Janice Bryant Howroyd facts for kids

Janice Bryant Howroyd, born on September 1, 1952, is a very successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, and author. She started and leads The ActOne Group. This company is the biggest privately owned staffing company in the U.S., founded by a minority woman. Janice Bryant Howroyd is also the first African-American woman to create and own a company worth over a billion dollars.

Growing Up in North Carolina

Janice Bryant Howroyd 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, she was one of the first African-American students to help end segregation in her town's high school. This means she was among the first Black students to attend a school that was previously only for white students.

Starting Her Business Journey

In 1976, Janice Bryant Howroyd moved to Los Angeles, California. She began working as a temporary secretary for her brother-in-law at Billboard magazine. While working there, she learned a lot about business, met important people, and saw how different people worked together.

With only about $1,000, Janice Bryant Howroyd 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. Her brother-in-law was her very first client!

What The ActOne Group Does

The ActOne Group is a big company that helps other businesses find the right people to work for them. It has many different parts, like AppleOne, All's Well, and AT-Tech. These parts offer services such as finding staff, recruiting new employees, and even managing documents for companies.

Helping Others and Giving Back

Janice Bryant Howroyd is very involved in helping her community and the country. She works with many important groups and organizations. For example, she is an ambassador for the Department of Energy's Minorities in Energy Initiative. She also serves on boards like the United States Department of Labor's Workforce Initiative Board.

In May 2016, President Barack Obama chose her to be a member of the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These are colleges that were first created to educate African-American students. In 2017, she joined a committee for the FCC, which is a government group that deals with communication. Since 2016, she has also been an officer for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board of Directors.

Awards and Special Recognition

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

• In 2008, she won the Entrepreneur Award at The BET Honors.
• In 2011, she was honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners.
• In 2015, she was inducted into the "National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame."
• In 2016, she received the A.G. Gaston Award from Black Enterprise magazine.
• In 2022, she received the Business Pioneer Award from the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization at the United Nations. This award celebrates women who are leaders and innovators in business.
• In 2025, she became an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Her Family Life

Janice Bryant Howroyd is married to her husband, Bernard. She is also an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a group focused on public service and sisterhood.