Community Spotlight: Entrepreneurs Making a Difference
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Good morning Las Vegas, this is precious affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. Got a young entrepreneur on the line and we'll be talking with shortly Mr. Larry Smith. However, before we get into our conversation with Larry, I want to make a couple quick announcements. Birthdays. My birthday just passed. So March 2 kind of guy. Earnest found Mike Cooper. Those are other individuals that know that have birthdays in the month of March. In terms of condolences like to extend condolences to the Edmond family, the family of Jackie admin, a longtime neighbor of ours over and Bonanza village. I was unable to make her service but Marsha did attend her and our son Vernon rady Cana represented the family, if you will. Yeah, we've known that family for a long, long time. Jackie was an outstanding lady in our community, worked for a number of years with the telephone company. But anyway, Jackie will be missed. So condolences once again to her family. At this time, I like to also mention that this is Women's History Month. So let's not forget that and we will make sure that we get a couple of women on the show. In fact, I have one lined up for today. And my daughter sitting here may be able to get her to say a word or two that's Angel, Washington. Also, any folks having any kind of issues that need some some contact information in terms of their veterans benefits, they need to get a hold. Mr. Tony Marshall, Tony Marshall, and I apologize I don't have his number right at him, but I will have it be at the end of the show. So with that, excuse me, I'd like to bring on local entrepreneur. Mr. Larry Smith, how you doing there?
Unknown Speaker 2:53
What are you doing?
Unknown Speaker 2:56
Hey, man, I'm hanging in there up and down, man up and down. But all that stuff. Y'all mean Feed Me Me got me. All kind of moods. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 3:06
I told you I told you what it was going to be but man, I'm proud of you. Man. I'm I'm praying for you. And I hope all as well and you got a good support system over there with your family. I know your daughters. Everybody, you know, we ruined for you to man. Are you the general?
Unknown Speaker 3:21
All right, man. Well, I appreciate all that acknowledgement, man. But I can tell he drives me absolutely nuts. And, you know, it's it's good to have all that family love and community love considering the situation that I'm in. And I trust that God will bring me through and and I want to continue saying to y'all keep on praying and keep on hoping and all the rest of that good stuff. Larry, tell our listening audience, if you will, where were you born and raised?
Unknown Speaker 3:51
So I was I was born here in Las Vegas, Nevada. And I went back and forth between Riverside family and Riverside, California. And but mostly mostly my childhood was in Las Vegas. I attended Valley High School, where while I went to our first or I would like to say orcas I used to love or we played basketball. And, you know, that was my real early passion. I just knew I was going to the NBA. And, you know, when you get to college, you start playing against dudes or six foot seven foot, six foot seven and seven foot you realize, man, you know and these are the cream of the crop guys, you know, you realize like, ah, that dream might not be the one that I need to partake in. Right? But but it was a great experience for me and I went to or play basketball went to valley played a little football, you know, I figured basketball was gonna be my sport. And I feel like I made the right decision. I went I end up going to a junior college in Prescott, Arizona called Yabba paw, which everybody kind of laughed laughed at me about because I was like apple pie, you know, what's that? But, you know, at the time, she watched and everybody was going to Dixie University 60 college right for the junior colleges, you know, back then they weren't really recruiting Division One kids out of Las Vegas. It wasn't until about five years after I got out of high school that I started seeing players from Nevada start going division one and I think it has a lot to do with the gambling if I if I had to be honest, I felt like they couldn't trust you know, the Vegas was, you know, Vegas kids coming from, you know, Vegas, you know, were they gonna gamble with the parents gonna be gambling I really felt like that that really hurt us back then. And then now you see it, you see an influx of kids from all over that are going to division one schools thriving, and thing going but but that's pretty much my my Vegas. You know, growing up now
Unknown Speaker 5:52
brothers brothers and sisters.
Unknown Speaker 5:56
Yeah, brothers, I have to I have to have to have success. Okay. Stacy, Stacy and Kim. And you know, that, you know, my two older sisters, number of, you know, entrepreneurs they have their thing was in real estate and my older sister, she's a serial entrepreneur, she I think I kind of have more spirit than anything. She she goes out and gets it man. She's, she's a real hustler. So
Unknown Speaker 6:22
I mentioned you as a local businessman, I know you have several businesses that you operate. So let's take in whichever you choose to acknowledge, to our audience first. Well,
Unknown Speaker 6:38
the word that people have come and gotten to know me on probably the most of the cannabis industry. Back in 2016, we were going to cultivation. So that's probably known for as far as you know, what people kind of really, I got to get exposed. Before that, you know, I started medical. Still with personal injury for about 25 years, that's why we're doing the property damage for clients has been an accident.
Unknown Speaker 7:20
So you were saying that the business that you're mostly known for? Is your call to cannabis cultivation? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 7:26
So like the cannabis, kind of really, you know, gave me some spotlight on like, the national level, I started getting a lot of people because, obviously in cannabis, if there's not a lot of African Americans, as you know, in the industry, that kind of really took me to a different level. And, you know, I started to get some recognition there. I mean, literally, you know, I would I would be places I would go out places and, you know, doing a strip somewhere, somebody, you know, I just watched a video, you know, I have a lot of support from people like 50 cent, the rapper, Nori, Jack Phillips, you know, in the hip hop community, and they started picking up the story. And you know, as I picked up the story, you know, it's fan and I would literally go for example, be totally shocked. They were like, oh, man, you love it, man. And I'm like, yeah, it's not a big not a big deal to me. But then I do realize that you know, there are people that are incarcerated on cannabis, and you know, didn't hit you like now this is a big deal. And so, you know, we've we've tried to take real pride in representing the culture and making sure that we're good
Unknown Speaker 8:37
okay. All right. So basically you grow and sell locally or is it
Unknown Speaker 8:45
yeah
Unknown Speaker 8:47
no, no, we can only sell in the state of Nevada. We sell we have about maybe eight or nine different dispensaries that we deal with and we have a smaller cultivation so it kind of works out for us. And we supply about eight or nine different dispensaries around town that carry our products.
Unknown Speaker 9:10
So you mentioned that your other business that you're not as well known for and it is called what
Unknown Speaker 9:17
so it's called defy media and it's yeah defy media and we have chief medical consultants everything I had was defy me and my son We like playing so we just always talked about the the ways to go sit on Oahu jet planes. private planes take off federal Big Five from but those are marketing aminos marketing and it's what do you call it? So I buy medical leads? I basically buy paper in my phone I kind of when I say that people are like what am I guess? I guess that's the proper term is called factory. So I buy paper that people don't want to hold on to. So for example, like we if you're an accident, you Getting the MRI, a lot of time, those companies don't want to hold the paper. So they'll sell it. And then we retain that we buy it at a discounted price. And now it's it's our job to go out and collect it, you know, from the people. So really, really profitable business for us. And you know, once again, there's not a lot of African Americans in our space, I was probably the only one, maybe a couple more now. But back then, when it first started, I was definitely the only African American to have that. Okay.
Unknown Speaker 10:29
Very interesting. So doing that for how many years now?
Unknown Speaker 10:36
We've been doing that for about 12 or 13 years. So I've really given up for Shut up to my son. You know, he followed in your footsteps. And thank you for paving the way for, you know, my son, Larry Smith, Jr. To be able to go be a firefighter. And then last time he, he has the lien company now, so it says me company, he does his own thing. And, you know, now how do you primarily handle the property damage, a lot of cases, and I just started my rental car company to go along with those cases. So now when people get in accidents, I'll have the rental cars available for them instead of going to enterprise or hurt. So those type of places, I'll be able to go there and
Unknown Speaker 11:21
write to us. So you say you started a rental car company as your newest Gotcha.
Unknown Speaker 11:27
Yeah, that's my newest venture I enjoy. I enjoy that. I enjoy that. Like I said, I enjoy helping clients with the, with the access my passion, I don't, I have a real distaste for the insurance company. So I feel like they try to take advantage of clients. I know because, you know, the commercials say that you're in good hands with Allstate. But when it's time to pay us, for some reason, there seems to be a problem. So I kind of understand that game that what they do and what they're trying to do and how they're doing it. And so I want to make sure the policy taking care of you know, somebody on the street. And then you know, when you when you have something happens to you he expect to be compensated. And then, you know, a lot of times they don't want to compensate you the right
Unknown Speaker 12:13
way. Right. Right. So with this new business, what's the what's the outlook, from your perspective, in terms of, of growth of that particular business? Endeavor?
Unknown Speaker 12:28
What was the good thing I like about this is that I'm at a point in my life, so I don't want to, I want to be able to really expand this business. And, you know, I'd be talking someone that, you know, next year, this time, I want to be in Arizona, and I want to be in Utah, this time next year. And, you know, the goal is for me to have over 200 to 300 rental cars available in the next year. And it's just one of those things that it's a very simple process. For me, it's not, there's no shortage of accidents here in the state of Nevada. There's a lot of reckless drivers out there. I think on average, we have 3500 accidents a month. Wow. So there's definitely a demand for it. There's a need for and, you know, Avoca also was Allstate State Farm American families, these companies are going out of business. So you, I think it's a long term sustainable business that I can pass down to my children, or one day, hopefully sell out to one of the bigger companies.
Unknown Speaker 13:36
So you have embarked upon several different businesses? Is there anything that you'd like to pass along to our listening audience, we have veterans out there, like myself who've, you know, peruse that whole business industry didn't have the wherewithal or took the proper time to, to really grow? What I was doing? So could you share some thoughts that you'd like to pass on to folks out there?
Unknown Speaker 14:03
Well, the biggest thing that I can say, I mean, this with all sincerity is this, you got to if you enjoy what you do, I think that's an anything and work or whatever you do, it's not really work to me. And I realized that, you know, when I started the cultivation, you know, I got into this because of someone that I was dealing with, you know, kind of, kind of I talked me into doing it and you know, it wasn't a real passion of mine cannabis isn't a real passion of mine. I think I got into it for the wrong reasons. You know, I got into it to make money. But and I know we all want to make money but it wasn't a real passion for me. So you know, doing what I do, going back from my roots in personal injury and property damage. It's what I love to do so passion, and I guess that's the real message is really find something to Mike, Could you do us? Can you enjoy it, you can make some money. Money is the second day, you know, the fun part of being obviously being an entrepreneur is not easy. You know, especially in the cannabis space where we have no federal funding. You know, that really hurts. So we have to pay out of pocket for everything. So, you know, but I guess independence. And, you know, just having a real passion for what you do is my real real advice. Doors are something that you really, really enjoyed. Okay.
Unknown Speaker 15:29
All right. Well, one last question for you, Larry, is I know that you've been into the gaming industry. What do you think about the the online gaming activity that's occurring throughout the country, I think like 38 states have approved.
Unknown Speaker 15:46
So I just, I've been betting, I was betting out the Valley Hospital. Going to make the best I was 16 years old, literally bought my first car off of sports betting. And I've been betting ever since I probably that's probably one of my most profitable businesses. I treat my sports betting just like it's a business. From Monday to from Monday to Sunday, we start off and what I've seen is that it's, it's, it's, it's just beginning. Expect to see more on your TV, when you're watching football next, next football season, it's gonna pop up on your screen, I just saw the ESPN has a sports book now. So when you're watching those games, you know they're gonna it's gonna be on your TV, it's gonna be vertically integrated. You know, I think it's gonna be a really delicate balance. Because, you know, people don't know what they're doing. They're gonna lose a lot of money, and they could affect a lot of things. So I think I think it's scary. I think it's a very scary power. When you have 35 states. Yeah, listen, these people are gambling, no matter what they tell you. It's not like it's new. It's just new for Vegas people to think that someone in Mississippi or Tennessee is gambling. Well, they gamble to their bookies. I think they go through, but right now it's probably really more accessible. And that could create some real issues in household. I mean, people really got to be aware. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 17:18
you know, the danger, I see where they dropped it from, from 21 to 18. And then also the show where the NFL me, I think, three 4% more than me last year. So I've talked to my young grandsons and told them be very, very careful, because it's easy to go go do that online. And you get caught up. Well, Larry, I appreciate the input that you've provided me, to folks out there with your, your spirit, particularly as an entrepreneur. So I have you back on the show again and tell us more about the progress of your rental car business. So thank you, young man. Hey, until you tell your wife I said hello. And we got her in prayer as well.
Unknown Speaker 18:01
Thank you so much for having me as always, man, and I'm praying for you. We're praying for you. You're a staple in this community, man. You mean a lot to so many people. And I love you for various reasons. You always are very outspoken and you speak a real truth and a lot of people don't want to hear turn people off. But I don't care. I love it. I love it in you. I'm glad to look up to guys like you I really do appreciate you man. I love you. Big
Unknown Speaker 18:28
question. All right, love you back. Love you. Okay, have a great day. All right, tell the family I said hello, and particularly your wife take care. Okay, thank you. All right. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more on the other side, we will have Miss aka to give her some input on some of the things that she's doing out there. She's pretty active
Unknown Speaker 18:59
once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. As I mentioned, I have another guest for us today. And particularly as we as I mentioned earlier, this is Women's History Month. So got a young lady Miss AK wants you to come in and just kind of tell our listening audience a little bit about you, where you from how long you've been in Vegas, etc. How are you doing?
Unknown Speaker 19:24
Well, good afternoon, Mr. Washington. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it to the community. He's such a legend. This is my pleasure to be here. So I'm aka I've been in Las Vegas since 2007. I'm originally from St. Louis, Missouri, born and raised. A little bit about me. So I guess you could say I got my start doing the food pantry over in New Jerusalem. I also at that same time, I started kind of interning I guess you could say over and power Ah, under the leadership under the tutorial, tutelage, tutelage, under the tutelage, okay, layer liquid flow, okay? Then I kind of moved on to doing some community work that turned into a case closet, which is an organization, we started off with an initiative to help to close the houseless that live on the streets. That kind of grew into different organizations and schools and social workers contacting us when they needed things for their students and children. And then that grew into the community baby showers that I created. When I was pregnant with my son, we were clean cleaning out the storage with all of the other items. And there's a lot of baby stuff that's in here. And no one ever asked me for baby stuff. But I know that people must need baby stuff. So we started the first community baby shower. Only 15 people showed up to the first one. After that, the next one, I was three weeks postpartum, I just had my son. And we have going and the line was wrapped around the building, almost twice. And so there, we decided to do it twice a year. So that's that. I also, I'm a stand up comedian. And I've been doing comedy since 2008. I've shared the stage with some of your favorite comedians. But I also am a comedic writer, a voice actress. And I also created a show a fundraising show called Coffee care, comedy. So it's a play on words, we do it cuz we care. And we do it for the cause of each part, we change the setup of the show, or the recipient of the show for different organizations, people youth that that need funding, and instead of a GoFundMe, I'd rather provide people with entertainment. And so the way that it works is the organization submits, you know whatever their need is, and they said that they want to show I locked down the venue. And then I also asked the organization to send me over six people who support their organization. And from those six people, I choose three to be their lip sinkers. So there's a cop portion. And then there's the lip sync portion. In that makes for a really, really fun show raised well over $5,000 Since we started, since I named as a show, so I've always gone from raising show, but I decided to make it something that people will recognize all the time, since we've since we've actually named it causing care comedy. We've raised over $5,000 with some of your favorite organizations as well as just regular people whose apartments caught on fire and didn't have didn't have the money to be able to relocate and things like that. And I'm also I'm also a former employee of quite County, so I used to be a part of the gang intervention team, under the leadership of Melbourne beetle NS as well as Alex Bernal. They pretty much taught me everything that I know when it comes to really being about our youth. And that kind of falls into falls into IQ showers that we do when we go to different schools. And we provide clothes, household products, cleaning products, hygiene products, and educational tools, book stem kits and things like that for two different schools.
Unknown Speaker 23:32
So what's you what inspired you to do this stuff? Because that keeps you really, really busy. And you're a young person A lot of times from my own personal belief, some young folks they don't have time to be thinking about and trying to do things for others, they'd be better. What about me? Unfortunately, in many cases,
Unknown Speaker 23:54
it can't be what about me? The main reason being I have children, you know, but before I had children, I always looked at all children as our our future. Our big investment is our children. And so that's kind of, I guess what my biggest motivator is, aside from the fact that the community really supports me and stands behind me. When I when I say I have an idea I want to do something so we have our when we do back to school each year, we ended up doing it as a different initiatives. So instead of everybody seems to focus on elementary schools and middle school students, so we try to focus on college students as well as teachers. And I wouldn't be able to do things like this if the aka we want to be able to support we want to be able to help you. Essentially what I was saying was the community really stepped up and helped to support the different initiatives that I present. Okay, so that makes it so much easier, right.
Unknown Speaker 24:56
Excellent. Well, we certainly Vitiate the things that you do and, and it's rewarding on your behalf for, for me and others to support the things that you do. And I think it's really admirable for, again, particularly for young person to do those types of things I can tell you when I was serving with the department, we had a program. We started out by giving, like, cash for someone, no, you can't do cash, but we give out in $20 increments. And I think the program left right out that I retired, but it's called the Las Vegas fire Foundation. And when people lose things in their homes, they have just other kind of disasters. Will the guys would use to take money out of their pocket and say, here, here, ma'am, or here, Sir, here's $40, we just collected amongst ourselves. So I said, you know, we need to formalize this. And we did and get got support from Nevada, one credit union and, and it was a program, kind of like what you're doing when somebody's hurting in need, man. At first we said, no cigarettes, no liquor, then we thought, man, if my house burned down, I might might not even be a smoker, but I might want a cigarette, I might want a hot drink. So what you're doing is great stuff for our community. And I trust that people really appreciate that. Any closing remarks you'd like to share with our audience. And again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. And we're talking with Miss aka local comedian, nonprofit leader doing lots of things for our community.
Unknown Speaker 26:42
So I guess if I if I had to have any closing remarks, considering what the title of your show is, I guess I would have to say to people who are civilians who have never served before, make sure that our veterans are at the top of your list of care. When it comes to being engaged in the community when it comes to being politically involved. No matter what your list of things that you're demanding to see change in the city or in your world is make sure that veterans are on that list. I would like to say to our veterans, please, whenever you see a flyer, even if it's being put on by an organization that you don't agree with, still show up and make sure that your voices are heard. Make sure that people know that you're not getting ready. You're not going to have served this country, and the country does not serve you.
Unknown Speaker 27:31
Wow, you know what? AKA I'll say this as we close. What I love about you, I usually mean, because I used to listen to you guys show a lot. I don't like this young lady is a old soul if you will, because some of your thought processes is way beyond your age. So once you know how much you appreciated and loved and tell your family, we said hello and I'll get you back on again because I know you're always doing things and if there's anything that I can help you to do. I'm here for you so much love to you, young lady. All right. I love you so very much. All right. Take care and thanks for coming on. My pleasure. All right, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. We'll be back on here next week with John Reed in chief imaging camera.
Unknown Speaker 28:54
Hey when I said on the payment we
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