When Louisiana-Monroe approached All-Time Great Joe Profit to be the keynote speaker at this year’s Pursuit, he didn’t hesitate to tell his alma mater yes.
“I will never turn down an opportunity to come home and talk to our young people and older folks like me,” Profit said. “I’m following a good friend and a fellow alumnus in Tim Brando. Those are some big-time media shoes to fill, but I’m elated to have this opportunity.”
One year after Brando guest hosted The Pursuit, Profit will headline the annual kickoff event for the 2019-20 athletic and academic year. The Pursuit is sponsored by BancorpSouth and scheduled for Monday, August 19 from 6-to-9 p.m. at the Bayou Pointe Event Center on campus.
A transcendent figure in ULM history, Profit was the first African American to play college football at a predominantly white institution in Louisiana and graduated in 1971 as the Gulf States Conference’s all-time leading rusher.
“The Pursuit is a celebration of all things ULM and we welcome back one of our most accomplished student-athletes,” ULM athletic director Scott McDonald said. “Joe enjoyed a storied career at our university and has continued to excel in business, education, and community service. We are honored to have him return to share his story.”
Joe Profit's story is about success in all fields of life.Raised in one of the poorest areas of the country during the days of segregation in the American south, Joe Profit grew strong through the lessons of determination and perseverance he learned in the cotton fields of Louisiana. After enduring the hardships of racism as a child, he elected to attend Northeast Louisiana University, an all-white state college, where he became the first African-American to play football at a white university in the entire state. After blazing a trail for African-American athletes in the south, he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. From there he started his of many businesses. He was the first African-American franchisee for the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in the state of Georgia and quickly started a string of Burger King Franchises. At one time he owned the top two revenue earners for the company in the Atlanta region. In addition to his restaurant operations he founded his own international telecommunications firm, now named Multimedia Digital Broadcast Corporation, which INC. Magazine ranked as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America for three years in a row. Through Profit's business endeavors, he has given back to the private and public sectors, and has given jobs to over 800 people.Profit himself has received numerous awards, including the Granville T. Woods Award for Outstanding CEO, and Entrepreneur of the Year from Ernest & Young, one of the largest professional service firms in the nation. He was inducted into the Business and Professional Hall of Fame, the Institute of American Entrepreneurs as a life time member, and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for football. In addition to his contributions to the business world, he has served on the Federal Communications Commission, the White House Small Business Advisory Committee and the U.S. Department of Transportation Advisory Board. He has also been featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and on CNN.Today, Profit dedicates much of his time to charity work. His foundations, Youth United for Prosperity, Legends and Kids, and Pro Players and Entertainers Network all work to encourage underprivileged youth to pursue success in business, community, family and all areas of life.
Dr. Joseph (Joe) Profit is an accomplished individual with a diverse range of experiences and achievements. Despite facing a career-ending injury early on in his NFL career, he emerged as an inspiration by overcoming adversity and achieving success. Dr. Profit's remarkable journey has been recognized in various fields including sports, education, business, health, wellness, and public speaking.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
Graphic Design University of Cambridge
2013 - 2019
There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum availa
ble, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form.
