Lauren Kellye Ransom is an innovator, entrepreneur, businesswoman, community servant, and multi-time pageant winner. Lauren has over 10 years of project management experience, years of performance & pageantry, entertainment marketing & management background, a spirit of creativity, the heart of a humanitarian, and a total dependence on God as her guide.
Lauren began a career in, performing arts, pageantry, and entertainment at an early age. She began formal dance training at the age of four, voice training at the age of five, and classical violin at the age of six. She began performing & competing at the age of 8. During her adolescent and teen years Lauren began commercial print modeling, television commercials appearances, and runway modeling as well as, performed in countless local, national, and international shows, pageants, and competitions.
Some of those highlights during this time were ,
- a vocal performance for City of Chicago’s Kids Fair in Grant Park (1982),
- performing in the Chicago Tribune’s Ruth Page’s Nutcracker Ballet at Arie Crown Theater (1982-1988),
- Miss Pre-Teen Illinois USA finalist (1983),
- Little Miss Honey Bear sponsored by Chicago Bears NFL team (1983),
- crowned Miss Honey Bunch 1984,
- crowned Miss Celebrity - NCA Superstar by the National Cheerleaders Association (1984 & 1986),
- runway model for Herrod’s Department Store in London England (1987),
- NAACP ACT-SO Dance Silver Medal winner (1990),
- and acceptance & participation in Harvard University’s Summer Dance Program (1991).
Her passion for entertainment business was born in her first year of college; Lauren landed a summer job that turned her life around. Lauren worked with DMK Productions in 1993, for the Major League Baseball Properties at the World Sporting Goods Expo. She was production assistant for the hourly live stage shows that Major League Baseball presented to potential buyers and retailers. This job showed her that entertainment can be used to make a different type of impact. She realized that businesses used entertainment to market and sell products.
In 1995 her passion for the business behind the arts & entertainment led her to Columbia College Chicago where she studied business management and entertainment management. During her first year at Columbia, Lauren landed an internship with the Urban Music Division of MCA Records, where she learned the business from seasoned music business professionals. Also while at Columbia in 1997 she became president of what would be come the largest student organization at the college, Columbia’s Urban Music Organization (CUMA). CUMA is an organization that provides a link between students and professionals in the music and entertainment industry. CUMA was also was known for showcasing Chicago’s unheard music featuring performances from Common, Twista, Kenye West, who have now gone on to expansive entertainment careers.
Her work as President of CUMA led to an Outstanding Student Award in the area of Leadership in 1998, presented to by Columbia College. In that same year the school nominated her for a special feature in the Chicago Tribune. Lauren was selected out of hundreds of nominees in the feature article that showcased young adults for successfully applying their goals and education to their daily life.
After a successful tenure in music marketing & promotion Lauren decided to combine her talents and skills and enter the world of traditional marketing, promotions, and advertising. She began working for some of the country’s top agencies where she learned a wealth of information, and sharpened her skills. She has been involved in the planning, development, and execution of various projects for clients such as Mazda, Kellogg’s, Arista Records, and BP.
Since 2000, Lauren has successfully acquired premium product placement for clients in top tier music videos, has developed promotional campaigns, brought clients premiere promotional and brand tie-in opportunities, as well as, executed and managed promotional events and campaigns for many of these clients.
Lauren still works as a consultant with many companies regarding their business development, marketing, special events, and promotional needs, under her company, Ransom Enterprises. In addition to work in the corporate sector, Lauren also still works as a freelance choreographer and event planner. She has worked with numerous of churches & organizations on their special events, cotillions, and pageants. In addition, Lauren still competes in pageants and wins! Her most recent pagean title was Ms Illinois American Elegance 2005, and placed at 1st runner up at the 2006 American Eleance National Pageant.
Most recently Lauren launched the International Elite Black Pageant System. She created this pageant system as a way to showcase the limitless potential of women and girls of color allowing them to showcase their God-given talent, and find new ones. This pageant is destined to become the premiere pageant and multi-media event for women of color. More information about the pageant can be found
http://www.eliteblackmiss.com/ or by calling 1-888-829-4449.
To Contact Lauren directly via Email :
RansomEnterprises@consultant.com or
Executive_Director@eliteblackmiss.com
