Thomas-McCants Media Inc. The corporate mission is to encourage, support and facilitate economic empowerment of the African-American community through the development of a strategic local business network, educational initiatives and communications ventures. The company increases the opportunities for black businesses to succeed by expanding the number of quality venues that offer positive exposure for African Americans. In 1998, this dedication to economic empowerment for African Americans led Thomas-McCants Media Inc. to create a new division  “ The Black Expo”. The corporation, which now includes Black Pages USA and The Black Expo, is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina with a regional office in Columbia, South Carolina. Thomas-McCants Media Inc. operates 12 offices in the Southeastern United States.

Gerry McCants President, Thomas-McCants Media Inc.
McCants, a graduate of Virginia Union University, was born and raised in South Carolina in a home where service to others was a major priority. His belief that it was his calling to assist African American businesses to succeed by providing positive venues where Black businesses could be presented to the world led him to found Black Pages USA in 1990. The success of the venture prompted him the following year to partner with a like-minded young entrepreneur, Darrin Thomas, to form Thomas-McCants Media Inc.
 
Darrin Thomas Vice President, Thomas-McCants Media Inc.
Mr. Thomas, a native of Florence, South Carolina, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Business and a former member of the Xerox Corporation management team. One of his lifelong goals is to find a way to succeed in business while serving others. His partnership in Thomas-McCants Media Inc with Gerry has allowed him to accomplish that goal. As the Vice President and day-to-day business director.

The Mission
The mission of Thomas-McCants Media, Inc. is to encourage, support and facilitate economic empowerment in the African-American community. The company does so through the development of a strategic local business network, educational initiatives and communications ventures.
        That effort encompasses five states and thousands of businesses and entrepreneurs. Thomas-McCants’ realm has grown primarily through two major initiatives:

• Black Pages USA, a publication featuring advertisements, contact information and expert advice from black-owned business owners and service providers in 12 markets.
• Black Expo, an annual event showcasing black-owned businesses and services, in five markets.

          Black Pages USA is the backbone of Thomas-McCants Media. The publication was started 17 years ago when Darrin Thomas and Gerry McCants launched their business. Thomas and McCants were both print advertising executives targeting the southeastern black business market and decided to combine their efforts. Thomas-McCants Media Inc. is now the largest publisher of the Black Pages directories in the United States.
            The southeastern United States continues to be the primary focus of Black Pages, and strategically so, McCants said. “Fifty-five percent of the African American population is in the southeast. For us, that is a tremendous opportunity. That is where our target audience resides.”