WS Chronicle

Businesses, organizations and churches tend to celebrate milestones. It’s the fifth year for the Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo, and officials held a press conference to announce it. The expo has seen steady growth over the years. This year’s event is expected to be bigger than ever on Aug. 24-25.

The Chronicle participates in the expo. So should all black businesses. It’s a chance to get a leg up.

Maximum Enterprises Inc. hosts the event, which has been elevated to the Benton Convention Center. It has migrated from The Enterprise Center then Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

An element of the expo is the free seminars, which have expanded from one day of sessions during the expo proper to two sessions: a full day by itself on Friday, Aug. 24, at the Anderson Center at Winston-Salem State University and on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the expo proper at the Benton.

This year, among the presenters at the Anderson Center will be some notable names:

*Dr. George Fraser, founder and CEO of FraserNet Inc., is a Cleveland, Ohio-based author, entrepreneur and speaker focusing on improving networking skills, building wealth and improving diversity and inclusion. In 2011 Fraser was inducted into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum.

*Dr. Robert “Bob” J. Brown, founder, president & CEO of B&C International, a global business management consulting firm headquartered in High Point, N.C. He is also founder of the International BookSmart Foundation, a nonprofit that to date has shipped over 5 million books, countless teachers’ supplies and opened over 300 libraries on the continent of Africa.  Brown has been a trusted adviser to the most influential individuals, corporations and movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Topics on Friday and Saturday will include:

*Developing and Sustaining Meaningful Business Connections

*The 7 Biggest Mistakes you make when Networking Parts I and II

*Making the Right Investments

*Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

*Work and Save for Small Business Employees

*The Small Business Toolkit for Success

*Building a Sustainable Brand

The expo was created to increase opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, while also providing an opportunity to gain new clients and customers.

What has happened in the process is that Winston-Salem has been put on the map as a place to build businesses and network.

Black businesses need a leg up, and free help will be in Winston-Salem Aug. 24-25. There should be no excuses not to attend.