Q&A with Andre’ Haynes, founder and principal, Endeavor Media Group

As a former record company executive and concert promoter, Andre’ Haynes has crossed paths with such acts as Aaron Neville, Brooks & Dunn and Destiny’s Child.

The 36-year-old Haynes, who came to Las Vegas from California in 1993, even produced Gospel records during a lengthy career in the music industry, where he helped artists make demos and press kits and get signed to major labels.

By 2009, he started to transition to a new career. And in 2011, he founded Endeavor Media Group, a political consulting and public relations firm.

Why did you start this firm?

I needed a new challenge. The thing I liked about political consulting and public relations is that it’s very similar to the music and live entertainment business. In music and entertainment, the cars they drive and clothes they wear — there’s a culture that follows it. When it comes to political consulting and running political campaigns, the candidate will have a group of supporters and followers that stand by them. When it comes to public relations, the nucleus of everything, including political consulting, you are aiding and developing a message and you are going to promote that to small groups or the masses. That influences what they believe and what they think. I realized what I had been doing was public relations all along, just in a different capacity.

What kind of public relations do you do? Name some clients.

The main three groups I work with are arts and entertainment, politics and sports. Andrea Dominique, reality television star on “Bad Girls Club” Season 9 on Oxygen. Cherie Johnson, award-winning actor and producer on “Family Matters” and “Punky Brewster.” Sequoia Holmes, former Women’s National Basketball Association player. Vernon Fox, former National Football League player and head football coach of state champion Faith Lutheran High School. Ron Quilang, candidate for Nevada State Senate in District 9. Judge Kenneth Pollock, Clark County District Court Judge in Department J.

You co-host a “Veterans in Politics” radio talk show online at vegasallnetradio.com. What is that?

The show has been around for a decade. We interview elected officials, candidates and business owners and we talk about politics as it relates to veterans. I’m actually the publicist of the organization and I’ve been co-hosting the show for more than a year. It was a great opportunity for me when transitioning into a political consultant. It helped give me an education and exposure to political figures. I guess you can say it was me going back to school.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m into travel. I like going to Lake Mead and Laughlin, Mesquite, and sometimes different countries based on my schedule. I love to travel and be around people of different cultures and sit back and watch their way of life and get a different perspective.

How often do you travel?

I probably leave the country three or four times a year, depending on how busy work is and if I can get away. Last year, I spent a lot of time in the Caribbean in the Dominican Republic and Bahamas. This year I plan to go to Europe. I’m planning to go over to France and am probably going to buy one of those rail passes for a month that takes you from country to country. I will end up going to one or two dozen countries over there. One of the things I really like about traveling overseas is that I like to see the people and their government. It helps me appreciate the U.S. and the quality we have and opportunity to have a voice to change things because in different countries, it’s not like that.

What’s a favorite hobby?

I love playing chess. I probably play three to four times a week. I play online, and there’s a group that plays over at Tivoli Village and I go hop in a game. I have a group of friends that gets together at homes and plays, too.

What attracts you to chess?

I’m an analytical thinker, and I love strategy. Chess is a game where you have to think moves ahead to be victorious. It’s not a play-by-play. I started playing at age 7. I think I’m good. I probably win 65 percent of the time. It depends on my focus. If I’m distracted with work or tired, I can’t play my game, but if I’m able to clear my head, then I’ll win because my focus is there.