Title: Chief Executive Officer, Owner, Creative Director
Company: Traviel Productions
Location: Bronx, NY United States

After years as a hospital lab technologist, Carolyn Smith decided to retire so she could follow her passion for media. She proceeded to train at the former Travel Channel Academy in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in 2008, took classes at BronxNet, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual communication from Syracuse University. When Ms. Smith saw a niche in the television market, she jumped on the opportunity. That opportunity led to the creation of Traviel Production, a full-service production and public relations company that specializes in low-cost, affordable media campaigns for starter or small businesses. As the CEO, owner and creative director of the business, Ms. Smith is responsible for developing promotions, media campaigns, and marketing and public relations solutions. She finds inspiration in the positive response she gets from viewers, and hopes to someday get her cable show on mainstream television.

The biggest challenge Ms. Smith had to overcome was getting her foot in the door, since the industry is very male-dominated. Her strengths in designing formats and video presentations, however, helped her to grow and thrive. As a testament to her success, Ms. Smith was recognized for her fitness show in 2013, when she won the NAACP Freedom Award for Journalism. She is also an honored delegate of The International Women’s Leadership Association, the chairperson of communication for the Williamsbridge branch of the NAACP, and a member of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

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