Santa Monica Black-Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs (Part 4 in a Series)
July 21, 2020 3:45 PM
by Linda Cogswell
We recently interviewed a variety of Black-owned Business Owners in Santa Monica to hear their unique story and perspectives. Read on to hear about these amazing small business owners throughout our City and how the Santa Monica community can provide support. This is Part 4 in a series. If you are a Santa Monica business, and you’d like to add your story, email info@santamonica.gov.
On a related note, the City of Santa Monica is working with community members to create a Black Agenda as part of our commitment to equity across our city. Get involved and find out more>>
Part 4 in a Series
Marketing and Public Relations Services Offered by Local Entrepreneur and Active Community Member
Kera Blades-Snell, founder of Blades & Associates, is a 100% minority-owned business owner, SBA certified small business, and 100% woman-owned California State Certified Small Business (SB). Kera currently resides in Santa Monica with her husband and younger son and serves as the Board Director for the Santa Monica Rotary Club and a Board Member for the Santa Monica History Museum, and is an active member of the Santa Monica College Associates. Kera’s older son is currently in South Carolina serving in the Air Force. Read more about her story>>
Business Name: Blades & Associates
Business Owner: Kera Blades-Snell
Brief History: Always an active member of her community and an entrepreneur at heart with 20+ years of experience, Kera established “Blades & Associates” three years ago when she relocated to Santa Monica from Tampa, Florida. Kera holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of South Florida.
What types of products/services do you offer? Blades & Associates is a full service marketing and public relations agency offering digital marketing, including SEO and social media marketing, website development, and graphic design services, as well as technical online solutions including software and app building. Blades & Associates also provides brand development and management consulting. A digital marketing and programming expert, Kera is the developer of her automated social media network publishing platform, search engine optimization platform, and customer relationship management (CRM) housed in a single area and customized per user.
Why did you decide to open a business here? Kera entered the field at the age of 25, establishing her first company, Travel Concierge, in her home country of Belize and her second company, Higher Positions, when she moved to Tampa, Florida in 2009. In 2017, Kera relocated to Santa Monica with her two sons after meeting and marrying the love of her life, Barry, and shortly thereafter merged her two companies, Travel Concierge and Higher Positions, into one. Now based in Santa Monica, Kera successfully owns and operates Blades & Associates.
Interesting Facts About Your Business: Blades & Associates’ clients are culturally diverse and can be found across the country, a unique trait that sets Blades & Associates apart. Kera attributes this strength to being from Central America where Belize is the only English-speaking country, and to the first 10 years of her career in Tourism Marketing, which allowed her to travel the world. Besides English, Kera can speak the languages, is influenced by, and understands Spanish culture and Black and Caribbean culture. For Kera, experiencing different cultures has been her best teacher.
How can the Santa Monica community support you and other Black owned businesses? Reach out and say hello, Kera would love to meet you! Kera values being involved in communities and getting to know people, and is always interested in networking and building strong personal and business relationships. In Kera’s own words, “I always sit one and one with potential clients as a way to try to read them thoroughly! I try to put myself in a position where I basically become my client so that I can see their vision through their eyes. Sounds crazy! But I get my best ideas from just talking to and learning about my clients.“
What information do you want the Santa Monica community to know? Kera, in partnership with fellow PR veterans Barbara Bishop and Jory Rosen, is a co-founder of BBR Worldwide, a communications consulting firm. BBR Worldwide specializes in media and message training, crisis communications, strategic planning, and measurable social media campaigns. Kera is also a co-founder of Jahvy International, an e-commerce company.
Contact Information: www.bladessolutions.com | 805.991.7130
Hours of operation: n/a
Authored By
Linda Cogswell
Architectural Associate