Dennis Kimbro, co-author of the book, “Think and Grow Rich,—A Black Choice,” several years ago told this reporter that if you enjoy what you do well enough that if you could you would do it for free then you are on the right track with your career or business.

Sheila Ecung, president/founder of ArrowStarr is on point with Kimbro’s theory.

WAITING TO TELL YOUR STORY—Shelia Ecung, president and founder of ArrowStarr, is committed to delivering excellent service quickly and on point to her clients.

“I have one of the best jobs in the world. I love what I do,” she said. Operating a multimedia video production firm since 1999, she says she is following her passion.

Riding high on emotions from recently winning three Telly Awards, the highest recognition in its industry, Ecung is pleased with the honor. Comparing the internationally recognized Telly Awards to the Oscars for the movie industry, she says, “This means that ArrowStarr has joined the ranks of NBC Universal, DISNEY, PGA Tour Productions, Young & Rubicam and PixelFish as production companies that establish themselves apart from the rest.”

Ecung defines the 29-year old Telly Awards as the premier awards honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest film and video productions and groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films. She says winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

Entries are judged by a panel of over 40 accomplished industry professionals consisting of past winners of the Telly. ArrowStarrs’ three winning entries were their television show Building Dreams, a corporate video production done for Mitsubishi and their documentary production work for the radon industry.

Prior to initiating her video production company, Ecung operated a mediation practice in Houston, Texas.” I was conducting NFL film rites negotiations and had the opportunity to negotiate for a Jim Quinn television show.”

Realizing that she enjoyed the marketing and video production side of the business she says she pulled together all the skills she had gained over her lifetime did her due diligence and determined this was the right direction for her. She came to Pittsburgh as a consultant to a client and has not looked back since.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, ArrowStarr conducts business worldwide. She says they have conducted on site work in San Francesco, Atlanta, Florida and Omaha. “We have clients with locations in Canada, Europe and Asia,” she said.

Services and experience provided by ArrowStarr ranges in network talk shows, network news and field production. They produce new product launch kits; sales, marketing and training videos; and CD/DVD ROM interactive media presentations. Their full service video crew offers services in planning, scripting, video production, television production, event taping, and editing, duplication, and CD/DVD creation.

Focusing on business-to-business and commercial accounts, their clients include Mitsubishi, Vocollect, Inc., Rockwell, Radalink, and KEROTEST.  

Ecung says they also have done work for the Afro-American Music Institute located in Homewood. “We produced a 30 minute television show called Pondering with Pamela which aired on the FYI channel,” she said.

During Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s last visit to Pittsburgh her company provided the feeds used by networks worldwide.

Committed to delivering excellent service quickly and on point, Ecung says with her video crews’ wide range of expertise, ArrowStarr’s aim is to add value to her clients company by creating new opportunities for them to develop business. She accomplishes this by providing support marketing, increasing sales, well-trained individuals or groups, educating their market or by telling their story.

Focusing on her client’s satisfaction, she points out that her company offers—on time–on budget—on task projects, free production consultations, project planning, a video production planner, corporate producer seminars, easy access to producers and online source learning.

In examination mood for her own business, Ecung says her strategic plan for growth is to participate in the region’s certification programs. “I’m looking forward to the added value and business it can and will bring, to ArrowStarr,” she said.

She is certified with the Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council, and working on the process with the Women’s Business Enterprise Council, the Pittsburgh School Board, the Small Business Administrations 8(a) Program, and the Pennsylvania Unification Certification which includes the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and numerous other entities. She is also looking at becoming certified with the state of California.

While involved in the process she says she has been working with Don Carter and Barbara Fisher of the SBA.

“Both have been very helpful, like beacons of light in the process,” she admits. Pointing out that getting certified is a tedious process she says that having someone to assist with the paperwork is important. “Having a mentor or mentors is necessary for business growth period,” she says.

Other business tips she shares reflect the sentiments of other established entrepreneurs, knowing ones industry, having strong relationships with in ones industry and having a clear and concise business plan. She also recommends knowing when to work on the business and when to work in the business.

Working on the business, which is 10 times more valuable, she says, is when you are being creative and building relationships. Working in the business is doing what’s your passion, having fun. “You have to strike a balance between the two, to be productive,” she says.

A Waco, Texas native, Ecung is the mother of two adult children. She is a graduate of the University of Houston’s Center for Advanced Management Program and is the recipient of numerous certificates in mediation.   

Working with a core team of five members (including her 29-year-old her daughter Shamon), Ecung says through ArrowStarr she hopes to help people realize their potential to be the diamonds that they are.

“I believe God has a feast at the banquet table for all of us, but we are on the floor eating the crumbs,” she says.