With his career experience spanning from Banking, Trust Administration, Hotel Management, Events’ Marketing and the Film industry, this young professional wants to position himself to be better able to assist other people, be it financially, getting their businesses off the ground or with the development of their full potential.

Sunday October 2, 2010 at the Grand Yacht Haven in St. Thomas where a number of persons from the BVI are expected to attend.

While he was born and raised in his early years in the US Virgin Islands, Rhodni, who is the son of former Government minister Ronnie Skelton, has been sharing his life here in the Virgin Islands ever since middle school.

His early education came from attending elementary school and junior high school in St. Thomas and St. Croix, but during Hurricane Hugo he relocated here to attend the then BVI High School for one year.  He subsequently returned to St. Croix Central High to spend another year before heading off to Connecticut for his 11^th grade.  Rhodni returned to St. Croix the following year and graduated in 1993 from the St. Croix Central High School.

The ambitious young man who is a product of the BVI and USVI, went on to attend college at Northwood University in West Palm Beach Florida where he acquired his Associates Degree in Business Management in 1995, and his Bachelors of Marketing in 1997.

In 1998, Skelton returned to the Virgin Islands where he worked as a Trade Officer and Human Resources Officer responsible for the Performance Evaluation Programme with the Government from 1999 to 2001.  He also worked as Trust Administration Officer at Morgan & Morgan, as well as at Citco (BVI) Ltd.  He was employed at FirstCaribbean International Bank from 2003 to 2004.

In 2004, Skelton started out at the BVI Tourist Board as the Film Commissioner and Events Marketing Manager and has been there from then to now.

In 2005, this Young Professional completed his Masters Degree in Human Resources and Finance from Wright State University in Ohio, and went on to be certified as an International Film Commissioner by the AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) by completing an in depth Film Masters Course in 2008.

“I market the territory as one of the premier film locations in the Caribbean through a variety of mediums including attendance at different film industry trade shows, networking with media houses, educational conferences, advertisement in various film media publications, etc.” said Skelton.

While his department focuses primarily on productions such as commercials, documentaries, print ads, stills, among other areas, during his tenure, Skelton has been able to double the total amount of film productions conducted in the BVI.

Among them are Jim Henson’s The Muppets Treasure Island, Into the Deep and Old man and the Sea staring Sydney Poiter. In addition, the Film Commission has also attracted shootings for such well known brands as Victoria’s Secret, Hooters, The Washington Wizards cheerleaders, GQ Magazine, National Geographic and the BBC.

“Our revenues directly from film productions have been in the area of US$3 million in recent years, with a small annual budget of under $100,000.00” said the Film Commissioner.

The multi-talented young man is also a vibrant businessman and Events Marketing Manager of the BVI Tourist Board, and has chaired various committees responsible for such Events as the BVI Music Festival, our annual August Festival, New Years Eve on Foxy’s and numerous Clean-Up Campaigns throughout the territory.

More recently, Skelton, who has a vested interested in events coordination and marketing, is the Chairman of the Clean Sweep 2010 campaign here.

“I have always organised events. It started from in high school where I would put on events such as After-Prom Parties for kids 2-3 grades higher than I was, and also in college where, as the senior Resident Assistant and Class President, I was the one who was always organising events and pooling resources to make them happen,” said the Marketing and Events Coordinator.

Locally, he was responsible for Big Ballers promotions where he would put on various sporting events such as the well known basketball league bearing the same name.

“It is something that I like to do and that, over the years, I have gotten good at,” said Skelton noting that through the right marketing and promotions many existing events can be drastically enhanced.

While he has no aspirations for any stated titles and/or positions, Skelton would like to own a diversified portfolio of businesses in the hospitality and entertainment industry.

On his personal business endeavours, Skelton is also the owner of  RS Construction & Development, Interscope Security (BVI) and is currently in the process of setting up a beach bar and restaurant at Brandywine Bay.

Among his other interest, Skelton is the Worshipful Master for King Solomon’s Ashlar’s Lodge and a 32^nd degree Mason, the highest position in Freemasonry.

With the lodge facing continued criticism for its ancient and still kept secrets, Skelton wanted to highlight how the Lodge has been able to positively influence its members into becoming better men and to play a more positive role in their respective communities.

“Free Masonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”  This is the most readily accepted definition of Free Masonry.  We are a fraternity of free thinking men who are charged with improving our communities, which first starts with improving ourselves. As a result of our efforts for self-improvement, we become better husbands, fathers, workers and community persons.” the Prince Hall Free Mason explained.

The local lodge has since embarked on several charitable works in the VI, including the adoption of the Huntum’s Ghut children’s play park, work with the BVI Special Olympics, taking a special interest in the Rainbow Childrens’ Home and most recently the Fire & Rescues annual week of activities for kids.  They have pledged to continue to bring assistance to their communities.

Skelton is an avid sportsman and has represented the BVI on several fastpitch softball teams at many international competitions, as recently as last year in Columbia.  He was also a member of the Championship Basketball team, The Hawkeyes here on Tortola.

The father of Taajah Skelton, 8 and Rhonni Skelton, 2, is also the son of Janis Essanason of St. Croix.

While he has no stated political affiliations, Skelton said he is very much interested in the positive growth and development of the country and its people, and that he may be interested in a later period in running for office.

His advice to young upcoming professionals is, “I think everyone’s ultimate goal is to be happy and you just need to find what makes you happy and work towards that.  If at any time you find that the direction you are heading in is not positively influencing your level of happiness, then it is time to go back to the drawing board and chart a new course.”