WS Chronicle

TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE  

 The Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo is back and its 12th year will be bigger and better than ever!  

This year the Expo will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Benton Convention Center.  

The Expo is always an unforgettable experience featuring nearly 200 diverse vendors, including minority- and women-led businesses from across the region. As always, the Expo is free and open to the public. 

For the first time the Expo will include a Youth Corner, where young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to show off their creativity and products. There will also be a Fashion Designer Showcase – a display of local designers and their work.  

There are also other events scheduled throughout the weekend designed to empower minority business owners as well as to honor those who are making an impact in the community.  

The festivities begin on Friday, Aug. 22, with the Wealth Building and Empowerment Summit, a full day of dynamic workshops, interactive panels, and inspiring discussions. Guest speakers include Michael McKinney, Tiffany Jones, Terry Edwards, Eric Kearney, Ashley Morgan, and Adero Munford. The Summit will conclude with lunch and the keynote address by Ursula Dudley, president of Dudley Hair Products, Inc.  

On Friday night the spotlight will shine on those standout minority and women-owned businesses and leaders who are making a real difference in the Triad at the annual Awards Gala at the Gallery Ballroom in the Benton Convention Center. The event will also include celebrity guests, networking opportunities, music and more.  

Following the Expo on Saturday, the weekend will conclude with the annual All White Party, also held at the Benton Convention Center.  

From humble beginnings with about 25 businesses, the Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo has grown tremendously since 2013. When discussing the growth of the event in 2022, founder Reginald McCaskill said he was overwhelmed with the support the Expo has received.  

“It was truly overwhelming to see those businesses come out to be exposed to the Triad and gain all that we promote and that is lending to our motto, which is ‘to create, connect, and cultivate,’” McCaskill said. “Ultimately, we know that when small businesses survive, our economy survives and our world survives … this country was built on entrepreneurship and small businesses, and our goal is to continue to make sure that people are aware that these businesses do exist.” 

For more information on the 2025 Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo visit https://triadminorityandwomensbusinessexpo.com/.