ABOUT
THE SEVEN TIMES
OUR MISSION
At The Seven Times, our mission is rooted in the powerful idea of community investment. Our name is a nod to a foundational economic principle: when you spend a dollar at a local business, that investment turns over up to seven times within the community. It’s not just about economics—it’s about the ripple effect that a single dollar can create when placed in the hands of businesses committed to their community.
We bring this theory to life by highlighting Black-owned businesses that are actively engaged in their communities, showing how these enterprises are much more than storefronts. They’re gathering spaces, employers, mentors, and drivers of local growth. Each story we tell reveals how these businesses reinvest into their neighborhoods, empowering others and creating opportunities that ripple outward.
Our goal is simple: to inspire community action. By showcasing the real impact of supporting Black-owned businesses, we hope to encourage more people to invest locally, strengthening the connections that bind us together and proving that every dollar spent can make a difference.
At The Seven Times, we don’t just tell stories—we show the impact of community, one dollar at a time.
YOUR STORIES
YOUR TRIUMPHS
OUR PURPOSE
Awards + Recognition
OUR STORY
The Seven Times is a full-service video production, event production and creative consulting company founded by Emmy Award-winning journalist, videographer and filmmaker Nik Heftman. Our clients have included Al Jazeera, Drake University, small businesses, and nonprofits, and our footage has also been featured on CBS.
Heftman founded The Seven Times in 2022 with the goal of spotlighting Black entrepreneurs across the United States. That vision evolved into an ongoing docuseries highlighting Black entrepreneurs, artists and other trailblazers who are making tangible, positive impacts in their communities.
The Seven Times specializes in documentaries, corporate videos, event coverage, sporting events, and a host of other video services. We are actively seeking new projects, and interested parties are encouraged to reach out for more information.
OUR FOUNDer
Heftman produced stories for CBS Mornings in New York City and Los Angeles for more than five years, helping the show earn an Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a designated area of concentration in international studies, from Iowa State University. While attending ISU, Heftman worked for several local newspapers. His reporting earned him a Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for outstanding breaking news reporting. He also received an award from the Iowa Associated Press for a feature he co-wrote on South Sudanese refugees living in rural Iowa. He was later nominated for an SPJ Mark of Excellence Award for feature writing.
Before graduating in 2017, Heftman hosted a blunt debate about the way journalists cover Muslims at home and abroad. The event, called Muslimedia, was held at a local mosque in Ames, Iowa. Currently on ISU’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication’s Advisory Council, he teaches classes as a visiting professional to students interested in advertising, marketing, and storytelling.
Heftman began working for CBS Mornings in New York City after graduation. Starting from a position on the graphics team, he progressed to producing the lead for CBS’s Saturday morning show, CBS This Morning (SATMO). He later moved to Los Angeles and earned the role of Associate Producer, and began regularly writing and producing news stories and special interest features for the morning show.
Heftman has always maintained an interest in Black stories and Black hidden history, having discovered and pitched several original stories like that of Tina Bell, whose segment can be viewed below.
Dedication to reporting on diversity and inclusion issues has earned Heftman the honor of speaking at public forums about the topic, including the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE)—a comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity at Iowa State University and beyond.
Heftman is a speaker at the annual Okoboji Writer’s retreat and a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. He is also proud to support a number of mission-driven organizations. He volunteers with Young Storytellers, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people to use the art of storytelling to explore their identities, impact the people around them, and create a more just and equitable world. He also recently collaborated with Do The Math 247, a Des Moines-based apparel company with a message of positivity whose interview with Heftman can also be viewed below.
The Seven Times is proud to make a positive impact by uplifting the voices of Black artists, business-owners, and entrepreneurs.
Our premiere documentary, The Negro Artist, showcases how art and entrepreneurship can transform communities by sharing the compelling story of Black spoken-word artist Caleb Rainey. The film shines a light on Rainey’s inspiring impact on his own artistic community and the young artists he has nurtured through his efforts in the education system.
The Negro Artist has received significant acclaim since its release in September of 2024. Currently on a nationwide festival run, the film has captivated audiences with its powerful message about race, identity, and artistry. It recently received the Silver Eddy Award from the Cedar Rapids Film Festival and a Special Jury Award from the Houston International Film Festival.
Our Black-Owned Business Docuseries further amplifies our ability to uplift underrepresented voices—exploring the journeys of Black business owners and revealing the resources and strategies that have driven their success, while seeking to strengthen local community investment.
Our ability to continue creating this impact is fueled by our commercial partnerships and the generous support of donors, whose contributions enable us to continue spotlighting these transformative stories and inspiring community action through our mission-driven work.
