I have known Fred Rasheed for for over 25 years. I first worked with him at the national offiice of the NAACP in Baltimore, MD when we served on the staff of then NAACP CEO, Benjamin Hooks. Fred was the author of most of the NAACP's "Fair Share Agreements", and is credited with coming up with the model. Fred was my mentor when I joined the organization as Deputy Director of Public Relations in 1986. He was a joy to work with and a great teacher. Years later we would hook up again both as consultants in corporate communications with the Coors Brewing Company, (now Miller-Coors) again since I was new to the license beverage business, I relied on Fred for guidance. He is loyal, smart, honest, and a consumate businessman, whose knowledge of diversity, corporate relations, marketing, and "the art of the deal" in un-matched.