BBPE

SAVANNAH, GA- (March 23, 2002) The Second Annual Black Business Professionals and Entrepreneurs Conference fulfilled its unwritten promise to "offer no excuses, just solutions" said founder Jewel Daniels Radford, a 33-year-old marketing strategist.

Held in Savannah, GA the weekend of February 15th-17th, it was a hard charging success that linked Black business owners with industry notables like Wal-Mart, Lockheed Martin, Black Enterprise Magazine, Verizon Wireless and others.

Over 300 attendees from across the world experienced a strong program whose
workshops, panel discussions and featured speakers challenged conventional notions of success.

Among others, it showcased the following heavy hitters: Atlanta's own Dr. Dennis Kimbro, author of "What Makes the Great Great"; Black Enterprise Vice President/Editor-in-Chief Alfred Edmonds, Dallas Divas United founder Joann Tolbert Yancy and Claud Anderson, author of "Powernomics: An Economic Program To Empower Black America."

"I'm sick and tired of our people celebrating the latest Negro who got a job from White folk!" Anderson declared at the conference's closing day banquet.

His statement reflected a shift in contemporary Black thought in an effort to promote celebrating more Black ownership-based approaches to solving traditional civil rights issues. He added that Black business growth has remained essentially the same from the late 1800s until now, leaving the crowded room shocked and silent.

While speakers like Kimbro and Yancy's delivery and tone were different, the
message was unanimous, the strength of the Black community is opted in supporting Black initiatives.

Providing an open forum for introducing various ideas, concepts and proposed
solutions to empowering Black communities is the central strength of Black Business Professionals and Entrepreneurs, both as an organization and an event.

"This project is rooted in a spiritual foundation that has us diligently working to empower God's people" Daniels Radford said. "The people who come here are sharing and delivering messages and providing tools that must be intelligently and constructively evaluated and put to use collectively to bring about a positive and productive difference."

That difference became clear with sobering statistics provided by Yancy that detailed a more than $600 billion buying power possessed by African-Americans, who in comparison marginally support Black businesses and have a high incarceration and mortality rate.

She encouraged the Black professionals to give their best in corporate American and then use those tools to create their own path to becoming what she calls the "O-O-O," the "only operating office," of their destinies.

Also featured as Dr. Danny Boston who released his findings for the Boston Research Group's new study called "The Black Business Confidence Index." Representatives from Georgia Gov. Barnes' Small Business Office discussed procurement and contracting opportunities while cable mogul BET sponsored a two-hour seminar of The State of Black Health.

Though in its second year, the Black Business Professionals and Entrepreneurs Conference has successfully won the support of some of America best because of the event's content and smart marketing strategy of catering to established business owners outside the multi-million dollar range as well as progress Black executives eager to propel themselves to the next level.

"We can't and don't attend all requests but, we try to make a difference at whatever conference we attend." said Excell LaFayette, Manage of Supplier Development. "In Wal-Mart we are challenged to "swim up stream", and not go
as everyone else. I think BBPE has a lot of potential with its grass roots approach. BBPE makes it comfortable for small business owners to be involved and interact with other business professionals without being intimidated because of their size."

Other companies supporting the event included AOL Time Warner, Bronner Brothers, Clear Channel Communications, Comcast, Kinkos, Lockheed Martin, St. Joseph/Candler, SoulofAmerica.com, University of Georgia Small Business
Development Centers, Verizon Wireless and Warm Spirit.

Next year the conference meets from February 27-March 2, 2003 and will add an awards segment for acknowledging the accomplishments, contributions and excellence practiced by business owners, executives and those committed to Black business development.

"It takes a real commitment from a host o f people to reach these goals and move this process forward," Daniels Radford said. "We want to acknowledge those Black business owners, leaders in corporations and government agencies as well as corporations demonstrating a commitment to diversity."

It is certain that there is a successful formula at work here, which was also expressed by Black Enterprise's Edmond. He remarked. "the bigger cities are almost jaded. they have seen it all." Edmonds said that the work bei - minorityprofessionalnetwork.com

By Hermione Malone
Savannah Morning News

"Ain't no stopping us now; we're on the move."

In suits, dresses and patterned African wraps, the audience was up on their feet, hands clapping, singing to McFadden and Whitehead's 1970s hit.

Needless to say, this was not a typical business conference luncheon.

Featuring international motivational speaker Jewel Diamond Taylor, the Third Annual Black Business Professionals and Entrepreneurs Conference officially began Friday.

Designed to provide attendees with contacts and resources, the conference has drawn about 300 people from across the country to the Savannah Marriott Riverfront Hotel.

"We started this project because we were looking to fill a void for small and medium-sized businesses that were just as qualified and as capable to provide goods and services as larger entities," said Jewel Radford, conference executive producer. "We wanted to facilitate a network of committed African-American business owners and professionals throughout the country."

Through Sunday afternoon's wrap-up, the conference will feature informational sessions on selling, technology, building credit, winning contracts, and international business opportunities among other topics. In addition, a business expo will be held Saturday afternoon.

At Friday's luncheon, Tanya Milton, founder of her own marketing firm, brimmed with enthusiasm and energy after Taylor's speech.

"She was talking to me," Milton said. "You can do it. It can work."

Taylor encouraged the audience to network with the media, the military, churches and schools, banking institutions and the medical community.

"We have to cross the line," she said. "We have to get out of our comfort zone."

And don't let bad days and setbacks translate into failed opportunities, she said.

"I can't motivate anyone to do anything. What I can do is inspire ... share information ... be a living testimony," Taylor said. "I'm never defeated. I'm either up, or I'm getting up."

Ron Eccleston of Universal Love Jewelry came from Macon for the conference and hopes to leave with a lot more information and some sales under his belt.

"I think the title of it -- black business professionals and entrepreneurs -- just the entrepreneurship part is where we need to be," he said. "Because with that, we have a chance to be wealthy."

www.savannahnow.com
- Savannah Morning News