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CNN's Soledad O'Brien and Baltimore City government's Carla Nelson

Baltimore event registers at the top for information, access, and celebrities

Newsman extraordinaire Ed Gordon

As I stated in a radio interview today via phone while at the summit, blacks in America garner an estimated $800 billion in disposable income annually. In the Baltimore-DC market, that number is about $45 billion annually.

(BALTIMORE – February 20, 2009) – LaRian Finney: “He’s the man!”

LaRian Finney and newsman Roland Martin

Many in attendance had similar sentiments as Cherry Hill’s own ‘did the damn thing’! From national celebrities, like newsman Roland Martin, to R. Donahue Peebles, the real estate mogul, to Baltimore’s own and ever-inspiring Bishop Vashtie McKenzie – the 10^th Annual Minority Business Summit was ‘all that and a bag of chips.’

Gloria Mayfield Banks and Dr. Anne O. Emery were among honorees recognized as 2009's Women of Influence

For networking, this was the place to be as vendors, attendees, and presenters – such as Mario Armstrong of Digital Spin – converged on the grounds of the New Baltimore Hilton for a sort of extravaganza in the realm of business. Even the Afro’s Jake Oliver – a Tuesday night recipient of the BMORENEWS William C. March Service Award – and Kevin Liles, the local yet international hip hop icon, showed up.

Business cards were exchanged. Literature was distributed. Introductions were made. From my purview, it was simply poetry in motion as people, most of whom were black, discussed and engaged in the activity of business.

For the past 10 years, this has been Finney’s way of giving back to the community. And, considering the special features included, like the certification workshops, he is continuing the mantra of helping to empower the people.

Kudos to Finney and Visionary Marketing Group for continuing the discussion about business. As I stated in a radio interview today via phone while at the summit, blacks in America garner an estimated $800 billion in disposable income annually. In the Baltimore-DC market, that number is about $45 billion annually. Hence, there is no reason any black business worth its salt with a decent product and/or service ought be finding it difficult to maintain in any kind of market.

So, let us continue this push, this movement to empower ourselves. After all, we have the money. And we have the choice. Together, we have the power.

Do stay-tuned to www.bmorenews.com for more information on business networking activities, including the March 10^th HARAMBEE Dinner Club at the New Velleggia’s Italian Seafood Restaurant at 110 Water Street.   

Tags: business, political economy