Rodney Reynolds

Rodney J. Reynolds, President of RJR Communications, Inc. is the Founder and Publisher of American Legacy magazine and Executive Producer of American Legacy Television. American Legacy celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout the entire year of 2005.

A Cleveland native, Rodney attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in Graphic Design and Advertising. He has worked for several area companies as an advertising/marketing consultant, yet his first love has always been publishing. Rodney embarked on his first publishing venture with a national, general-purpose publication targeted for Black men, Spectrum Magazine.

Since that time, Rodney’s creativity and drive have brought forth such publications as New Visions and the highly successful Renaissance Magazine. Both magazines emphasized black history. Rodney also developed Today’s Black Father, which underlined his concern for the black family.

In 1992, Rodney teamed with Corporate Cleveland Magazine and developed Minority Business, a quarterly publication. He served as publisher and editor.
Rodney is currently involved in a joint venture with FORBES Inc. located in New York. This publication, American Legacy, celebrates African-American history and culture. In February 2001, RJR Communications and New Millennium Studios launched American Legacy Television, a nationally syndicated TV program.

In 1998, Rodney was the recipient of the Forty Under 40 award from The Network Journal. In addition, Delta Sigma Theta honored his work with the magazine by awarding him the Lillian Award, its biannual award given to professionals in the communications field. In 1999, Rodney was one of seven individuals recognized by Alan G. Hevesi, Comptroller of the City of New York, for his professional accomplishments. In addition, he received the Key to the City of Evansville, Indiana, and was the recipient of the Percy E. Sutton Award presented annually by the Harlem Business Alliance. Mr. Reynolds also received the “Visionary Award” from the African-American Men of Westchester, the National Business Leader of the Year award from the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland County and the 2002 Triangle of Service award from the Southeast Regional African-American Preservation Alliance. In 2004, Mr. Reynolds was the recipient of the inaugural Earl G. Graves Entrepreneurial Award and in 2005 he was the recipient of the W.O. Walker Community Excellence Award. In 2008 Mr. Reynolds will be inducted into the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.

Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Mount Vernon Public Library, YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester, The Harriett Tubman Home and Rye Country Day School. He is also the Diversity Chairperson for The New York Blood Center/ Westchester Region. His schedule also includes speaking engagements across the country. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Rodney and his wife Lillian are the proud parents of two sons, Rodney Jeremiah, and Richard Joshua. The family attends Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, New York.