About

Evans & Associates is a full service strategic branding, special events, and business management consulting firm. We truly offer a diverse approach to communications, special events, and business management. Our experts include social media gurus, business analysts, legal strategists, marketing and media geniuses, technology whizzes and financial specialist. We specialize in matching your brand with community initiatives.

We are experts at crisis management and serve as counselors on image management. Together we deliver the power to transform your goals into optimal success by: impacting the market with your message, enhancing your brand with our expertise, and growing your business with our innovative strategies.

STAFF

Benjamin Carlton

Founder & CEO

Benjamin Carlton is an activist and social entrepreneur from Philadelphia, Pa. He received his MBA from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University before moving to Miami to pursue a career in accounting. In 2013, while in Miami he co-founded the iconic BMe Community, a national movement of community builders that are led and inspired by Black people. BMe Community was founded on the principles of valuing all members of the human family, recognizing black males as assets, and building more caring and prosperous communities together.

Under his leadership, BMe has influenced national policy, and committed millions of dollars to local community leaders around the nation. BMe’s 300+ Fellows have raised over $400 million, earned 67 major national awards and helped over 2 million families secure educational, economic, human rights, health and wellness opportunities.

Benjamin along with the BMe team has trained the world’s leading authorities about asset-framing, storytelling, and narrative change. Some of these entities include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Obama Administration, Deloitte, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. The central premise of asset-framing is to identify people by their contributions rather than their costs and then engage them in living out their aspirational identity for themselves and society.

In 2016, Benjamin decided to practice what he preached and came out as a gay minister in TheRoot.com that generated national discussion. The TEDx speaker took his message of authenticity on the road and encourages his audiences to live their best authentic lives every day. Benjamin has more than 10 years of experience in social innovation, public relations, equity and inclusion and as an executive director. He advocates for a better America and fights for the rights and fair treatment of the black and LGBTQ communities.

As an activist, founder, and social entrepreneur, Benjamin has been featured in a myriad of publications and platforms including, ABC, CBS, NBC, TBN, BBC London, Vougue Magazine, The Miami Herald, and The Huffington Post. His lifechanging impact has impacted millions of lives and his pioneering work in community building earned him a Miami Fellows Fellowship with the Miami Foundation and AT&T Emerging

Tianna Robinson

Senior Partner

Tianna Robinson is a public relations professional with a work portfolio including Major League Baseball, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LVMH, ESSENCE Communications, Food Network, Microsoft, Remy Martin Cointreau and others. Tianna graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in Communications. Tianna specializes in planning strategic public relations campaigns, media relations, event management, and talent relations.

Tianna's competitive advantage is her unique and diverse range of relationships with journalists, editors, talent, celebrities, managers and publicists in both mainstream and niche/multiethnic arenas. Described as eager and creative when presented with new opportunities, Tianna is based in New York, and can be often found in Los Angeles. Tianna is a travel fanatic, an entertainment junkie, a food connoisseur, and recently discovered the joys of design.

J. R. Rivera

Social Media Strategist

J.R. Rivera has been recognized as one of the top social media strategist and inspirations by BET and so many others. J.R specializes in helping companies, brands, and personalities better connect with their customers via social media and digital marketing channels. He has worked with brands such as Disney, Coca Cola, and ESPN. He can increase your impact on social media while gaining real followers and engagement by the thousands. J.R. is passionate about helping people and organizations reach their full potential.

Consistently motivating and inspiring people on social media, J.R. is a dynamic inspirational speaker and consultant who has empowered so many people around the country. J.R. was nominated as BET's 2015 "InstaStar" most inspiring Instagram in the United States due to his influence and how he delivers his message. He not only inspires but moves audiences to action by offering practical and effective approaches to drive your motivation to the next level. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University.

Tyler Tyson

Special Events Strategist

Tyler Tyson is a media and event specialist. He has overseen events with media giants OWN, CBS, NETFLIX, Sony, BET, WETV and others through the NAACP Image Awards helping to diversify guild audiences and For Your Consideration campaigns. While serving as a music coordinator Tyler has forged strong relationships with RCA, Warner Brothers, Columbia and other major record labels helping them identify the most effective way to secure and reach their target audience.

Tyler’s vast experience in media and work in the corporate sector has perfected both his written and oral communication aptitude. Tyler is never short on ideas and loves helping entities bring their visions to life.Tyler is a graduate of Florida A&M University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and has worked in media and event coordinating for 15 years.

Valencia Gunder

Social Justice Strategist

Valencia “Vee” Gunder, is an enthusiastic, self-motivated, driven community leader who has been branded as the "Modern Day Fannie Lou Hamer”, an awe-inspiring comparison that fills Valencia with pride and a fierce determination to carry on Hamer’s legacy.

A Miami native, Valencia is founder of The Smile Trust Inc., co-founder of The Black Collective and Campaign Manager at Dignity Florida.

Being an Eco-prenuer, Valencia has led many to land green jobs or launch green businesses in South Florida. Although she is not an environmentalist, Valencia has partnered with the CLEO Institution and actively leads the climate awareness discussion in marginalized communities. Valencia has held dozens of community forums that have allowed residents, businesses, and local political figures to discuss issues surrounding sea level rise, emergency preparedness, food safety, housing, and climate gentrification. Valencia’s climate work has been recognized on national platforms, such as The National Geographic, The Root, and The New York Times. In addition, she has given presentations on collegiate campuses like, UCLA, Florida International University and Miami Dade College.

In 2017, Valencia made headlines in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, when the Community Emergency Operation Center (CEOC), a relief service she founded during the leadup to the storm, was able to deliver supplies and support to 18 hard hit communities before any other organization reached them. In 2019 after Hurricane Dorian, Valencia and the Smile Team expanded their emergency response outreach to the global south with their “One Bahamas” program, providing over 3 tons of supplies to the islands in less than a week. The team built a coalition with local Bahamian organizations and assisted Bahamians that were seeking refuge in South Florida.

Directly affected by the loss of her goddaughter, Jada Page, due to gun violence, Valencia used her grief to band an entire community together. To combat gun and police violence, Valencia was the first Miamian to be awarded the Soros Justice Fellowship to complete her project, Living In Freedom Together, which is a rapid response toolkit to decrease gun and police violence.

Valencia, who is a returning citizen, was a leader on passing Amendment 4 in Florida which restored the right to vote to 1.4 million Floridians and works alongside over 80 Formerly incarcerated Black Women (Dignity Florida) to change legislation to assist with de-carcerating women in the State of Florida.

Valencia is a member of the Steering Committee for Greater Miami, 100 Resilient Cities and has led talks around the country on her work around climate gentrification. Valencia has been a faithful advocate fighting alongside the residents of her community to ensure they receive fair and just treatment.

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