Who are we?

Dee Dee M. Cocheta
Senior Consultant/ President

Ms. Cocheta is an 20-year entrepreneur and veteran in the entertainment industry who first made her mark in the entertainment industry in 1985 as a hair show model for Paul Mitchell while attending high school in Portland, Oregon. This is when she became enthralled in beginning to build a career booking artists, promoting concerts, developing community relation campaigns and fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations. At the time, she had no idea what she was doing, yet knew it would match with her goals in life. She went on to be the first in her family to receive a college degree and graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a BA in Marketing where she honed her marketing skills at Radio One’s affiliate Magic 107.5 as a Marketing Director creating multi-million dollar promotions. Recognizing her own inner “guerilla marketing” entrepreneurial spirit, Dee Dee left Radio One to launch A.B.C. PR & Marketing Firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Her Marketing Firm has grown to being recognized as the most sought after PR & Marketing agency in the South because of her high-powered contacts and making things happen.

On any given day, you will find Dee Dee doing everything from consulting new entrepreneurs on business development, diversity, creating marketing and social media campaigns to help businesses build their brand(s), media training, producing awards shows for company galas, conferences and festivals to publicizing clients/events. In addition, Dee Dee has found it necessary to pursue what was her passion from the start; supporting entrepreneurs, leaders and activists, therefore Dee Dee is the Atlanta/SE Network Advisor for NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment) and serves as an Advisory Board Member to SOFRAS (Society of Future Recording Artists & Songwriters), Black Music Month Foundation and Healfromdepression.com. Furthermore, Dee Dee speaks to numerous youth organizations and schools throughout the nation about goal building - life's plans and purpose, leadership roles, entrepreneurial direction and rebuilding the divided bridge of the generations as well as behind the scenes careers opportunities within the entertainment industry.

Dee Dee Cocheta is native of the inner city of Portland, Oregon, indigenous to the Yakama tribe of Washington State, she has been married for 20 years and has seven children. Dee Dee looks to her mentor - THE MOST HIGH to assist her in ultimately combating social ills to help move this nation forward. On her path of goal setting, Dee Dee's final three objectives are to write a book, direct a film and create an Educational and Business Development Center focusing on teaching the youth to become leaders and entrepreneurs. She’s been on her own since the age of 15 and thus has acquired the knowledge of how to hustle for food and shelter, insight that she now applies to her everyday business life. Dee Dee declares, "There are no time for failures and no excuses. Faith is not just knowing but doing and I am a living my movement because Queens Never Quit!”


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Crystal M. Beauford
PR Account Executive

Crystal’s love for entertainment and writing lead her to pursue a career in public relations. She’s a social butterfly who couldn’t imagine sitting in an office from 9-5 with the same routine and lunch break everyday. For her, public relation is a chance to get in touch with the world while establishing relationships with clients and industry colleagues.

A Mass Media Arts major at Clark Atlanta University, Crystal grew up in Atlanta, Georgia as the youngest girl of four older brothers. With no sisters around, her imaginations lead to an increased interest in writing. She eventually started writing for multiple college magazines and discovered the skill of networking! After gaining a deeper understanding of the entertainment industry, Crystal realized she not only wanted to write about celebrities and products but she wanted to be responsible for getting them exposure.

Crystal came to A.B.C as an intern dedicated and determined to be a successful publicist. Her passion for the business drives her to go above and beyond when it comes to serving our clients. Her natural passion for helping others allows her to fit right in when it comes to getting her clients what they need. If it’s not media related, she’s serving her community through volunteer service.

Beyond PR, Crystal’s goals are to one day tackle the world of fashion and own a boutique, write a book, and start her own magazine with a cyber twist. Crystal believes that what you speak to the universe is what you ultimately get back. So dream big yet most importantly BELIEVE IN IT!


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April Thacker Yates, Consultant

April Thacker Yates, has lived and traveled all over the world as a ‘military brat’, this native of Washington, D.C. literally has been to:  Germany, Spain, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Ohio, Alabama, Texas and more.  Her career in the world of entertainment started at a young age; modeling, doing local commercials, and hosting a radio show geared toward teens.  It was then she knew that she had a passion for the industry.  She began her matriculation through college at her family’s Alma Mata, Howard University during the “Diddy” period, studied abroad at the University of Maryland, ultimately graduating from Clark Atlanta with a degree in Public Relations where she held the highest GPA in her department.   While in college she worked in the Office of Special Events coordinating concerts, plays, open markets, and assisting any visiting media hosting segments on campus. During the 1996 Olympics, April was selected among thousands to work for IBM hosting their top clients from around the world, acting as an ambassador for the company and the city.  Selected again, among many, she interned at internationally recognized Fleishman-Hillard, where she earned more public relation skills and was able to get a real dose of what it was like to manage high end clients such as Revlon. Additionally, she worked with the National Black Arts Festival in PR managing media and booking artist interviews for persons such as Maya Angelou, August Wilson, Abbey Lincoln and the like. 

Her most recent stint as a publicist allowed her to work with comedian Tony Rock of the Hit Show All of Us and BET’s Top 25 show host for Money, Power and Respect, where she earned the first aired credit recognition for her former company.  During BET’s 1st Annual Hip Hop Awards Show she was able to work along side Dee Dee where the vibe was harmonious and it has been a love song ever since.

Her motto is “To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required” which is why giving back is a big part of her life.  She shares herself with Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless, Heart4Kids, Eckerd Youth Alternatives, and her community to name a few.  Offering not only the above experience, she is recognized among Metropolitan’s Who’s Who and has worked with both the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves in the area of in-game promotions and events.  April lives to make it “pop” for the clients and her company in the most professional and unique ways.  Current aspirations are to start a family with her husband of 4 years, publish their first video game, and do more for the world’s quality of life.  So for her the show not “must go on”, it WILL go on.