Community leaders gathered in Academy Prep Center of Tampa's gymnasium to mentor young men. The nonprofit school serves economically disadvantaged fifth- through eighth-graders mostly from impoverished communities in east Tampa. At the center of the table sat Hugh Campbell. He told the students that his quest to be successful started with one simple idea. "I just decided at a young age, I wanted to make something of myself," he said. He's well-known in Tampa Bay's business and technology circles as the co-founder and CEO of telecommunications company Advanced C4 Solutions. Last year, AC4S's generated revenues of $38 million, Campbell said.
A mailer from the U.S. Military Academy caught Campbell's eye when he was in high school, and a visit to the campus sealed his desire to attend West Point. "I said, there's no way I'm not going," he said. But West Point would test Campbell in ways he hadn't anticipated. A West Point tradition is for freshmen cadets to serve upperclassmen during meals. Campbell said fulfilling this duty often meant the kitchen would close down before he could eat. After weeks of eating little food while juggling a demanding academic schedule, he decided he'd had enough. "I didn't like it," he said. "I almost quit."
But Campbell didn't leave. Instead he chose to overcome the challenges and get more involved in school activities. A big help was his singing with the Cadet Gospel Choir, which traveled to black churches all over the country. Seeing church and community leaders and young black people beam with pride at his and other choir members in their uniforms was heartening, he said. "I always understood the opportunity that (attending West Point) was," he said. "While it was difficult, there were hints along the way that it's meaningful."
After building and operating two successful multi-million dollar businesses, it would appear that Campbell would be within his rights to cruise easily until retirement. But Campbell said he's looking forward to deepening his involvement in community causes and organizations. Recently, he's turned his attention and resources to Academy Prep Center of Tampa. According to its website, the students' families face numerous hardships, including inadequate housing, lack of education, unemployment, poor health, lack of positive role models, a family history of crime or abuse, addictions and mental illness. It's these students who need to see more examples of successful black business and community leaders, Campbell said.
"Education is the difference," he said. "It's all the difference in the world." Read More