Daniel Previlon (BBA ‘06) is an inspirational young man who grew up in the heart of “Little Haiti” in Miami, Florida. He overcame many obstacles and pushed through difficult circumstances with encouragement from his single mother and his older brother.
His older brother, Carl Previlon, was his mentor and supported his passion and talent for writing music.
“Carl always encouraged me to stay in school; he believed that I was the only one of our siblings who would finish college,” Previlon said.
Although Carl passed away in 1993, Previlon set out to accomplish his brother’s dream for him. He enrolled in Miami Dade Community College’s North Campus to pursue an education in business administration, determined to obtain his degree and pursue a career in the music industry.
After graduating from Miami Dade College in June, 2000, he co-founded Versatile Entertainment and worked with that label for four years. He split ways with the label when he felt it was time to move on.
Previlon also worked at The Village South Rehabilitation Center as a behavioral health tech coordinator, where he managed a staff of 26 employees ‘round the clock.’ He began to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration in the College of Business Administration’s BBA+ Weekend program because he felt he would receive the knowledge and skills he would need to compete in the music market and wanted a flexible program to accommodate his busy work schedule.
He received some information about the BBA+ Weekend program and decided to contact Director Donald Roomes to schedule an appointment to learn more about it. After completing his interview, he was accepted and enrolled in the program in August, 2004.
Previlon said it was the best decision he’s made in his entire life.
“My very first impression of Daniel was that he was a special person,” Roomes said. “He was quiet and humble, but very dedicated and confident in his abilities. It wasn’t long before I discovered that my hunch was correct.”
“It was definitely a blessing and an unforgettable experience to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the college’s BBA+ Weekend program,” Previlon said. “The support I received from my professors and their assistants, my guidance counselors, and my fellow students, along with my determination to live a better life, motivated me to succeed in the program. I was able to gain a new loving and supporting family from the students in this program.
In class, he met fellow student, Rene Zapata, from Lyon Head Doors and Shutters, who offered him a better job opportunity.
One of the most informative aspects of the program was a Business Management class about social responsibility, Previlon said. The class project raised $12,000, which the students used to repair leaky school buildings. He was touched by the project. He said, “It made the kids so happy.” It was then he realized how important it is to give back to the community.
After graduating, he founded Pimp Mode Entertainment with two of his friends, Yves Martin Joinville and Alex Jeanty.
“Pimp Mode Entertainment symbolizes staying fresh, professional, clean, and sporting the ‘fliest’ latest fashions representing the Hip Hop culture no matter where you’re from,” he said.
His main goal, he said, is to make a positive difference in the Hip Hop community. He is in the process of releasing his hit double singles, “Love Fantasy,” and “Hands of GOD.” He also is currently marketing and promoting his double single to the university’s students and alums because he wants the university’s family to be the first to hear and own an exclusive copy of his music.
