Janice Bryant Howroyd facts for kids

Janice Bryant Howroyd (born September 1, 1952) is a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, and author. She is the founder and chief executive officer of The ActOne Group. This company is the largest of its kind in the U.S. that is privately owned by a woman from a minority group. Janice Bryant Howroyd is also the first African-American woman to create and own a company worth over a billion dollars.

Early Life and School

Janice Bryant was born on September 1, 1952, in Tarboro, North Carolina. She was the fourth of 11 children in her family. When she was a teenager, Janice was one of the first African American students to attend her town's high school after schools stopped being separated by race. This was a big step for her community.

Starting a Business

In 1976, Janice moved to Los Angeles, California. She worked as a temporary secretary for her brother-in-law, Tom Noonan, at Billboard magazine. While working there, she learned a lot about business and met many important people.

With only about $1,000, Janice decided to start her own company. She focused on helping people find jobs. In 1978, she launched The ACT 1 Group from a small office in Beverly Hills, California. Tom Noonan, her brother-in-law, became her very first client.

The ActOne Group now includes many different companies. These companies, like AppleOne and AT-Tech, help people find jobs in various industries. They also offer services like managing documents.

Leadership and Public Service

Janice Bryant Howroyd is a leader in many important organizations. She helps the Department of Energy with its plan to include more minorities in energy jobs. She is also on the board of the United States Department of Labor's Workforce Initiative Board. This board helps improve job training and opportunities.

She also serves on the Board of Trustees for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. This is the university she attended.

In May 2016, President Barack Obama chose Janice Howroyd to be a member of the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These colleges are very important for African American students. In 2017, she joined a committee for the FCC, which deals with communication rules. Since 2016, she has also been an officer for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board of Directors.

Awards and Recognitions

Janice Bryant Howroyd has received many awards for her hard work and success.

• 2008: She won the Entrepreneur Award at The BET Honors.
• 2011: She was honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners and added to their Hall of Fame.
• 2015: She was inducted into the "National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame."
• 2016: She received the A.G. Gaston Award from Black Enterprise magazine.
• 2022: She received the Business Pioneer Award from the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization. This award celebrates women who are leaders and innovators in their fields. She received it at the United Nations, and it was also recognized by the U.S. Congress.