Black professionals to meet for business ideas

by Steve Snyder of of TODAY Newspapers

Minority professionals looking to advance their careers don't even have to look outside the Best Southwest for help.

The second annual DFW African American Professionals Conference is coming to Duncanville's Hilton Garden Inn Nov. 8-9.

Keynote speaker for the event is Randall Pinkett, perhaps best known to television viewers as the fourth season winner on Donald Trump's show “The Apprentice.”

The conference, with the theme, “Move Beyond the Dream,” offers a variety of programs and benefits to participants, according to Cedar Valley College's Felicia Cook. Cedar Valley College is a cosponsor of the event with the south campus of Tarrant Count College.

“(Its goal) is to work with business entrepreneurs and professionals and provide them information to grow or expand their businesses or go to the next level,” she said.

Cook said the details of this help include learning target marketing, especially e-mail marketing, finding unrealized markets, covering legal aspects of small business ownership, and networking with other professionals. The conference will also have smaller breakout sessions.

Also, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Small Business Development Center of the Dallas County Community College District will have booths with information on bidding processes to get contracts.

Cook added that the conference is for would-be small business owners who want information on how to start up, as well as those who are already in business for themselves.

For more information, or to register for the conference, contact Cook by phone at 972-860-7800 or e-mail at fcook@ dcccd.edu.