Comedian & MC

CONNECT WITH EDDIE

Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Black Planet | LinkedIn

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Eddie Francis is a speaker, media professional, and entertainer raised and educated in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also the founder of Francis Factor Communication & Entertainment Services, LLC. Known for his articulate, intelligent and often humorous commentary on a myriad of issues in addition to his powerful and energetic public speaking style, Eddie grew up in the historic Tremé neighborhood and received his degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans after graduating from the prestigious St. Augustine High School. He was raised by two high school teachers, Nelson and Juanita Francis, both of whom were very well known and respected throughout New Orleans. In 2000, he was selected as one of New Orleans Magazine's "30 People to Watch"; and in 2011, Eddie won the Press Club of New Orleans Excellence in Broadcasting Award for the "Best Radio Entertainment Radio Feature".

Speaking Career
Eddie delivers keynote addresses and workshop presentations on communication skills and life enhancement through the lens of public relations and marketing. He delivers the "Black Greek Success Program", a presentation which gives members of African-American fraternities and sororities a road map for turning their respective college experiences into career success. In addition to speaking, Eddie helps speakers improve their raw speaking tools through coaching.

His passion for speaking blossomed while he was in high school and later developed in college. In only two years on the St. Augustine speech and debate team, Eddie was a two-time National Forensic League Louisiana District champion in humorous interpretation, he placed second in humorous at the Louisiana High School Speech League Tournament of Champions, and he competed in three national tournaments. At Loyola, Eddie continued to cultivate his love for public speaking by minoring in theater, landing the lead role in Y. York's quirky play "Rain. Some Fish. No Elephants." Upon his initiation into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Eddie placed third at the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Competition at the fraternity's national convention. Upon graduating from college, Eddie continued to perfect his public speaking skills via stage performance. In 1996, he played the lead role in James Morehead's "Shades of Gray" with the University Theater at Dillard. Around the same time, he formed a sketch comedy group called Loose Cannons: the comedy troupe. That eventually led to a career in stand-up comedy, which Eddie regards as the most challenging form of public speaking.

His public speaking career took off when he joined Monster's Making It Count Programs, a company which does free in-school and on-campus presentations about educational and career success at high schools and colleges. With the company, Eddie conducted more than 1,250 presentations for more than a quarter of a million high school students, collegians, and parents in 28 states. Eddie left the company as one of the top-rated and most-requested speakers. He also stumbled upon the opportunity to begin speaker coaching when he would take colleagues under his wing at speaker trainings. Eddie's specialty became vocal dynamics. He also served as a presenter for Monster's Diversity Leadership Program at the University of California, Berkeley and has conducted other speaking engagements for the company. Because of his various experiences and impressive public speaking skills, Eddie has entered the world of workshop presentations. In 2007, he conducted a leadership and diversity workshop for the Missouri Bar Leadership Academy. Armed with experience in public relations and marketing, he started the "Do-It-Yourself P.R." series to assist small businesses and non-profit organizations with their image management needs.

webassets/1DannyGlover.jpg

Media Career
Eddie is best known throughout Southeast Louisiana as the producer and co-host of "Real Talk" on New Orleans' Hip Hop and R&B powerhouse, Q93 (WQUE-FM). He is also the co-producer and a contributor for "Sunday Journal" on 98.5-WYLD (WYLD-FM), which was named "Best Radio Talk Show" by the Press Club of New Orleans in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Eddie and his partner Hal Clark were awarded the "Best Radio Entertainment Feature" by the Press Club of New Orleans for Eddie's 2010 interview with Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the infamous 1994 Rwandan genocides. Having discovered a love for radio broadcasting, he made a successful transition from a promotions intern to assistant director of promotions for a then four-station cluster to the eventual outspoken personality known throughout the New Orleans area and beyond. His first on-air assignment was producer of the "C.J. & Company" morning show on Q93 where he entertained listeners with comedy bits and a weekly sports segment. Eddie later moved to 98.5 (then known as FM 98) where he hosted the weekly party shows "Friday Night Funk" and "Studio 98". He still found time for television, however, when he produced and hosted his own shows on New Orleans Access Television---"Eddie Francis: MY TV Show!" and "Ed. Talk".

Eddie has excelled as an interviewer in radio. He has interviewed such luminaries as: actor Danny Glover; CNN's Soledad O'Brien; U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Rod Paige; educator, CNN contributor, and author Dr. Steven Perry; U.S. Congresspeople Maxine Waters and Bobby Scott; Earth, Wind & Fire's legendary lead singer Maurice White; former New Orleans Hornet David West; Dr. Ian Smith of "Celebrity Fit Club"; motivational speaker Dr. Dennis Kimbro; ESPN's Stan Verrett; former NFL quarterback Shaun King; comedian Joe Clair; tennis star Venus Williams; Jet magazine White House correspondent, cable news contributor, and author Sophia Nelson; recording artists Kem, Jeffrey Osborne, India.Arie, and many other notable figures. Highlighting his skills an interviewer, Eddie created the features the "NOLA 3.0" and the "Sunday Journal Success Series" for the weekly show.

Full-time, Eddie serves as the director of public relations at Southern University at New Orleans where his duties also include marketing, sports information, campus publications management, social media management, and web management. It is there that Eddie has dramatically increased the positive media exposure and has rebranded the university. He is known for having successfully managed the 2011 SUNO/University of New Orleans merger debate controversy. Thought to be "slam-dunk" legislation, Eddie cleverly utilized social media to help defeat the infamous merger bill proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. With the university, Eddie also used his television skills to cast, direct, voice, and manage post-production of SUNO's unprecedented television advertisements.

Entertainment Career
Eddie lets his creative juices flow as a stand-up comedian and event host in the New Orleans area. In comedy, he was featured on Cox Television's "Comedy Boil" and has opened for Kevin Hart. Eddie had also been featured at the DramaRama and ACT I New Orleans Black theater festivals. Near and dear to Eddie's heart, however, is having had the opportunity to serve as a master of ceremonies for events. In 2009, he began a partnership with the YMCA as their MC for the "Say YES! to Literacy Gala" and he also served as an MC at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Eddie has also donated his time serve as the host of the annual Southern University at New Orleans Foundation's fundraiser, the BASH. Wherever he can, Eddie uses his humor, wit, and energy to entertain audiences.

Eddie is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he served in leadership positions both in and after college. He is also a member of the Press Club of New Orleans and a former member of the Tremé Charter School Association. He resides in Metairie, Louisiana, is a fan of all New Orleans area sports, and is the proud father of Steven Alexander Francis.