ARABIAN CULTURE THROUGH THE EQUINE INDUSTRY

Keith J. Elam|Personal Profile

With over forty-five years’ experience in design disciplines ranging from graphics to architecture, Mr. Elam is comfortable undertaking the most challenging of projects. As a result of his prestigious education, celebrity client list, and out-of-the-box creativity, he has been the mastermind of some of the most innovative and successful marketing campaigns and architectural solutions in the industry.

Mr. Elam is a Doctoral Candidate of New York University where he received his 6th Year Certificate and Master’s in Art Education. He received his Bachelor of Science from the world-renowned Pratt Institute. His academic studies include a concentration in Art Education & Architecture, minoring in Anthropological and Archeological studies. In addition, Mr. Elam has studied at several other institutions including the University of Nebraska, University of Oklahoma, San Diego State University and The Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Elam has chaired, facilitated and or lectured at The Royal College of Art in England, the Anthropological & Archeological Museum of Mexico City, as well as Pratt Institute, New York University, Long Island University, and CW Post College. His global outreach includes architectural design projects on the Maltese Island of Gozo, the Greek Island of Crete, and the United Arab Emirates’ country of Qatar in the Persian Gulf.

Mr. Elam has served as a consultant, designer and marketing strategist for; MCI, US Sprint, Bell Atlantic, New York Air, TWA, Continental Airlines, Nigerian Air, Anchor Brokerage Insurance, Bronson Development Corp, Columbia Hospital Group, Arabian Adventures Inc., KIA Motors, TIMELIFE Inc., WNET-TV-13 (NYC), GNPRMS (Greater New Port Richey Main Street, Inc.) Premier Entertainment Group Inc, The PFF Music Company, Inc., City of New Port Richey.

With a strong belief in giving back, he lends his support to the following children’s charities and organizations as: Children in Crisis, founded by the Duchess of York, Sara Ferguson; Save the Child Foundation, with Rochelle Harris, Esq. of the Clinton Administration; Yesterday’s Child Foundation with Jean A. Renaud & Lori Davis; and Charter Schools – Co-Founder of The Eastside Multi-cultural Community School of Tampa Florida; DAYSPRING ACADEMY for the Arts in New Port Richey, Florida and WAPA The Walton Academy of The Performing Arts. Some of these foundations and institutions are highlighted in the documentary “The Arabian Culture Through the Equine Industry” of which Mr. Elam was Executive Producer & Director.

TIMELIFE’s project took Mr. Elam to new heights by co-designing the interior of their corporate jet named the ArrowStar. On the ground, he was one of the “driving” forces behind two memorable vehicular solutions, the special edition of Chrysler’s PT Cruiser and the New VW Beetle which platformed Mr. Elam’s industry design skills.

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and other major Broadcasting Networks utilized Mr. Elam’s graphic illustrations for the promotional spots of several of its TV series, The Dick Cavett, The Tonight Show and Bill Bogs Show. He later collaborated with PBS and Harris Corporation for the monumental “DTV Express” Project. Mr. Elam joined the team to roll out the multi-million dollar initiative. This project was a direct result of the federally mandated HDTV broadcast facilities upgrade, which was launched on the White House lawn.

Employing pyro-techniques, special effects, helicopters, and his 24-foot tall mural, Mr. Elam spearheaded the production of the Grand Opening Ceremony of MCI’s DC/MD corporate facility. Based on International themes like America’s lively Wall Street in New York City, the facility incorporated several interior design solutions by Mr. Elam.

Mr. Elam often teams up with many internationally acclaimed architects, designers and artists producing edgy original solutions for the most sought-after initiatives. In recent past, in a collaborative with Dr. Desta Megoo, Mr. Merid Tafesse, Mr. Dahwit Abebe, along with The Romare Bearden Foundation, sponsored by the Ethiopian and United States Embassies he is working on an educational housing project for the homeless in Ethiopia that will assist many families through the arts. This initiative includes training in the curriculum for artists who will use it as the basis of lesson plans in Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University School of Fine Arts and Design (est. 1958), The African Academy of the Arts via it’s Children’s Village Project (est. 2005), as well as in several outreach programs abroad and in the United States. In addition to providing arts education to young African students the program, like the Cinque Artists Program, provides support for working artists and will extend knowledge of Bearden’s artistic and humanitarian legacy. One of the many publications by Mr. Elam is a product of the collaboration with Dr. Linda Michelle Baron, in their children’s book “The Sun is On” that he illustrated the diversity of children and their cultures.

Working with The International Ports Corp and Bronson Development Corp amongst others in this alliance, Mr. Elam has been a consultant to the “rebuild” of Haiti’s infrastructure and of its Urban and Rural Development projects. Also, in this light, in recent past, Mr. Elam has worked as a consultant for the campus development of the Institute of Technology in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Keith J. Elam is an accomplished architectural designer, artist, cinematographer, educator, marketing consultant, and philanthropist having worked with governments, educational institutions, and corporations whose vision inspires the strongest visual and strategic marketing solutions in the market, as well as, students from all over the world.