Connecting Your Vision With Reality
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Charmel McMillan is President and CEO of Char-Town Entertainment (CTE--established in 1995—which is an entertainment, public relations, marketing, and special events company. Ms. McMillan currently handles public relations & marketing for numerous national music artists, playwrights, authors & entertainers, and manages the careers of a few professional athletes, entertainers, and producers.
Char-Town Entertainment has brought ground-breaking entertainment and events to venues nationwide for the past 15 years while developing success in artist management, marketing, advertising, special events, and promotions for a huge roster of clients as well as WHUR, Radio One, CBS (Infinity Broadcasting), BET, Def Jam, Sony, Essence Music Festival, independent marketing to HYATT Regency Hotels (VA), and numerous National Comedy & Music Tours—to name a few. Ms. McMillan is formerly the Co-Owner and Vice President of Marketing for the record label--410 MUSIC, a company born from the management company (EMG), which started the careers of multi-platinum music group Dru Hill. Char-Town Entertainment has produced several major events such as "The Behind the Music Workshop," "Comedy Explosion" (Richmond Convention Center), and a multitude of comedy shows/tours & events with over 150 of the top names in comedy and several release parties/events for various entertainment entities and many of the aforementioned clients.
Ms. McMillan is a 12-year member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS--GRAMMY) and also very active in the community with organizations such as The Children's Cancer Foundation (19 years) and MusicCares (the non-profit arm of NARAS). In Spring 1995, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2002, she was elected as the youngest person and the first Afro-American woman to the Board of Directors for the Children's Cancer Foundation (which generates revenues of $3-5 million per annum and is comprised of CEOs and National VPs of major corporations including: Coca Cola Mid-Atlantic, Bank of America, Ernest & Julio Winery, and Hilton Hotels). For over 10 years, Char-Town Entertainment continues to sponsor in conjunction Coca Cola Mid-Atlantic Bottling---The Children's Cancer Foundation's Annual Gala at Martin's Valley Mansion in Cockeysville, MD. To date, the foundation has presented over $42.7 million to Dr. Ben Carson and other oncologists and researchers from the hospitals supported by the foundation (Johns Hopkins, Children's Inn @ NIH, Children's Hospital, Lombardi Cancer Research, and University of MD Medical Center). Char-Town Entertainment has donated over $300,000 and has been financially instrumental in the building of seven (7) in-patient & out-patient units and play areas at those hospitals. Char-Town Entertainment annually donates thousands of dollars to provide gift certificates for over 140 children with cancer for the annual Christmas Skate Party with Santa.
Ms. McMillan graduated Valedictorian from Crossland High School (Temple Hills, MD) and academically ranked #1 in the state of Maryland with a cumulative GPA of 4.33. Upon graduation, she was offered over $333,000 in full scholarships from over 23 colleges and universities. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with a double minor in Mathematics and Business Management from Morgan State University, and at age 23, she received a dual Master of Science degree in Engineering and Management with a concentration in Contracts Law from George Washington University.
By age 25, Ms. McMillan had already written and secured a $20 million proposal for the Department of Justice, and was preparing to accept a position as a Chief for Department of Public Works over a $400 million BASOPS contract (with a span of control for 10 staffers and 122 contractors). During this stint, Ms. McMillan also served as special technical advisor to the Department of Defense New York District Legal Advisory Board on a $50 million protest. Before transitioning into entertainment full-time over a decade ago, Ms. McMillan was also a Senior-Level Associate for the firm of Booz-Allen & Hamilton and was instrumental in several contract awards ranging from $10-500 million (including the development of a new Federal Benefits portal (BENEFEDS).
Ms. McMillan has also received numerous awards from the Maryland State Board of Education for her extensive philanthropic contributions to the educational enrichment for children with mental and physical disabilities and for special activities sponsored by Char-Town Entertainment. She personally funded 3-4 events annually as well as school- wide activities for a special needs school in Baltimore for over 10 years, including purchasing EVERY Child in the entire school a gift for Christmas every year.
But above all, Ms. McMillan's greatest joy has come from the birth of Char-Town Entertainment and many years of success in the entertainment industry. She credits a lot of her drive, vision and focus to some of her many mentors who took interest in her path early in her career, including: Robert Johnson (Pres/CEO of BET Holdings, Inc.), General Colin Powell, Godfather of Comedy--Paul Mooney, and comedian/actor DL Hughley…to name a few. Ms. McMillan's love for music and her dedication to succeed has given her much recognition in the industry and has also inspired many young women(especially) to follow her footsteps in becoming one of the most promising leaders and entrepreneurs to hit the industry. Ms. McMillan has been guest speaker & lecturer at several major events and been an adjunct instructor to thousands of high school and college students in over 25 subjects ranging from Calculus III to advanced Spanish to "Understanding the Business of MUSIC."
Ms. McMillan began playing the piano at age 4, and received certification in advance music study and theory from the Performing Artist's Guild at age 17. At an early age, Ms. McMillan was introduced to the greats in gospel music while at performances with her father (who sang lead for a group that frequently opened for artists like Shirley Caesar, Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Sensational Nightengales, and The Queens of Faith). With strong roots in Gospel music, by age 13-- she served as a minister of music for 2 churches (and continued in that position for 12 years).
Ms. McMillan strongly feels that her life is merely a blessing designed only by God's grace. She believes that "to whom much is given, much is required." She lives her life based on the premise: "If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain…"