North America Branded Content Edition

10 THE WEEKLY GLEANER | JANUARY 6 - 31, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS NEW YORK, NY: H ARD BEAT Communications, (HBC), the award-winning digital Caribbean public relations and advertising agency founded by Guyana-born Felicia J. Persaud, is among the awardees of the fifth round of the Comcast RISE program for small, women and minority-run businesses in the US. Comcast RISE was created by Comcast Corporation, the US multi- nat ional telecommunicat ions conglomerate headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to invest in the success of critical businesses owned by women and people of colour, by providing valuable and practical support. The award to HBC includes television advertising and marketing promotion, creative insight, and support over a significant period. Persaud, once an undocumented immigrant turned US citizen, who has evolved from a journalist to an entrepreneur, thanked Comcast RISE for the award, calling it “an early Christmas gift.” “The win and recognition of a company I birthed with very little money, and have stuck with despite many odds since June 2004, will help to support Hard Beat’s expansion plans for 2022, that was laid this year as we regrouped and rethought our business strategies to establish newpartnerships on the heels of the pandemic last year,” said Persaud, who was earlier this year named “A Woman Of Impact” by the South Florida-based International Career and Business Alliance, ICABA. Last August , Hard Beat Communications, Inc. was also named a Top Event Planner in Miami for 2021 by Clutch. Hard Beat Communications is now part of the ICN Group of Companies that includes CaribPRWire, Invest Caribbean, The Ritzury Group and News Americas News Network with offices in New York City, South Florida and Barbados. The company now offers a full suite of digital products to suit any company – from small start-ups to established Fortune 500 companies and influencers. They include reputation management online, press release creation and distribution globally; annual SEO and digital marketing campaigns, including backlink building; social media promotion, including video creatives and verification services of Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook and Twitter accounts; websites, apps, and experiential creative development; affiliate management systems; CRM and brand identity including spokesperson videos; as well as cybersecurity, including penetration testing and malware removal. Hard Beat “is your one-stop digital partner that will take you and your business to the next level, no matter the stage,” added Persaud, who is also the founder of Invest Caribbean and the new chief executive officer, (CEO), of ICN Group of Companies. For more about HBC see https:// hardbeatcommunications.com/ Caribbean owned company named COMCAST RISE 2021 winner Founder of Hard Beat Communications and CEO of ICN Group of Companies, Felicia J. Persaud. CONTRIBUTED ‘The win and recognition of a company I birthed with very little money, and have stuck with despite many odds since June 2004, will help to support Hard Beat’s expansion plans for 2022, that was laid this year as we regrouped and rethought our business strategies to establish new partnerships on the heels of the pandemic last year.’