Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Mark Redguard, general manager of Organic Thinkers. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Mark Redguard is a lawyer and the general manager of Organic Thinkers in Kingston. A Jamaican who grew up in Montclair New Jersey, in the United States he spoke with Flair earlier this year at the launch of the company that produces sorrel-based products.

Even as a boy, he knew he was going to be a businessman. To that end, he pursued a bachelor's degree in economics at Montclair State College in the U.S. His first job was as a pharmaceutical sales representative which lasted three years.

Law degree

In 1992, he completed a law degree followed by an MBA at Rutgers University in New York. The former meant having a back-up plan. He believed that both backgrounds would place him on the path to a more fulfilling career.

"I saw the two qualifications as a means of enabling me to go into my own business."

He then clerked in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey and while completing his degree, he set up his own private practice. The practice specialised in transactional law pertaining to contract and real estate law, lease agreements, music and sports law. After completion, he started a gospel record company. Almost simultaneously he began the Rhythm Jazz Company, an entertainment management/artist branding company. He was responsible for all legal issues pertaining to artists and producers contracts and licences. He signed artistes such as Kenny Lattimore. "We secured a deal for him at Sony Records in New York. Now he has become one most popular wedding singer across the world," Redguard told Flair.

The 41-year-old bachelor also worked with a DJ Jazzy Jeff and his company Touch of Jazz and began a recording studio. "I sought funding from Sony Records for marketing and distribution to create a reggae album that would have R&B/hip-hop influences to create a fusion between the two."

With that concept in mind, the label Kingston Five was born in 2004. It was a project that gave unrecognised young Jamaican artistes the opportunity to work with top music producers and musicians. It was very successful, making it on the international market by 2005.

Organic Thinkers

On one of several trips between the U.S. and Jamaica, he met William Webb, owner of Baba Roots. "He asked me to assist him some legal matter and before I knew it, I was assisting him to introduce his product to U.S., Canada, and United Kingdom markets."

Organic Thinkers was next and he was asked to assist with branding their product. "I realised its potential especially on the international market and decided to ensure that Jamaicans don't lose out on a product with such potential."

Currently, Redguard is working on sharing Organic Thinkers sorrel products with the world. He wants to educate individuals about the benefits of sorrel while ensuring that like other quality Jamaican products, sorrel does not end up being owned by another country.

On the social side, the enterprising businessman hopes to make Jamaica home and the US a vacation destination. He would also love to start a family here.