In an event that emphasized the hard work, nuances, achievements and goals for local entrepreneurs and businesses, leaders from various DMV area chamber of commerce organizations came together to discuss the state of Black business on Sept. 18 at the Gallery O on H Street in Northeast D.C., hosted by The Washington Informer (WI).
The evening included an exhibition highlighting 60 years of Washington Informer photography and a panel discussion under the theme “The Future of Business,” moderated by WI Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes and featuring Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce; Kathy Guzman, president and CEO of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce in Maryland; Courtney Edmonds, chair of the board of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce; Corey Arnez Griffin, chair of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce; and Tonya Poindexter, chair of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.
For Barnes, the event furthered The Washington Informer’s celebration of six decades in business, after the 60th anniversary celebration at the Martin Luther King Library in March.
“We wanted to honor family legacy businesses,” said Barnes.
Having served as the publisher for more than 31 years, Barnes, 70, praised African American entrepreneurship and its impact on the community.
“We start businesses not just for ourselves,” Barnes said, “but for our families.”
With more than 40 people gathered for the event, Marie Johns, former deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Obama administration, offered words of encouragement to the gathering.
“I love Denise,” said Johns, 74. “I knew her dad and her mom. I honor Denise and her amazing team. I love all the chamber chairs.”
Johns, a former president and CEO of Verizon in the Washington area, talked about the importance of entrepreneurship, sharing a story about her grandfather, who started a lawn care company in Indianapolis.
“My grandfather grew his landscaping business at a time when it was tough for Black business,” she said before offering a call to action. “He won state contracts at a time when that was unheard of for Black companies. When I was at Verizon, we made sure that we did business with minority companies. Now it is time for minority businesses to do business with each other.”
Leaders Talk Impact, Focus
Charles County made national headlines in 2022 when media organizations announced that it was the wealthiest Black majority county in the nation, replacing nearby Prince George’s County.
Despite the achievement, Guzman— the first person of color to lead the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, which was founded in 1956 and is based in La Plata, Maryland— discussed the culture that permeates in the county’s business sector and continues to hamper Black businesses.
“There is a history of gatekeeping in Charles County,” said Guzman, referring to the control of access to government contracts and work. “I don’t do gatekeeping. At the chamber, I work to see that there is no more gatekeeping and anyone who is qualified has access to funding.”
Chair of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, based in McLean, Virginia, Poindexter was excited to join the powerful group of leaders and emphasized a need for more collaboration in order to uplift Black businesses.
“I am proud to be here among elite chamber leaders,” she said, number of African American firms and potential for contracting opportunities on the state, county and local levels in Northern Virginia. “We don’t need to work in silos, we can work together.”
Griffin, chair of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, said contracting opportunities for African American businesses are at risk in the present political climate.
“Systems designed to help Black entrepreneurs are being dismantled,” said Griffin, before offering encouragement. “But I want Black businesses not to get discouraged. We are coaching Black businesses to stay focused and keep going. The money did not go anywhere, it just shifted.”
Particularly with the recent financial blows to Prince George’s County and present effects of federal DEI cuts on African American entrepreneurs in the area and nationwide, Edmonds, said Black businesses must be more intentional about success.
“This is a very difficult time,” said Edmonds, chair of the board of directors for the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, citing the loss of the Washington Commanders stadium and the Trump administration stopping the planned relocation of the FBI building to the county. “We are telling our chamber members not to lose hope and consider local government instead of federal contracts.”
As president and CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, Hubbard said entrepreneurs should look for opportunities during tough times.
“Crisis breeds creativity,” she said. “Businesses should look to partner with large companies. Small businesses should embrace cybersecurity, workforce transition and seek to develop talent in the tech field.”
While there was no representative from the Montgomery County, Maryland, chamber of commerce, County Council member Laurie-Ann Sayles (D-At Large) came to the event and uplifted the importance of supporting Black businesses.
“I had to be here today,” Sayles said. “I am the first Black woman elected countywide in Montgomery County. Our businesses are suffering, and we are looking for solutions.”
