Profession / role:

Business/Fashion Development Consultant

Company / organisation:

KEZA, Inc

Website (if you have one):

www.keza.com

My primary role in relation to fashion is:

Designer, Buyer, Retailer, Supplier, Manufacturer, Consultant

I am looking to discover or buy

People interested in developing the fashion industry in Africa.

About me / About business or organisation:

Jared N Miller, a long time business developer, marketing consultant and philanthropist, is a former partner of The Incubator Group, a private equity firm based in his home town of Nashville, TN. He believes in the power of “ubuntu” and has committed his life to perpetuating the philosophy that we are all interconnected and not fully human alone. We were created for community.

Miller spent many of his younger years volunteering and lobbying for such organizations as The ONE Campaign, Save Darfur Coalition, and Keep A Child Alive. In March of 2006 he moved to Kigali, Rwanda and has been residing there since. Mr. Miller has developed and facilitated poverty reduction and gender equality programs in East Africa for over a decade. His quest is to help create an egalitarian society worldwide.

Miller is the founder and President of KEZA, a non-profit “People Inspired Fashion” consulting agency. KEZA helps develop women’s cooperatives in Africa by turning them into sustainable and profitable businesses for the women that own them. Miller says, “The women of Africa are just as capable of running a successful business and creating luxury fashion products as the best fashion companies in Milan”. His first success is BURANGA Women’s Cooperative, currently creating the KEZA beaded jewelry seen in such magazines as “O”, and featured in high end boutiques across the US.

He is also the creator of Ubuntu Revolution, an “African Gender Equality Movement” of media, culture and sports. The purpose of the movement is to target the male role in gender disparity and combat violence and oppression towards women and girls. “It is time we get to the root of gender based violence; and that is the men that are carrying it out. And we must inspire them to change their ways, not demand it”, says Miller. He is currently working with a number of gender equality focused organizations and individuals to implement the program in East Africa.

Career history / Company history:

KEZA, Inc. (www.keza.com) – 2006 – Present - President/CEO – KEZA is a luxury fashion label and business development firm in Rwanda. We work with locally owned businesses to develop the fashion industry. We exist to showcase the beauty and excellence of Rwanda through our luxury fashion goods.

Project Rwanda (www.projectrwanda.org) – 2006 – 2007 Country Director (first on the ground, developer of programs) Our goal is to further the economic and social development of Rwanda through community development initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope. We are committed to empowering the people by creating sustainable villages, boosting the economy, and “re-branding” Rwanda as a beautiful and safe place to do business and visit freely.

The Incubator Group (www.theincubatorgroup.com) 2004 - 2006– Managing Partner – Specializing in small business valuation/brokering (~$500k to ~$5M), fostering company startup & development through private equity lending, portfolio partnering, equity acquisition, strategic management, and limited venture capital investments.

48 Days/Dan Miller (www.48days.com) – Chief Operations Officer – Restructured infrastructure of business, fulfillment center, marketing plan, customer service, and communications. Redefined business operations.

Cultural Commission Institute – Cofounder/General Manager – International community/business development organization serving the poor in developing countries utilizing microenterprise and sustainable businesses.

Project Management – Personal Assistant to Tom Ritchey, owner and founder of Ritchey Design International/Ritchey Logic, one of the worlds largest and most prestiges creators and dealers of professional cycling components and frames. Duties included (but are not limited to), Project Manager, IT Manager, Property Manager, Research Manager, etc.

Made to Order Websites (www.madetoorderwebsites.com) – Cofounder/Managing Partner - Web development, web hosting and franchise opportunity. A Tennessee Top 10 provider of web development services and proprietary software packages.

intraDev– Principle Owner/Director of Sales and Marketing. Prominent strategic technology, business development and business education consulting firm.

Booking and Promotion - Booked and promoted concerts for the majority of the prominent Nashville venues (small and large) for 3 years. Organized, promoted, and produced concerts in Nashville, TN and surrounding areas.
Example: ‘Team Marine Concert on the River’. A four band concert on Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville as part of Freedom Fest 2001. Responsible for booking, promoting, organizing, obtaining permits, rental, legal, directing, sponsors, etc.

Band Management – Manager of prominent Nashville rock band Tin Charlotte, for 3 years. Responsible for all business and legal affairs, promotion and general management.

Aladdin Industries - IT department Help Desk representative. Handled day to day and project oriented technical issues, networking, computer rebuilds and research.

Insomnia Enterprises – Founder/Director of Marketing – Artist development and Image Consulting (musician and corporate).

Allanti Cycling Company – Managing Partner/Director of Sales and Marketing – Prominent pro-bike shop in Brentwood, TN selling high end bicycles and parts.

MCA New York - (Nashville branch) Assistant to Director of A&R, Reen Nally. Managed band productivity and artist development.