Sheila Kirk Baptista
Lewis & Kirk Music

Email: lewisandkirkmusic@yahoo.com
Website:  http://lewisandkirkmusic.com/

Back in their college years Sheila Kirk Baptista and Beverly Lewis Hunter partnered on various music projects in the music department of Shaw University and other post college projects in New York.  This collaboration led to the creation of Lewis & Kirk Music Expeditions, Inc. which was formed and incorporated back in 1998 as a part time business enterprise.  They began with only four projects, but have grown steadily by focusing on ethnic and female artists, repertoire and development, client specifications and market trends.  Lewis & Kirk Music is involved in the creation of first class performances, productions, original compositions, theatrical productions and recordings in many different styles of music.  Their activity has grown from 10 clients in 1998 to 150 clients in 2011.   

As the major business owner and principal of the company, Sheila, has brought more than twenty years of business and music talent to Lewis & Kirk Music.  Over her career she has held legal positions in the Legal Aid Society, MasterCard, Dannon Yogurt, and GTE Corporation.  These past roles have allowed Sheila to combine her business skills with training and a passion for the performing arts.  In the past twelve years the company has achieved considerable success on national and regional projects while remaining competitive. 

Currently, Lewis & Kirk Music is in the planning stages of producing a major music festival in Martha’s Vineyard on September 1^st and 2^nd.  For the spring and summer seasons of 2011 they have been engaged to produce music and recordings for twenty-five new and repeat clients.

Sheila found the Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) on-line and recently graduated from the fall 2010 15-Week Entrepreneurial Training Program. WEDC was able to provide her guidance with business planning, division of labor, and various marketing strategies.  She expresses a sincere thanks to WEDC for the assistance she received to improve her business acumen.

Her future plans include cultivating more opportunities with large music festivals, international markets, and corporate entities.  She would also like to complete trademark applications for USPTO and eventually find commercial space.  Lastly, Sheila’s advice to people who are thinking about starting their own small business is “Go for it, as there appears to a growing demand for more and more specialized products and services.”