Your brand is your full message to the world. It’s who you want to be presented and perceived as.
When design and innovation intersects at the corner of purpose and passion you’ll find value. And if you are a fan of excellence, then you’ll also find Mr. Sam Ross at the same corner as he makes his mark in the world.
I had the pleasure of meeting this distinguished entrepreneur at the 2019 Southern University Alumni Cohort gala. His presence radiated the atmosphere as we prepared to receive our 40 under Forty recognition. I said to myself, “I HAVE to connect with this brother before I leave this place”. Just his vibes were enough to know that he was a man of character, excellence and purpose.
It gives me great honor to celebrate him for all of his accomplishments and if you are not already following him, then I encourage you to allow yourself to be INSPIRED!
Ross, a 2012 graduate of Southern University and A&M College where he earned a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations, was also awarded "Outstanding Capstone Skills Award" for academic excellence by the Public Relations Student Society of America during his tenure. Ross had the distinct honor of graduating as Student Marshal of the College of Arts & Humanities for having the highest overall grade point average within the entire college.
In Ross' professional experience, he has been employed with the Louisiana House of Representatives, The Drum Newspaper (Internship), WBRZ-TV, and the Southern University Ag Center. At WBRZ-TV, Ross worked as a graphic designer and production control operator. During his time as Web Content Specialist at the Southern University Ag Center, Ross garnered the SNAP-Ed program national recognition from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
In 2018, Ross created the Sankofa Scholarship, a scholarship geared towards awarding first-time college students enrolled at Southern University and A&M College. Creating a scholarship had long been on Ross’ list of aspirations. And, on August 1, 2018, along with the help of Ellen C. McKnight, Founder and Principal Nutritionist of the Maxine Firm, and Dadrius C. Lanus, J.D., School Board Member for District 2 (LA), the first Sankofa Scholarship was awarded in the amount of $750.00.
February 28, 2019, Ross was awarded by The Rouge Collection as one of 28 Black Leaders and Influencers in Baton Rouge, LA. Ross was also honored by his home church, Pipkins Chapel African Methodist Episcopal, for his success and work in the community during Black History Month in 2019. In April of 2019, Ross was awarded "Outstanding PR Alumni" by the Southern University and A&M College Department of Mass Communication for outstanding alumni achievement in Public Relations. In July of 2019, Ross was announced as one of the Southern University Alumni Federation's Top 40 Under 40. Ross is currently a full-time entrepreneur and attributes any and all success to faith, works, and a community of love. Ross is confident that this is only the beginning and there is so much more to come.
Q: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? Ross: I am a natural born leader. Throughout the course of my life, I have almost always ended up in some type of leadership role in any organization I have been a part of. I would attribute that to making the decision to be an entrepreneur easier. Q: Your firm, Sam Ross Designs, partners with clients to propel their brand to create more value. Why is a business or professionals “Brand” so important? Ross: Your brand is your full message to the world. It’s who you want to be presented and perceived as. The reason I say it is your full message to the world is because branding is complex. There are many layers to it. My business focuses mostly on brand aesthetic, which is critically important. What my business does is takes all of a person or organization’s goods and wraps them up in the pretty wrapping paper with a nice bow. Good branding helps you sell better. It makes you look better. It’s more attractive. Q: At Re.engineer, we believe that every professional should be technically sound within their profession but it’s their creative edge that sets them apart from the competition Where does your creative inspiration come from? Ross: My creative inspiration comes from life itself. When it’s a problem you help solve in the world, it jumps out at you all of the time. When I’m out and about—at a restaurant, at the movies, driving, at the grocery store—I’m always observing and being inspired. I see design everywhere, all the time. Q: What advice would you give to other young professionals or entrepreneurs looking to take their career or business to the next level? Ross: I always advise people to plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Take your time. Strategize. Write things down. Be your own competition. Remain vigilant of others in your arena, but do not make them your focus. Stay relevant, but set the trends. Q: I love your grind and most importantly, you are just as passionate with your faith. Has there been a moment where your faith guided you through a challenging time? Ross: Thank you so much for that. My faith keeps me grounded. There have been so many instances throughout my life where my faith has kept me in one piece. My faith in God is a huge part of who I am. I make sure every success points back to Him so that He gets the glory. I don’t know where I would be without my faith. I could go on and on about the goodness and mercy and grace and favor of God. Bless His Name! Q: How has attending a HBCU impacted your life? Ross: Attending an HBCU was one of the best decisions I have made thus far. It yielded so much good fruit. It helped me become the professional I am today. It was at my dear HBCU that I fostered so many amazing friendships, many of which I still have today. I have worked professionally with a number of peers and professors from college, which is always so fulfilling. Q: What keeps you up at night? Ross: PROJECTS! Lol! But, seriously…passion. Passion is what keeps me up at night. When you are passionate about a thing, it doesn’t matter that you have to sacrifice sometimes or even a lot of the time. You get the job done. Even though his success and accomplishments are countless, Mr. Sam Ross is still a down to earth gentlemen with a eye for exceptional design. He innovates with a flare for storytelling as each of his designs invite you into his clients world. Join us in celebrating his journey as a dynamic, talented Brand Ambassador. Mr. Ross, you are a certified Re.engineer! Website: https://www.iamsamross.com/ Twitter: @samrossofficial Instagram: @samrossofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samrossdesigns