This year, Shon Gables will be hosting the 2010 GLF event. Having met and interviewed several prominent senior executives, celebrities from all over the world, Shon Gables will be offering an exclusive GLF discussion and insights into living and pursuing the good life in work and in life.
shon gables
Former host of Black Enterprise Business Report
With more than 13 years in broadcast journalism, Shon Gables brings credibility and experience to her role as former host of Black Enterprise magazine's nationally syndicated program "Black Enterprise Business Report." The groundbreaking show stands as the only business news and executive lifestyle program that focuses entirely on African Americans. It reaches 80% of all U.S. black households and is seen in more than 211 markets. Since its first season in 2007, Gables has scored interviews with the nation’s top newsmakers, business elite and cultural icons including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
As co-anchor of "CBS 2 News This Morning" from 2003 to 2006, Gables covered many of New York City's most profound events, including the historic New York City Subway Centennial Celebration; the Republican National Convention; the Summer Olympics bid; the re-opening of the Statue of Liberty; the Twin Towers Memorial; the NYC Transit strike; and the Blackout of 2003.
Gables also has hosted several specials throughout her career. Particularly close to her heart was "Salute to NYC Schools: Truman High School and the Tunnel to Towers Run." Gables not only hosted the program, but she participated in the run, which honored the NYC firefighters tragically lost on September 11, 2001. Gables also wrote and anchored "Salute to Harlem," which explored Harlem’s economic development, social impact and future.
Gables launched her broadcast journalism career at KWCH in Wichita, KS, where she reported and anchored the station's public affairs program. She then moved on to KWTV-Oklahoma City, promoted from associate producer to education reporter and news anchor, covering US military issues affecting Tinker Air Force Base. Next, Gables became morning news anchor/general assignment reporter for WDIV-TV Detroit. There, she covered breaking stories with all three US Automakers and served as spokesperson for the American Cancer Society's Southwest Michigan Division, which led her to produce a two-hour special on breast cancer awareness for WDIV. Gables also spent time in radio broadcasting, serving KVSP-Oklahoma City as news director and host.
Gables was recently nominated for an Emmy Award for "On-Camera Achievement." She also is the recipient of several National Association of Black Journalists awards and a Lee Evans Outstanding Journalist Award, and was honored with the 2003 New York City Excellence in Media Award by the Harlem Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Gables was the recipient of a National Black Achiever in Industry Award, an American Women in Radio and Television's Gracie Award, and was one of Network Journal's "40 Under 40" Black Achievers.
Deeply committed to community service, Gables is on the board of Eagle Academy, an all boys public school in the Bronx, New York; she serves on the advisory board of EthiDolls, an Ethnic specialty doll manufacturer; and she is a volunteer mentor to young journalists across the country. Gables also is a supporter of NFTE, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship; she has teamed with Goldman Sachs for its annual youth awards program; and she is an honorary member of the Sarcoma Foundation of America.
In 2008 Gables co-produced The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy, a Wal-Mart DVD exclusive. She also executive-produced the feature film, Lord Help Us, released nationally in May 2007.
Gables graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in economics, and served as United States Army Reservist for seven years.
For an island with a big reputation for restaurants, hotels, and energetic nightlife, St. Maarten is small -- only 96 sq. km (37 sq. miles), about half the area of Washington, D.C. An island divided between the Netherlands and France, St. Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the Dutch half, and St. Martin is French.
The main towns are Philipsburg (Dutch side) and Marigot (French side). The island has approximately a total resident population of 85,000. The official population on the Dutch side is 50,000, while on the French side is 35,000. The divided island is the smallest territory in the world shared by two sovereign states.
Currency
The official currency of Dutch St. Maarten is the Netherlands Antilles guilder (ANG). In French St. Martin, it is the Euro. However, US dollars, traveler's checks and major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the island.
Airport
There are two airports on the island. St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and the smaller L'Espérance Airport, in Grand-Case on French St. Martin.
Airlines include:
- American Airlines
- Continental Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Jet Blue
- United
- US Airways
- LIAT
Electricity
Dutch St. Maarten uses the same voltage (110-volt AC, 60 cycles) with the same electrical configurations as the United States, so adapters and transformers are not necessary. However, on French St. Martin, you'll usually need transformers and adapters. To simplify things, many hotels on both sides of the island have installed sockets suitable for both European and North American appliances.
Language
Officially, French is the language of St. Martin and Dutch in St. Maarten, but almost everyone speaks English, and many speak Spanish as well, French Creole and Papiamento.
Temperature
The island has a year-round temperature of about 80°F (27°C). The total average yearly rainfall is 995 mm, with 99 days of thunder.
Time
St. Maarten and St. Martin operate on Atlantic Standard Time year-round. Thus, in winter, if it's 6pm in Philipsburg, it's 5pm in New York. During daylight saving time in the United States, the island and the U.S. East Coast are on the same time.
The island is active, sexy, hedonistic, and hip, with plenty of attractive young people as scenery. If food and wine are your true loves, then you'll find your bliss here. Shopping for stylish clothes and fashion accessories is better nowhere else in the Caribbean. Windsurfing and other water sports make going to the beach more than just a lounging experience. Read more
Even though Anguilla is clearly one of the Caribbean's most chic destinations, the island has somehow remained laid back and unaffected. If Anguilla has a secret today, it is that in addition to the island's justly famous first-class resorts and restaurants, it also has a number of (relatively) affordable small inns and villas. Read more
