Mr. Johnson took time to tour The Training Source’s facility and following the tour and meeting some of the constituents served by the organization and seeing firsthand the accomplishments by The Training Source, Mr. Johnson was even more determined to do whatever he could to assist in their 2010 fundraising goals.  Mr. Johnson, also a Washington DC native, was proud he could make time in his schedule to perform at the event.  “I sent an email to some of my contacts asking for a simple silent auction item to be donated to the event, and he called me immediately asking if there was anything else he could do,” noted Kim Moss, owner and principal event designer for Black Bag Productions.  Mr. Johnson has graciously donated a significant portion of his performance fee as an in-kind donation and in addition to Mr. Johnson performing for a set; his seven-piece band will also perform that evening.  To round out the special guests at the event will be world renowned, award winning motivational speaker and author Willie Jolley and WHUR 96.3 on-air personality Molette Green, who will serve once again as mistress of ceremonies for the evening.  The Marriott Inn and Conference Center serves as the host location for the event, which is adjacent to the University of Maryland College Park campus, convenient to the beltway and has onsite parking available for event attendees that will be complimentary for this event.

Event co-chairs Lynn Locklear, DDS and Penelope Thornton Talley, Esq. developed the theme Masquerade, basing it largely on the fact that many of the consumers who utilize The Training Source Inc’s services are changing their face, their life, their skills – a masquerade of change.  Says Locklear “we all have said at one time or another that life is a masquerade, it’s wonderful that people come to The Training Source with one face and are really able to change their lives with a new face after leaving.”  Locklear, a local award-winning dentist has been on the board for a couple of years and stepped up to chair this year’s event with fellow board member, Thornton Talley, a Senior Vice President with AARP.  Thornton Talley understands the plight of many of the consumers who use The Training Source since many are AARP members or fall into the AARP demographic. She notes, “I’m happy to be able volunteer with The Training Source and to assist with this event.   It’s especially relevant to me because there are many of our members who are affected by the current employment climate by needing retraining after layoffs or improvement of skills due to changes in their work requirements and careers.”  

The Training Source Inc. is an award winning non-profit training and employment placement assistance organization for individuals and employers primarily located in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Whether you are seeking to transition back to work, train to compete in today's competitive job market, upgrade the skills of your existing staff, or obtain skilled employees for your business needs, The Training Source can help.  Funds raised will not only support training operations but their ongoing programs as well that include Youth Leadership and Transitional Youth programs.  

Individual tickets for the dinner are $75 with sponsorship opportunities starting at $250 will be available on Eventbrite through November 8, 2010.  For more information on The Training Source Inc., visit them at www.thetrainingsource.org. For more information on Black Bag Productions, visit them on Facebook or at their site, www.blackbagproductionsonline.com

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