Growth and Strength Through Diversity and Ingenuity is the theme for the 21st Annual Minority Business Council (MBC) Fall Conference and Expo on Nov. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. Registration for the conference is free, however seating is limited. Businesses looking to do business with local municipalities, state agencies and federal agencies should plan to attend. Register online at www.vbgov.com/mbc.
"This year's conference is the kickoff to the change we needed for the Virginia Beach Minority Business Council," said City Council Member Aaron Rouse, who is the liaison to the Minority Business Council.
Rouse was instrumental in securing two powerhouse keynote speakers for the upcoming expo. Darla Vaughn and Robby Wells are members of i am OTHER, Pharrell Williams' team of creatives and strategists responsible for implementing a wide variety of Pharrell-led projects, including the Something In The Water festival. Prior to joining i am OTHER, Vaughn spent 20 years in marketing, branding and product-centric roles at Nike. Wells was a marketing advisor to companies such as Procter & Gamble, AT&T, PepsiCo, Unilever and others before joining i am OTHER. Vaughn and Wells aspire to leverage their experience to demonstrate that businesses can achieve great success when guided by purpose, a strong point of view and goodwill.
April Woodard will serve as emcee for the Expo. Woodard is currently reporting for Sirens Media (BET, TV One, and Discovery) and hosts Coast Live, the daily lifestyle broadcast on WTKR 3. She is also an assistant professor in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism at Hampton University.
This year's event promises to be an exciting opportunity for education, inspiration, and one-on-one interaction with key Hampton Roads resource partners and procurement professionals. It also offers prime opportunities to connect with businesses looking for resources to help in their quests for business excellence. The expo will provide opportunities for small, women, and minority-owned businesses, including veteran-owned businesses, to speak with procurement officials from across the state.
The 2019 Minority Business Council's Conference and Expo promises to be a small business event you don't want to miss.
To register, visit the Minority Business Council's website at www.vbgov.com/mbc. For more information, contact Keith Lee or Lavera Tolentino at (757) 385-4438.
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