Doris McMillon
Chief Strategic Officer
~McMillon Communications~
by Rodney Wayne Branche
Publisher, Copa Style Magazine
Copa: Where are you from?
Doris: Originally, Munich, Germany. I was born to a German woman an an African American G.I. Father who was stationed in Munich. they met at Oktoberfest, I tell folks, "It must be the beer, that's why I'm here!"
Copa: Which schools have you attended and where?
Doris: In order to become an American citizen, I would have to spend a year in the states to receive my naturalization papers. I remember going to Longfellow School, I attended Kindergarten there in Detroit Michigan. That's where my Mom adopted me. I should mention my birth mother put me up for adoption after my father left me because she couldn't afford to take care of me. I think she thought that I would be easier if I was adopted by an American family and I would have a better life...she was right. So I received my citizenship. We lived in England and then France where I learned to speak French instead of German. My dad was military so I attended many schools during the time. On one hand it made things difficult but on the other it was the best education you could at the schools at the time even when we had to move whenever my dad had to change duty stations. This is how I learned to very flexible in my life. So sometimes when plan 'A' doesn't work you have to shift to plan' B.' Later on my dad ended up retiring in Omaha, Nebraska, my parents divorced there. Later we returned to Detroit, Michigan. So there I attended Durphy Jr. High and that's where my life changed. I had two teachers there that I remember, a lady named Elaine Hoover and another teacher, I believe his name was Abraham Almer. They heard about a program called "A better chance" that took inner city students out of inner city schools. It would send certain kids of to boarding schools so they could receive a 'top flight' education. We went to some of the best schools in the country, most of the kids would not ever afford to attend these schools or even know about them if it wasn't for this program. The first group of us went off to Mt. Holy Oak College, Carlton and Duke University where we received orientation so we could get a good idea of what life would be like in boarding school. It was a great experience. I remember attending school with the Barclay's, Pillsbury's and Rockefeller's. They turned out to be very nice people. It was a wonderful experience.
From there I attended Elmhearst College in Elmhearst Illinois as a Theater Major. I ended up returning to Wayne State University to receive a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications. from the age of thirteen I've always believed I would be standing in front of someone performing...it was just in my blood. My adopted mom would always tell me, "Honey, you have to get a real job, anyone can act." I think I believed her to some point because I changed my major from Theater to Communications.
Doris: In order to become an American citizen, I would have to spend a year in the states to receive my naturalization papers. I remember going to Longfellow School, I attended Kindergarten there in Detroit Michigan. That's where my Mom adopted me. I should mention my birth mother put me up for adoption after my father left me because she couldn't afford to take care of me. I think she thought that I would be easier if I was adopted by an American family and I would have a better life...she was right. So I received my citizenship. We lived in England and then France where I learned to speak French instead of German. My dad was military so I attended many schools during the time. On one hand it made things difficult but on the other it was the best education you could at the schools at the time even when we had to move whenever my dad had to change duty stations. This is how I learned to very flexible in my life. So sometimes when plan 'A' doesn't work you have to shift to plan' B.' Later on my dad ended up retiring in Omaha, Nebraska, my parents divorced there. Later we returned to Detroit, Michigan. So there I attended Durphy Jr. High and that's where my life changed. I had two teachers there that I remember, a lady named Elaine Hoover and another teacher, I believe his name was Abraham Almer. They heard about a program called "A better chance" that took inner city students out of inner city schools. It would send certain kids of to boarding schools so they could receive a 'top flight' education. We went to some of the best schools in the country, most of the kids would not ever afford to attend these schools or even know about them if it wasn't for this program. The first group of us went off to Mt. Holy Oak College, Carlton and Duke University where we received orientation so we could get a good idea of what life would be like in boarding school. It was a great experience. I remember attending school with the Barclay's, Pillsbury's and Rockefeller's. They turned out to be very nice people. It was a wonderful experience.
From there I attended Elmhearst College in Elmhearst Illinois as a Theater Major. I ended up returning to Wayne State University to receive a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications. from the age of thirteen I've always believed I would be standing in front of someone performing...it was just in my blood. My adopted mom would always tell me, "Honey, you have to get a real job, anyone can act." I think I believed her to some point because I changed my major from Theater to Communications.
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Copa: After completing college, what was your first job?
Doris: I received my first job with help from attending Wayne State University. My Radio Professor recommended that I work at WHUR Radio in Washington, DC. which is one of the top stations in the country. At the time they never had a Black woman on their station and probably never intended to. Later I went to WJLB in Detroit which is a Black station. The news director would not hire me, he said they weren't ready for a woman yet but he offered to help me get my audition reel together so I could audition somewhere else. From there I went to WJR, they stated that they had no need for me...three days later they called me back to train me. I got the job at WJR as an intern. One day my big break came, they scheduled all of the reporters and anchors out into the field and I was the only one sitting in the newsroom. They asked me if I could do the '5 to 5' newscast, I said, "Sure!" My knees were knocking but I never let them know. That was the beginning!
Doris: I received my first job with help from attending Wayne State University. My Radio Professor recommended that I work at WHUR Radio in Washington, DC. which is one of the top stations in the country. At the time they never had a Black woman on their station and probably never intended to. Later I went to WJLB in Detroit which is a Black station. The news director would not hire me, he said they weren't ready for a woman yet but he offered to help me get my audition reel together so I could audition somewhere else. From there I went to WJR, they stated that they had no need for me...three days later they called me back to train me. I got the job at WJR as an intern. One day my big break came, they scheduled all of the reporters and anchors out into the field and I was the only one sitting in the newsroom. They asked me if I could do the '5 to 5' newscast, I said, "Sure!" My knees were knocking but I never let them know. That was the beginning!
Copa: What brought you back to work in Washington, DC?
Doris: In may of 1975 I ended up going to New York to be the first Black woman Anchor Correspondent for NBC Radio News. NBC decided to produce an all-news format similar to WTOP. At the time a network had never done this before, I was working the overnight shift at WJR and called the police department to see if there was any crime and slime happening around the city. A Sargent told me that NBC was looking for a Black woman Anchor in New York. I applied for the position and shortly I received a call from New York. So there I was in New York at age 25 making $50,000 a year in radio. After that first year I decided that I wanted to do television so I walked across the street to Channel 5 (it wasn't FOX at the time) and they hired me. I had to take a $20,000 pay cut to get into television but I knew it was going to pay off. From channel 5 I went to channel 7 (NBC). From NBC I came to WJLA in Washington, DC. I only planned to stay 2 years over there from 1984 to 1986, then life happened in a big way. My husband was an Orthopedic Surgeon who decided that he wanted to become the President of Haiti. So he decided to stop practicing Medicine, took all of the equity out from our house and took off for Haiti. This is when 'Baby Doc' was leaving, right at that time I lost my job at channel 7. I was in negotiations with the station to co-anchor with Paul Berry. They made some cuts and I was one of them. This totally caught me by surprise, in this business it's like being and athlete.
This is the time I became to know the lord, I had 3 children, no job and $100,000 in dept I didn't know which end was up. All I know is that I was walking out of channel 7 with a $17,000 severance check with no job and I didn't know where I was going to get one. My agent was busy looking and for some reason could not find anything for me.
I decided to freelance for a while between New York and DC. One day I was on an Eastern Airline flight and met a woman by the name of Joya Jefferson who worked at BET asked if I would be interested in reporting for BET in New York. I told her that I was not interest because I didn't feel like 'beating the streets.' Later they came back to me to see if I was interested to fill in on a talk show called "On The Line With." I did the show during the interim until they found another person. I think they were speaking to Carrol Randolph at the time who was working at channel 9. Later they asked if I would like to host the show on a permanent basis...I accepted. During the weekends I would travel to New York to be with my children. That was an interesting life that eventually turned into my freelance career. Later it developed onto McMillon Communications.
Doris: In may of 1975 I ended up going to New York to be the first Black woman Anchor Correspondent for NBC Radio News. NBC decided to produce an all-news format similar to WTOP. At the time a network had never done this before, I was working the overnight shift at WJR and called the police department to see if there was any crime and slime happening around the city. A Sargent told me that NBC was looking for a Black woman Anchor in New York. I applied for the position and shortly I received a call from New York. So there I was in New York at age 25 making $50,000 a year in radio. After that first year I decided that I wanted to do television so I walked across the street to Channel 5 (it wasn't FOX at the time) and they hired me. I had to take a $20,000 pay cut to get into television but I knew it was going to pay off. From channel 5 I went to channel 7 (NBC). From NBC I came to WJLA in Washington, DC. I only planned to stay 2 years over there from 1984 to 1986, then life happened in a big way. My husband was an Orthopedic Surgeon who decided that he wanted to become the President of Haiti. So he decided to stop practicing Medicine, took all of the equity out from our house and took off for Haiti. This is when 'Baby Doc' was leaving, right at that time I lost my job at channel 7. I was in negotiations with the station to co-anchor with Paul Berry. They made some cuts and I was one of them. This totally caught me by surprise, in this business it's like being and athlete.
This is the time I became to know the lord, I had 3 children, no job and $100,000 in dept I didn't know which end was up. All I know is that I was walking out of channel 7 with a $17,000 severance check with no job and I didn't know where I was going to get one. My agent was busy looking and for some reason could not find anything for me.
I decided to freelance for a while between New York and DC. One day I was on an Eastern Airline flight and met a woman by the name of Joya Jefferson who worked at BET asked if I would be interested in reporting for BET in New York. I told her that I was not interest because I didn't feel like 'beating the streets.' Later they came back to me to see if I was interested to fill in on a talk show called "On The Line With." I did the show during the interim until they found another person. I think they were speaking to Carrol Randolph at the time who was working at channel 9. Later they asked if I would like to host the show on a permanent basis...I accepted. During the weekends I would travel to New York to be with my children. That was an interesting life that eventually turned into my freelance career. Later it developed onto McMillon Communications.
Copa: Let's get a clearer picture of McMillon Communications.
Doris: The voice-over work is one piece of my business, that depends on me and I do a lot of media training, I work with people who have to give interviews to the media so I teach them how to speak to the media. Also I work with people who have to give presentations, many people get nervous when they have to speak. I work with them on building confidence in putting together their presentation. I also work with image branding, sometimes people forget about how important their image is. They want people to see them in a particular way but they don't come out the door with the basics. My job is to help them look their best, sell their best and speak their best. I work with 3 areas with my clients, how you look, how you sound and what you say. The formula doesn't change those three points are key to being an effective communicator.
Now I'm at the Graduate School USA, I'm doing a lot of communications training, customer service training which I'm absolutely loving because everyone loves great customer service. There's another course I teach there which is named "Increasing Personal Effectiveness." I feel that everyone needs this course if they wish to be more effective. I do a lot of Leadership Training and also a Supervisor's course. If it's about communicating and about talking and listening I'm providing lot's of training in that. I also create newsletters several associations that wish to get their messages out.
Doris: The voice-over work is one piece of my business, that depends on me and I do a lot of media training, I work with people who have to give interviews to the media so I teach them how to speak to the media. Also I work with people who have to give presentations, many people get nervous when they have to speak. I work with them on building confidence in putting together their presentation. I also work with image branding, sometimes people forget about how important their image is. They want people to see them in a particular way but they don't come out the door with the basics. My job is to help them look their best, sell their best and speak their best. I work with 3 areas with my clients, how you look, how you sound and what you say. The formula doesn't change those three points are key to being an effective communicator.
Now I'm at the Graduate School USA, I'm doing a lot of communications training, customer service training which I'm absolutely loving because everyone loves great customer service. There's another course I teach there which is named "Increasing Personal Effectiveness." I feel that everyone needs this course if they wish to be more effective. I do a lot of Leadership Training and also a Supervisor's course. If it's about communicating and about talking and listening I'm providing lot's of training in that. I also create newsletters several associations that wish to get their messages out.
Copa: Would you please share some views about our spirituality?
Doris: For years from the day I was born I was christened as a Catholic, after I was adopted as time went on I continued in that denomination, then life changed and I became a Baptist. What I learned from September 1986 was something I heard growing up because my parents made me go to church but I had not really embraced the Jesus Christ died on the cross for me to pay the penalty for all of the wrong stuff that I had done in my life. He was buried, rose again and he was coming back! I think the thing that was so exciting about me is that I used to be afraid about dying. I don't have that fear anymore because I now know without a doubt unequivocally where I will spend eternity. I'm so excited 30 years later on what the Lord has done for my life. 30 years later I'm so excited on what the Lord has done in my life, the self-confidence I have, the boldness he has given me and all of the talents he has blessed me with. I don't have to compare myself to anyone else. I am uniquely me with a destiny and a purpose. My purpose in the marketplace and my mission is to share my faith with others. I want them to have good success, where they will spend eternity and they will be loved unconditionally.
On November 13th I was licensed and ordained by Darryl Vincent Toullard, he is the Pastor of Ft. Washington Baptist Church. I am and always have been from the day I have given my life to Christ have been an Evangelist. We had a nice Ordination Ceremony at the church, it's now in writing what I've been doing all along.
Doris: For years from the day I was born I was christened as a Catholic, after I was adopted as time went on I continued in that denomination, then life changed and I became a Baptist. What I learned from September 1986 was something I heard growing up because my parents made me go to church but I had not really embraced the Jesus Christ died on the cross for me to pay the penalty for all of the wrong stuff that I had done in my life. He was buried, rose again and he was coming back! I think the thing that was so exciting about me is that I used to be afraid about dying. I don't have that fear anymore because I now know without a doubt unequivocally where I will spend eternity. I'm so excited 30 years later on what the Lord has done for my life. 30 years later I'm so excited on what the Lord has done in my life, the self-confidence I have, the boldness he has given me and all of the talents he has blessed me with. I don't have to compare myself to anyone else. I am uniquely me with a destiny and a purpose. My purpose in the marketplace and my mission is to share my faith with others. I want them to have good success, where they will spend eternity and they will be loved unconditionally.
On November 13th I was licensed and ordained by Darryl Vincent Toullard, he is the Pastor of Ft. Washington Baptist Church. I am and always have been from the day I have given my life to Christ have been an Evangelist. We had a nice Ordination Ceremony at the church, it's now in writing what I've been doing all along.
What does the future hold for Doris McMillon and McMillon Communications?
Doris: Well, only God knows, for the part I want to play in it I've been invited to go to Kenya to minister to women who are in the government and other professional women so I want to be available for ministry. I will always be looking for more opportunities to speak at women's conferences and churches. Additionally I would like to share my voice over in business. I really have fun with that. I have a studio set up in my office and I totally love it. I have been featured in a few movies and TV series like "Line of Fire," with Clint Eastwood, "Murder At 1600" with Wesley Snipes, "Head Of State" with Chris Rock, "The West Wing," "The Wire" and "NCIS." They let me play myself, that was very nice!
Doris: Well, only God knows, for the part I want to play in it I've been invited to go to Kenya to minister to women who are in the government and other professional women so I want to be available for ministry. I will always be looking for more opportunities to speak at women's conferences and churches. Additionally I would like to share my voice over in business. I really have fun with that. I have a studio set up in my office and I totally love it. I have been featured in a few movies and TV series like "Line of Fire," with Clint Eastwood, "Murder At 1600" with Wesley Snipes, "Head Of State" with Chris Rock, "The West Wing," "The Wire" and "NCIS." They let me play myself, that was very nice!
Another thing I wanted to mention to you, it's about what I had touched on earlier in the interview. It's about German women that hooked up with Black American soldiers, I was a result from one of those unions. There are about 5 or 6 thousand of us in Germany, I was adopted and brought back to the states. Later on we did a documentary on the 'Mischlingskinder' which translates to 'mixed children.' We won first place at the American Black Film Festival. We are now trying to get it curated into the Museum of African American History & Cuture. This is piece of history and we want people to know our story. I was very concerned that this story would go to our graves. We feel that there are enough 'Brown Babies' out here to have our story told. It appears that everyone knows about the 'boat children' of Vietnam by nobody knows anything about the 'Brown Babies.' This has effected my life in a big way.
The Bible says that my latter years should be better than my former years and my my former years have been pretty good, not to say I didn't have any burdens but with blessings come burdens. I guess you just have to go with the flow. I'm expecting great success up until I take my last breath.
What I have is a piece of God and that's more valuable than anything.
The Bible says that my latter years should be better than my former years and my my former years have been pretty good, not to say I didn't have any burdens but with blessings come burdens. I guess you just have to go with the flow. I'm expecting great success up until I take my last breath.
What I have is a piece of God and that's more valuable than anything.
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~Copa