Gresh
My Bio
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Gresham “Gresh” W. Harkless Jr. is the founder of CBNation and Blue 16 Media. CBNation is a Business to Business (B2B) Brand focusing on increasing the business success rate by providing visibility and resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners. CBNation consists of blogs (CEOBlogNation.com), podcasts (CEOPodcasts.com) and videos (CBNation.tv). Blue 16 Media helps change lives through media & technology including a digital marketing agency providing digital marketing services including web design & SEO to small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. Central to his marketing philosophy is that You Are a Media Company: Developing a Marketing Strategy to Connect with Your Target and Reach Your Goals. Gresham is a proud graduate of Howard University & Georgetown University. He was selected in 2022 as a 50+ Black Marketer on the Rise in Influencer & Media Innovators. He also is a graduate of the 2020 Leadership Center for Excellence Young Professionals Program ’16 and recognized by the Alexandria Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 in 2020 and a 2022 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honoree.
My Biography
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is an entrepreneur and blogger. “Gresh” is the founder and content creator at CBNation and is the founder and digital marketing specialist behind Blue 16 Media. His other past ventures include founding Exemplary Editing, Kidz Sports Drill and co-founding Men of Character of Virginia. As a child, he started a monthly family newsletter and sold everything from necklaces on the playground to potato chips and candy. He currently works to help support small businesses and entrepreneurship with Blue 16 Media and CEO Blog Nation (CBNation.co). Blue 16 Media is a digital marketing company providing digital marketing services to small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. Central to his marketing philosophy is that You Are a Media Company: Developing a Marketing Strategy to Connect with Your Target and Reach Your Goals. Blue 16 Media also donates services to nonprofit organizations through it’s Blue 16 Gives program. CBNation is a Business to Business (B2B) Brand focusing on increasing the visibility of and providing resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners. CBNation consists of blogs(CEOBlogNation.com), podcasts (CEOPodcasts.com) and videos (CBNation.tv).
He was also an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College. He is a former member of 2 BNI chapters in Northern Virginia serving as secretary-treasurer, membership committee and the communications chair for each chapter. He also is a member and founder of the $1M Club in BNI Northern Virginia South by passing a referral for over $1M. He served on the marketing committee for Alexandria’s West End Business Association (WEBA) and more recently served on the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Boards for the West End Condo Association. He recently served on the Board of Directors for Path for Her, Better Educational Skills (BEST) for Technology and The Dream Queen Foundation. He currently serves on the boards for the West End Condo Association and recently became a member of the Evolutionary Business Council.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Zeta Phi Chapter, Sigma Tau Delta International Honor Society and the AmeriCorps Heads Up program. He has been on the grant writing team for Men of Character of Virginia ($1,000), Capital Cause ($3,000) and American Humanics ($100,000). He has been featured on WOL 1450 AM and 93.9 WKYS, Business Rockstars and has been published on All Business Experts, Fox Small Business, Patch.com, Prince William Business Magazine, The Atlanta Post and Under 30 CEO.
He completed a short book for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners called Lil’ Bessie Starts a Business: How One Girl Started a Business You Can Too! and hosts podcast interviewing entrepreneurs and business owners called CEO Chat and the I AM CEO Podcast which launched in late 2018. Finally, he hopes to donate a portion of proceeds from DR1VEN Brand to a nonprofit supporting youth entrepreneurship. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Howard University, Washington, D.C., and a Masters in Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management (Business, Management Operations concentration) from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He also recently graduated from Leadership Center for Excellence Young Professionals Program and is a co-ambassador for his class. He is also a member of the inaugural class of the Alexandria Amplify program through the Alexandria Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He was selected for the Alexandria, Virginia’s Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 in 2020 and a Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honoree in 2022. He was selected in 2022 as a 50+ Black Marketer on the Rise in Influencer & Media Innovators.