Donald Dowridge, Jr. "Through your existence here on this planet, always be open to be Determined to Learn and Develop. For that will allow you the luxury of many doors." Company: DLD Enterprises / Determined to Learn and Develop Location: Tampa, Florida Website: www.dldenterprises.org

Biography:
Acknowledging the threatened and intense life made to inherit as a youth in Baltimore, Md. and
not knowing if tomorrow will be a gift for him to grip unto or again to face a harsh day at the
hands of a deranged foster parent.

Today Donald L. Dowridge, Jr. is the founder and President of DLD Enterprises, in which the DLD stands for Determined to Learn and Develop. He is a Motivational Guru, Mentoring, Consulting, Personal Training, Keynote Speaking, Life Coach and Facilitator!

He founded DLD in 1992 after being invited by his son to speak at Edison Elementary School, which his son attended. At the time of this historic event, Donald was successfully employed with The U.S. States Postal Service in Tampa, Florida. While employed at the U.S. Post Office Donald became the “First African-American Male” to rise through the ranks and become a front line manager for the then new OCR and BCS Departments. During his tenure as manager he was considered a rising star in the world of Postal Operations by his peers.

A dream deferred along with a new path, Donald began a schedule of speaking engagements which included The Hillsborough County, Pinellas County Public Schools, area churches, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Donald in the midst of a full schedule of speaking, college and being a father, managed to pen his first book as an author. The book entitled, “Truth In The Poem.” To date Donald has written eight books and is currently writing his latest book entitled: “Remembrance The King, April 4th, 1968 – April 4th, 2008.”

After sixteen years of Motivating A Society, Donald still has a passion, love, uniqueness, and unorthodox way of delivering a high energy presentation to his audience. It has been found youth are left in wonderment as to how Donald keeps the hype doing a whole session. Donald has in his possession “Three Response Books that are extra large and filled with positive comments and feedbacks of sixteen years of empowering mostly our youth who have encountered altitude within their life.

Donald professional training has been in many areas such as acting, dancing, singing, comedy, and speaking. His ability to incorporate all of these ingredients into his presentations is very uncanny, but successful in hitting home with his audience.

Since has held the stage at prestigious institutions such as Howard University, Morgan State University, Gadsden County School Board, The Maryland House of Corrections, University of South Florida, Home Builders Institute, The MVA of Maryland, Polk County Correction Institution, High Schools and churches in Central Florida area, Baltimore, The South Bronx, New York, and Atlanta, Ga.

Donald has conducted and facilitated successful seminars and workshops with the following:
Juvenile Welfare Board, Lockheed Martin, Goodwill-Suncoast Industries, Hillsborough County Schools Title One Program, Polk County Opportunity Council, Inc., Northwest Career Center, The Jentry McDonald Corporation, Urban Leadership Institute, Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth & Families, Falkenburg Juvenile Detention Facilities, Hillsborough Community College (Florida), Orient Road Correctional Facility (Florida), and Barbizon Modeling Agency (Florida).

Donald has written acclaim curriculums that has coincided with said seminars, Qualities of A Mentor, Coal to Diamond, 12 Ways to Positive Avenue, Growth As A Parent, African-American Males – Reaching Them, Investment N My Money Tree, D.E.T.O.U.R., Optimizing Quality Development, and Violence (P.F.N.S.) to name a few.

DLD is an accomplish Speech Writer, writing at least ten successful speeches that have brought great accolades from Associations, Business, Non-profit Youth Organizations, and Churches.

Donald better known as DLD or Mr. D has won respect from all sectors of society since the inception of DLD Enterprises. Accolades have landed on Donald’s deck from President Clinton, President Bush, The late Governor of Florida, and the Florida Attorney General Office. Donald awards include, Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Contribution to Mankind, Poet of the Year (2000 & 2007), Outstanding People of the 21st Century, and Fifty Influential Minorities in Business.

Donald has also had his share of guest appearance on TV talk shows, The Evening News and Radio Talk Shows. Lastly he has hosted and co-hosted successful local television shows. Donald has in his time appeared on HBO hot original series, “THE WIRE,” and various TV shows. Donald previously was the guest Motivational Expert on The Empower Hour which is still heard on WOLB 1010 in Baltimore Maryland on every Tuesday. Currently Donald host the “DLD MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT” on the local radio station, WTMP 1150am/ 96.1fm and on the web at www.wtmp.com.

Donald is an active board member of Tampa’s 100 Black Men, Sickle Cell Board of Tampa, The Coalition, Abe Brown Prison Ministry, Toastmaster’s International, and The Entertainment Business Company.

Donald’s proud accomplishments consist of DLD “POSWER” Clothing Line, DLD Brick at the Black N Wax Museum (Baltimore, Md.), DLD Lecture Series, Spokesperson for the Ray Lewis Ceremony, Les Brown Personal One on One Motivational Seminar, Help promote Sheila’s Dixon’s Reelection(Md.) and Frank Reddick(Florida) campaign by running Ten (10) Miles.

Donald’s educational background: Elementary School in Baltimore, Md., Middle School and High School in The Bronx and in Tampa, Florida. He attended college while a member of the U.S. Army, studying business, sociology, and English. Donald received a degree in Marketing Management from Tampa College in Tampa, Florida. Donald is the Guru, well trained and knowledged in many areas in which he speaks and motivates.

Availability:
Donald is available to speak on topics of importance: Motivation, Education, Youth Enhancement, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness, Leadership, Consulting, Diversity, Mentoring,