David Castain
{{Infobox person
| name = David Castain
| image = David Castain.jpg
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| birth_date = August 5, 1988
| birth_place = USA
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| education = PhD
| occupation = Businessman, life coach, and traveller
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David Michael Castain II (born August 5, 1988), is an American businessman. He is perhaps best known for leaving a life of crime to later found a marketing firm worth over $5 million by November 2016{{cite web|last1 = Bullock|first1 = David|title = Young and Hungry|url =http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/583e9935e4b08347769c056f?timestamp=1480503770896|publisher = Huffington Post|accessdate = 30 November 2016}}{{cite web|last1 = Brown|first1 = Tia|title = When Cupid Calls|url = http://www.ebony.com/love-sex/when-cupid-calls#axzz4Q9s1mgbq/|publisher = Ebony Magazine|accessdate = 26 March 2015}} and $8.5 million by 2020.
Early life
David was born in Pomona Valley Hospital in Pomona, California to Debra Ross and David Castain Sr.. He joined a gang when he was in the 8th grade for protection within his community. David was kicked out of multiple high schools before attending Valley View High School, a secondary school for students who have behavioral issues or are at risk of not graduating. He ultimately graduated from Alta Loma High School. In 2006 Castain was charged with armed robbery.{{cite web|last1 = Sholley|first1 = Diana|title = From poverty to PhD, former Pomona gang member establishes philanthropic foundation|url = http://www.dailybulletin.com/social-affairs/20150528/from-poverty-to-phd-former-pomona-gang-member-establishes-philanthropic-foundation/1|publisher =Inland Valley Daily Bulletin|accessdate = 28 May 2015}} He decided to attend Howard University when he was serving an 8-month house arrest term following the two years he had already served behind bars.{{cite web|last1 = Edmonds|first1 = Chloe|title = Howard Student's Journey From 'Menace' To Glory |url = http://www.districtchronicles.com/news/view.php/421170/Howard-students-journey-from-menace-to-g#.UXNRi7XvvTo|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141004014839/http://www.districtchronicles.com/news/view.php/421170/Howard-students-journey-from-menace-to-g#.UXNRi7XvvTo|url-status = usurped|archive-date = October 4, 2014|publisher = District Chronicles|accessdate = 31 December 2012}}
Career
Castain began promoting parties while attending Howard University in Washington, DC. He gained national attention after he organized events with Sean Combs, Drake, LeBron James and other celebrities.{{cite web|title = Top 30 Under 30 Distinguished HBCU-Educated Scholars.|url = https://hbcubuzz.com/2016/08/hbcu-top-30-under-30-2016/17/|publisher = HBCU Buzz|accessdate = 23 August 2016}} In 2012 David was hired by Grey Goose where he served as their Director of Social Marketing.{{cite web|last1 = Kormanik|first1 = Beth|title = Luxury Branding|url = http://www.bizbash.com/call_sheet_276_marriott_to_run_gaylord_marilyn_monroe_is_latest_hologram_gm_ditches_football_for_soccer/new-york/story/23479/#.WDtxtNUrJQK|publisher = Biz Bash|accessdate = 1 June 2012|archive-date = 2 June 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120602065049/http://www.bizbash.com/call_sheet_276_marriott_to_run_gaylord_marilyn_monroe_is_latest_hologram_gm_ditches_football_for_soccer/new-york/story/23479#.WDtxtNUrJQK|url-status = dead}}{{cite web|title = Grey Goose: The proof of social media|url = http://rsmindex.com/blog/2012/6/1/grey-goose-the-proof-of-social-media.html|publisher = Washington City Paper|accessdate = 1 June 2012}} Following his seventh year of leaving a life of crime, he founded a nonprofit organization, the David Castain Foundation.{{cite web|last1 = Umeh|first1 = Maureen|title = David Castain Talks About His Foundation & The Importance of Education with FOX 5 DC|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwgWk0khW9Q|publisher = Fox 5 DC|accessdate = 23 February 2015}} In May 2013 David graduated from Howard University with a Bachelors in Speech and Applied Communication and a minor in sociology. He was the commencement speaker at his graduation ceremony{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Upon graduating, he founded a marketing firm dubbed David Castain & Associates. The company obtained clients in various disciplines from Chipotle and Uber to a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, Cort Furniture.{{cite web|title = David Castain and Associates Company Profile|url = https://datafox.com/david-castain-associates|publisher = Data Fox|accessdate = 18 September 2016|archive-date = 21 December 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161221042507/https://datafox.com/david-castain-associates|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web |title=David Castain |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-castain/ |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}} In 2014 he graduated from Georgetown University, where he was the recipient of the Golden Bulldog Award for being the 'Most Creative' student in the program,{{cite web|title = 2014 Golden Bulldog Award Recipient for Most Creative|url = https://www.facebook.com/GeorgetownPR/photos/a.709203215784805.1073741841.133548590016940/709209885784138/?type=3&theater|publisher = Georgetown University|accessdate = 8 May 2014}} with a Master's in public relations and corporate communications.{{Cite web |title=David Castain |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-castain/ |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Castain returned to his alma mater, Howard University in August of that same year to pursue his Ph.D. in sociology, with a concentration in medical sociology and social inequality. {{Cite web |title=David Castain Ph.D. Graduation Speech |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vupfY6vzlp0 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=YouTube}}{{cite web|last1 = Barnwell|first1 = Devin|title = Prominent HU Alum Promotes His Foundation With A Sweet Treat|url = http://archives-davidcastain.thehilltopnewspaper.com/|publisher = The Hilltop|accessdate = 16 April 2015|archive-date = 20 December 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220051950/http://archives-davidcastain.thehilltopnewspaper.com/|url-status = dead}} Castain is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Greek fraternal organization.{{cite web|title = Theta Tau Lineage|url = http://thetataunupes.com/?page_id=114|publisher = Theta Tau Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi|accessdate = 8 April 2014}} In 2021, Forbes named him to their Next 1000 list.{{Cite web |title=David Castain |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-castain/ |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Forbes Next 1000 2021 |url=https://www.forbes.com/next1000/ |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Forbes}} Castain's doctoral thesis studied "Instagram Branding Strategies, Leadership, and Decision-Making Competency in Business Practices Between Millenial and Generation Z Entrepreneurs in the Western United States."{{Cite web |last=Castain |first=David |date=September 23, 2023 |title=The Differences in Instagram Branding Strategies, Leadership, and Decision-Making Competency in Business Practices Between Millennial and Generation Z Entrepreneurs in the Western United States - ProQuest |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2917141743?sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=www.proquest.com |language=en}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Film !Role !class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2013
| Fox 5 DC | rowspan="2"|Himself | Episode: "Most Successful Black Entrepreneurs in Washington, DC" |
| 2016
| Ink, Paper, Scissors | BET original series. Episode: "BET Awards Red Carpet 2016"{{cite web|title = The Cast of Ink Paper Scissors Gets David Castain Ready For The Red Carpet|url = http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/2016/photos/show/glam-suite-with-the-cast-of-ink-paper-scissors.html#!091716-shows-hha-exclusives-Glam-Suite-Cast-Ink-Paper-Scissors-David-Castain|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160920154511/http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/2016/photos/show/glam-suite-with-the-cast-of-ink-paper-scissors.html#!091716-shows-hha-exclusives-Glam-Suite-Cast-Ink-Paper-Scissors-David-Castain|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 20, 2016|publisher = BET|accessdate = 17 September 2016}} |
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.DavidCastain.com David Castain’s Official Website]
- [http://www.ranktoday.com Rank Today - David Castain’s Company]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castain, Dr. David}}
Category:Howard University alumni
Category:Georgetown University alumni
Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:People from Pomona, California
Category:American marketing people