About Our CEO & Director

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LaMar Ayers

CEO & Director of L.A.P.R. Group

Doing a lot in a little time seems to be the motto of LaMar Ayers, the gregarious founder of the Washington, D.C. based L.A.P.R. Group, a niche-marketing, public relations, and cyberspace promotions firm. In less than ten years, this young business has built lasting associations with top media outlets, and the leading R&B and gospel artists of our time.

Ayers’ story begins in Milwaukee, WI where he hails from a long line of successful entrepreneurs. “My parents instilled in me a hard work ethic,” Ayers’ recalls. As a teenager, growing up in Milwaukee, Ayers was close friends with then regional recording artist Jevon Brock. As the friendship grew stronger and a bond was formed Ayers began to handle all marketing for the Brock Music Group. “It went extremely well and this was a turning point in my life that gave me the notion to become a publicist,” states Ayers. In 2004, Ayers met gospel star, VaShawn Mitchell, who is known for the 2007 radio smash “For My Good,” and as of recent history, “Nobody Greater,” from his hit 2011 release Triumphant. Mitchell whom seen his earlier work with the Brock Music Group was impressed and hired him to coordinate the marketing and promotions for his Stellar Award nominated 2007 live CD recording Promises.

LaMar’s keen eye for detail and creativity lead him to incorporate interactive online measures and cutting-edge graphic designs into Mitchell’s various websites that were not being utilized within the gospel circuit. He used those methodologies to increase Mitchell’s fan base and website traffic. It’s those tactics that, when put into practice, led to the sold-out Promises live concert CD and DVD recording.

“LaMar has been very influential in the imaging and marketing of my career”, “I’m proud to have been one of his first clients,” Mitchell proclaims. It was Mitchell’s idea for the then Marquette University student to formally start his own company and in October 2005, L.A.P.R. Group was formed on the Southside of Chicago. A year later Ayers’ received a promising lead and relocated L.A.P.R. Group to the Washington DC metropolitan area. “I’ve built a great team of people that not only targets traditional media,” Ayers explains. “We also do social and internet marketing along with other promotional things beyond P.R.”

Since moving to the Washington metro area, L.A.P.R. Group has created promotional materials on artists ranging from R&B legend Patti LaBelle to gospel’s rising star Jonathan Nelson of “My Name is Victory,” fame. The firm has also done media campaigns for churches, charities and BET’s “A Time to Laugh: Gospel Comic View,” pilot TV program, and recently Bishop Alfred and Susie Owens and the Greater Mount Calvary Recording Choir.

One of LaMar’s mentors is veteran radio promoter Neily Dickerson, who has worked with everyone from Mariah Carey to Stevie Wonder.  Ayers and Dickerson have collaborated on several events such as the Stellar Awards, ASCAP, BET, etc., “I think she’s the client who has inspired me the most,” said Ayers.

LaMar and his firm have developed a reputation for being able to deliver for clients even when their budget is low. “It’s just a matter of using creativity,” said Ayers.

L.A.P.R. Group has built a strong following in gospel music circles. They have handled the various media rollouts for Stephen Hurd, Jonathan Nelson, VaShawn Mitchell, Bishop Larry D. Trotter, and Greater Mount Calvary Recording Choir to name a few. In part because of Ayers’ marketing, several artist including Stephen Hurd and the Greater Mount Calvary Recording Choir have charted in the Billboard Top Ten Gospel Albums during their debut week. Hurd’s highest charting CD in his twenty year career and Calvary’s first project.  LaMar has also worked with top publicists in the gospel industry such as Bill Carpenter of Capital Entertainment and Veda Brown of Black Gospel Promo.

Ayers currently serves as the Chief Consultant and Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Calvary Records in Washington, DC. As the Chief Consultant and Director of Marketing and P.R. he has helped to establish and build the label from the ground up. Based on his marketing and public relations tactics the label has been able to secure national distribution, sign its first artist, successfully brand the label as a figured head and beacon of light for church based record labels, and rapidly gain support of the newest and hottest church choir on the east coast, the Greater Mount Calvary Recording Choir.

In the future, Ayers and L.A.P.R. Group want to maintain their gospel base while branching out into other areas of music and corporate enterprise. “We want to take secular artists, non-profits and corporations and heighten their marquee value with the public,” Ayers adds. “Our mission has always been to be better than what we were. My team and I always have to be innovative. If not our competitor is going to beat us at what we do. We’re going to continue to make our clients shine like stars and take them to the next level in their careers.”