Ian Andre Espinet is a Toronto born, serial entrepreneur and lifelong community advocate.
A business professional with over 2 1/2 decades of combined expertise in various areas of business, he is a proficient marketer, graphic designer & creative director, social media specialist, entertainment impresario, public speaker and community servant.
More than the sum of his parts, he is a trusted and respected member of the Canadian entertainment scene.
He is owner, creative director/principle designer at Black Star Graphic Design & Communications, a boutique design & print agency established in 1996. Iconic Arts & Entertainment established in 2001, is one of Canada’s most respected “Urban” club & concert promotions companies and has produced 100’s of events for 10’s of 1000’s of patrons.
Amongst his signature brands are Toronto’s World Renowned RNB event, The Soul Kitchen (est. 2003), Icon, The One, Carpe Diem, The B-Boy Document and The Legendary Amnesia Old School event (est. 1999), which boasts over 50 old performances and is one of the only EVENTS to sign a major label recording label deal in Canada (Universal Music).
He frequently volunteers, and speaks to children/youth on entrepreneurship; has served on the board of CHRY/VIBE 105.5fm (4 years); Caras’ JUNO hip hop jury; and FACTOR’s Juror for Hip Hop & R&B for the last 5 sessions. He is recipient of the Government of Canada’s “150 Neighbours” CityBuilder Award (for service in Scarborough) and a City of Toronto Volunteer & Community Service Award.