Today we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Smart.
Trinidadian born Gillian is the President of TheSmartGroup Corp and Caribbean American News & Entertainment Radio– CANE Radio, an independent media company that develops content for various media platforms, including CANEtv.net. The company was founded in 2014 as a spin-off from Tele-Ibo, a Haitian broadcasting television network airing on Comcast. In 2015 she joined “Caribbean Riddims radio show -Three @ 3” as Co-host with Eddy Edwards & Cleve Osborne. The show has been running for the past 37 years running and recently launched an internet streaming radio station on CANE Radio.com. She has a featured segment on the show entitled “Mind Yuh Business,” which focuses on highlighting individuals & companies who are trendsetters. The segment promotes personal and business development, leisure, women & men’s health and more.
You can also catch her on W279DG 103.7fm & WLLY 99.5 HDS on SupaJamz Radio in Palm Beach during the afternoon drive on Mellow Mondays, Community Drive-Time on Wednesdays, with her son Drive-Time with Gillian & James on Thursdays. A 23-year veteran educator with Palm Beach County Schools, Gillian holds a Masters in Ed. Leadership from Lynn University, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from York College at CUNY, and National Board Certification in Business Career & Technical Education. In her spare time, Gillian volunteers with CARE (Caribbean Educators Association) dedicated to raising funds for scholarships for High School Seniors of Caribbean descent. Today, her focus is on building CANE Radio, Group by developing a media presence in South Florida and internationally, becoming a premier media outlet and a voice for the Caribbean & American Communities.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey has had its ups and downs and but it has been consistently good. Being a small media outlet run by a woman, I’ve had to deal with constantly proving my credibility. But, pressing on in spite of obstacles and forces those who push back on you to have to deal with you. There is also a fraternity of men and women in media and public relations who band together to support each others’ efforts. I have been blessed to meet and connect with these movers and shakers here in the tri-county area, that have supported the business.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Coming full circle, Covid-19 has proven to a blessing in disguise. We were given the opportunity to create a new start-up, patterning with some local media powerhouse. The CANE Factory is a modern communications company, creating content to serve Caribbean-American communities worldwide, consisting of several media platforms in Radio and TV designed for portability. The CANE Factory will be the foremost media communications outlet where Caribbean nationals of multiple generations visit CANE – Caribbean American News & Entertainment. There is a need for quality content dedicated to the Caribbean American culture. Our curated information is so fragmented or segmented that it is difficult to locate it in any one place. Our goal is to solve that problem by providing an all-inclusive platform for culture and those interested in it. Currently, we are known for our Caribbean Saturdays radio programming, which airs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm online at www.CANERadio.com.
We also provide local and international news and events within the Caribbean diaspora. Our programming is among the longest airing in the South Florida Area. We have been on the air for 37 years. I joined the team five years ago, and it has been amazing to see how we have pivoted in this new digital era. We have moved from being on the celestial dial to a totally digital platform and creating this new media identity in the process. I am most proud of the development of the concept of the brand CANE -Caribbean American News & Entertainment, respect that the brand has received from the community in our efforts to provide up-to-date news and entertainment. Operating under the CANE Factory umbrella will be CANE Radio, CANE TV along with various social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter channels all complimenting each other to drive traffic to a central website. Along with its commercial activities, the corporation will also establish and manage a non-profit arm promoting and preserving the culture while sharing and assisting the next generation in media.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is performing for my aunts and uncles when they came to visit. I would put together a well-choreographed performance which include an oral piece. When the performance as over, she would say she should do public speaking and performing. If find myself today enjoying public speaking and working as a radio broadcast host.
Contact Info:
- Email: canetv.net@gmail.com
- Website: www.caneradio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caneradio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caneradio
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CANERadio1
Image Credits
1. Three @ 3 promo shot – from left to right Cleve Osborne, Gillian Smart & Eddy Edwards 2. Gillian interviewing Reggae recording artist Hezron at a live VP Records event 3. Gillian Smart – Photo by Kevin Hicks 4. Gillian Smart – Photo by Kevin Hicks 5. Caribbean Riddims show Three @3 – left to right: Eddy Edwards, Gillian Smart & Cleve Osborne 6. Miami Broward Carnival 2019, Gillian interviewing 2019 Soca Monarch Mr. Killa
