Jerone Dodd Jr leads the company and was the original founder of Hangtime, LLC, which had achieved notable visibility in Japan, where Mr. Dodd lived and played professional basketball for 8 years. He is also the founder of STEAM Teams Academics, Team Menfes and co-founder of Digital Dance Culture and the Menfes Interactive brand. A Morehouse graduate, Jerone’s passion for building business and his interpersonal and networking skills have forged the unity of UPG executives and many beneficial partnerships abroad and domestically. Jerone has experience in many fields of the sports industry from player, liaison and consultant to supplier and management. He also is active in the community through NPO board memberships and educational initiatives. Mr. Dodd is an advocate of sustainable and progressive systems and consistently strives to build UPG’s executive leadership, brand and market share. Jerone is the visionary behind UPG’s overall structure and strategy and has established a company culture based on the principles of integrity and transparency.
Jerone also has experience as a sports radio personality, interviewing professional athletes and industry members. He is the Founder and Chairman of UBA Reason Foundation, an NPO dedicated to international exchange in mediums of sports, arts, technology and education.
Menfes Interactive Dance Technology is headed by dance mogul Daniel Price, a Memphis native. Daniel is a world renown dancer and has become the authority on Memphis Jookin, the latest universal American dance style by writing a book called The Jook, which gives the history, mindset and techniques of Jookin. Daniel has starred in various videos, choreographed for Broadway and directs UPG’s performing arts outreach programs. Price’s moves on the dance floor parallel to his intelligence off the floor, where he has created numerous alliances with major artists and dance figures/personalities across the nation. Mr. Price is the brains behind UPG’s latest hallmark product, Memphis Jookin G2G, an online and mobile game using motion capture technology. Menfes Interactive is lucky to have such a talent and mind as Price on the team, as he adds a never ending thirst for reaching the next level. Daniel is a cultural anthropologist and brings a unique skill set to the team.
Jason A. Griffin received his B.A. English Clark Atlanta University. He has spent his life in community service including as an Americorp member at Hands on Atlanta School’s program. As a Corps member he tutored students, developed and ran after school programs.
In 2008 after three years of programming, he co-founded One World Link. He also has served as a Level II Supervisor at Jefferson Place Assessment Fulton County Human Services for almost 10 years. Last year he developed the R.E.A.L Talk pilot program to teach “at risk” teens and young adults in the Fulton County Accountability Court.
Through a combination of social entrepreneurship training and mentoring, 90% of active participants have started a business, started an apprenticeship or internship or gone to school. Mr. Griffin also serves on the advisory committee of many nonprofits and for profit entities.
Nana is tasked with building marketing assets for all of UPG’s brands and platforms and also works closely with Menfes Interactive development. Her talents vary from explainer video production, character animation to storyboarding and character design. She has created animated videos, motion comics, short films, animation for games and apps, presentations and more for companies large and small. Well versed in a variety of software and as a member of PMG, Nana provides curricula and instruction for UPG’s private school partners.
Sam has commanded substantial expertise in many disciplines of technical development, acquiring over 50,000 global clients and brings the type of experience suitable for UPG operations. As SVP of development, Sam consults with the technical team to produce favorable outcomes for clients. He also advises on new products, technology and processes which may be under consideration or necessary for UPG to stay ahead of the edge of the industry curve.
As Creative Consultant, Emmanuel brings many years of tangible and diverse experience to UPG. He has years of experience in the music industry as a producer-artist, studio engineer, and independent marketer. Emmanuel also brings many years of experience as a successful contractor in the construction industry. He also works as a project manager and licensed master electrician for a solar contracting firm. His strong points include management and the cultivation of business ethics and company philosophy.
A former athlete, he knows the importance of self determination and teamwork. Creatively, Emmanuel has always had interests in various forms of art. His early passions included drawing, writing, and story-telling.
As founder of Fogenetic Enterprises, a UPG partner, Emmanuel’s passion is to inspire audiences young and old through the medium of art. He aims to contribute to UPG’s commitment to community development through media, sports and arts.
2020
Smith College
Projects – Ice Cream Dream Island, Swords & Scales, Enter the Full Course
2020
Institute of Art and Design at New England College
Projects – Tales of the Immortals
2019
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Projects – Swords & Scales
2017
University of Pennsylvania
Divisions – Menfes Interactive
Projects – Swords & Scales
2016
Moore College of Art and Design
Divisions – Menfes Interactive
Projects – Swords & Scales
2015
Georgia State University
Divisions – UPG, PMG
Projects – Crossover Xperience
2014-15
Rochester Institute of Technology
Divisions – UPG, Menfes Interactive
Projects – Dance Rush, Swords & Scales
2014
Carnegie Melon University Entertainment Technology Center
Divisions – Menfes Interactive
Projects – World Club, Dance Rush, Swords & Scales
2014
Georgia Institute of Technology
Divisions – Menfes Interactive
Projects – Dance Rush