who we are
Who we are and what separates us from others
“Our passion for education is what drives us!”
“Our clients must get the best of available technology”
That passion underpins each and every technological solution and innovation which Zed Jamaica (Zed Technologies) places before the Boards, Principals, Teachers, Parents, and Students of each School. Whether in Jamaica or elsewhere in the Caribbean, our software and personnel seek to add value to the educational process by providing the means whereby Schools boost efficiency, save money, provide better services to stakeholders, and enhance accountability. Our aim is to make available to Jamaican, and Caribbean Schools, technology equal or superior to that obtained in a developed economy and to make that technology ubiquitous!
“ZED JAMAICA, THE ELEMENT OF CREATIVE THOUGHT”
To start and manage a successful company in the 21st century, one must have vision, experience, courage, an entrepreneurial spirit as well as the ability to inspire others.
Carlton was born in Kingston, Jamaica then in the mid 1970s his family moved near Toronto, Canada. During the 1980s, Carlton graduated from high school with honors then studied engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa. It was at Carleton University that his entrepreneurship emerged. He and a friend formed a company, Weston Grant Inc. to subsidize their University education. With the help of the Royal Bank of Canada and the Youth secretariat they wrote a business plan, acquired a $2000CDN loan and started their summer business, a moving company.
Weston Grant Group of Companies emerged as one of the top transportation and warehousing company in Ottawa. Capturing over 4% of the market with an initial growth of over 40% per year. This prompted Carlton to set aside his engineering studies and switch majors to business and economics at the University of Ottawa. He did this while multitasking his duties as President and CEO of Weston Grant Inc.
As a young entrepreneur in Ottawa during the early 1990s, Carlton was recruited by the National Capital Region's Black Business & Professional Association to be Chairman of their business committee. Acting on his belief in the social and corporate responsibilities of business in society, Carlton began to assist various non-profit organizations as well as being a crusading employer of black youth in the Ottawa area.
In 1999 International Communication for Management Inc. (ICM) working on their major telecommunication project hired Carlton. While employed at ICM Carlton gained experience and knowledge of the High Speed Access/DSL and Network Systems industry. He had the opportunity to work with and learn from high tech executives in the US and Canada.
With this technical knowledge and entrepreneurial background Carlton later joined the Marketing Consultant team at Starfire Technologies International. Starfire Technologies was a publicly traded high tech company that dealt in web based marketing products.
In 2000, at the end of a vacation in Negril with his close friend and new media advisor, Carlton decided to remain in Jamaica to see if he could start a web based company employing and training local talent.
After a year and a half of exploring the market and with the support of his new media advisor, he joined forces with Zed Communications Inc. of Ottawa, Canada. The result was a company now known as Agency Zed Productions, Jamaica Ltd.
Carlton's success derives from his experience, knowledge, persistence, flexibility, and work ethics. He believes that the communication process is the foundation that successful organizations are built upon. Once you have established effective communications with your employees, customers, suppliers and community, innovation can emerge.
MILTON SAMUDA - director
Mr. Samuda received his formative education at St Hugh’s Preparatory School and Wolmer’s Boys’ School. He holds a L.L.B. (Hons.) degree from the University of the West Indies and was admitted to practice in Jamaica in 1982 having completed studies at the Norman Manley Law School. In 1993 he was also admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands. He is the Managing Partner of Samuda & Johnson and heads the Firm’s Commercial Department.
Mr. Samuda’s practice includes Tourism, Corporate and Hotel Financing; Trade and Transportation; Mining and Energy; Sports and Entertainment; and Maritime Law. In his Tourism Practice, he has represented international and local financiers in major lendings for a variety of hotel and other projects and has acted for significant local and international hotel interests. Between 2009 and 2011 he served as a resource person to the Jamaica Tourist Board and he is the immediate past Chairman of Pegasus Hotels of Jamaica Limited, the publicly listed company which owns and operates the Pegasus Hotel. In his Corporate Practice, Mr. Samuda has acted in major divestments, public offers and private placements. Mr. Samuda is one of the few attorneys in Jamaica with a practice in Mining and Energy and in Maritime Law and he represents major international and local players in those sectors.
Between 1993 and 1995, Mr. Samuda lived and practiced in the British Virgin Islands and that experience has given him particular expertise in the use of off-shore vehicles for private and business interests. From 2007 to 2011, he served on the Government’s International Finance Services Centre (IFSC) Advisory Committee, a committee established to advise the Minister of Finance on establishing an IFSC in Jamaica. Mr. Samuda is a director of Creditinfo Jamaica Limited, Jamaica’s first licensed credit bureau.
Mr. Samuda’s practice also includes Entertainment and Sports. He has represented recording and publishing companies, artistes and songwriters, producers and actors, sports agents and sports organizations. He is a director of The Business of Sports, organisers of the annual international conference bearing the same name and is a principal of The PowerSports Dynasty Limited. He has also represented the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and was, for a number of years, its Lead Attorney. He is a member of the ARCC and Compensation Committee of the WICB and Chairman of Sabina Park Holdings. In his Entertainment Practice, Mr. Samuda is a member of the Competent Authority in respect of the Co-Production Film Treaty between the United Kingdom and Jamaica. He also served as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office between 2007 and 2011 and currently serves effective May 2016. In 1997, Mr. Samuda led Jamaica’s Bureau Negotiating Team to the Midem music conference in Cannes, France and again later that year, to the Midem Conference in Miami, Florida. He is a former member of the Industry Advisory Council to the Government of Jamaica on the Entertainment Industry. Mr. Samuda is a Past-President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and immediate Past Chairman of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) the investment and development promotion agency of the Government of Jamaica. Mr. Samuda is the Chairman of the Institute of Law and Economics; Chairman of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC); a director of Berger Paints Jamaica Limited, a publicly listed company; a director of National Outdoor Advertising Limited; and a director of Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Limited. Mr. Samuda is also a member of the Board of Strategic Corporate Interventions Limited and of the Advisory Board of the Spanish Jamaican Foundation (a foundation established by Spanish Investors in Jamaica) and also serves as the Foundation’s Secretary. Mr. Samuda also serves as Chairman of the Wolmer’s Trust and as a member of the Board of Management of the Wolmer’s Trust Schools. He is also a member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee of the University of the West Indies.
Previously Mr. Samuda served as Deputy Chairman of the RJR Communications Group, a major, publicly listed communications group and served as the chairman of that Group’s television subsidiary, Television Jamaica Limited (TVJ). He is a former director of the Jamaica Collaborative for Universal Technology Education; a founding director of the National Education Trust of the Ministry of Education and is a former member of the Port Royal Brotherhood, a statutory corporation and of the Advisory Board of the School of Business Administration, University of Technology, Jamaica. A past Commissioner on Jamaica’s Anti-Dumping and Subsidies Commission, Mr. Samuda is also a former Chairman and director of both the YMCA and of the Jamaica Save the Children Fund; former Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management of the Technology Innovation Centre, University of Technology, Jamaica; a former director of VOUCH (the Voluntary Organisation for the Upliftment of Children), the University Hospital of the West Indies, the UHWI Private Wing Limited, GSB Credit Union Limited, Movements Dance Company of Jamaica and Jamaica Gypsum & Quarries Limited. A former member of the Board of Governors of St. Hugh’s Preparatory School, Mr. Samuda was also a member of the Jamaican Coalition on the Rights of the Child.
Mr. Samuda is a director of OMS Associates Limited, a private construction and property management company and serves as a member of other boards of private companies. An Anglican, Mr. Samuda is married to Elizabeth and has three children, Matthew, Marlon and Mariana.
Donald Osborne
Email: donald@zedtechnologiesja.com
Donald Osborne holds a degree from Carleton University in Criminology and Social Work. He has been successful in opening and running business endeavors in the social service sector as well as the film industry in Canada. Donald Osborne has a long history connected to Zed through Carlton Grant. He has had a business connection in Jamaica since 2005 and has been an active participant with Zed as a Director ever since. Donald Osborne has excellent interpersonal skills combined with an open-minded approach towards innovative business ideas that provide for positive and unique outlook towards all opportunities.
With 30 plus years in both counselling and program development, Donald Osborne provides Zed support that encompasses experience of private sector and government business innovation
Natalie Thompson
Producer and Managing Director at Cinecom Productions. Natalie graduated from the University of Windsor in 1972. She then went on to thrive in the production industry where she decided to start her very own production company, Cinecom Production. Natalie Thompson is known for producing some of our favourite films these includes: Knight and Day (2010), A Perfect Getaway (2009) and Instinct (1999). She is one of the Directors at Zed Jamaica Technologies where she continues to propel the company to higher heights with her contribution to the growth and development of the Zed brand.
Paul serves as the lead Technical Director, managing the day-to-day operations for existing clients and supervising as well as supporting new accounts. He is also an experienced Systems Analyst with experience in Software Development and Project Management.
Paul earned his degree with honours in Computer Science from the University of the West Indies and his M.B.A. from the University of South Wales.