It?s a powerful weekend coming to Baltimore.
Thousands of people are in town for the 21st annual Black Engineer Weekend, which features business people of all races, genders and ethnicity coming together to showcase the achievements in their industry and discuss ways to improve business practices in the future.
“It?s time for a change,” said Larian Finney, president and chief executive officer of Visionary Marketing Group Inc., host of the three-day conference. “We want to highlight people of color [who are] doing really good things. I love Baltimore, and I want to be here and help businesses come together.”
The event kicked off Thursday at the Baltimore Convention Center, where seminars, roundtable discussions and celebrations included the 3rd Black CEO Summit.
Mayor Sheila Dixon was a featured speaker at the kickoff luncheon.
“Don?t just take information and keep it to yourself,” Dixon said. “Share it so it spreads.”
The day also included presentations of diversity awards and the Chief Executive Officer Hall of Fame Dinner.
“All of the people are here for a specific purpose,” said Roger A. Campos, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Minority Business Round Table. That purpose, he said, is to encourage and advance minority business and the awareness of the how public policy impacts business.
Events today kick off with an early morning Women of Influence breakfast featuring Cathy Hughes, founder and chairwoman of Baltimore-based Radio One Inc., and a Men of Influence Luncheon with Robert Wallace, a Baltimore-area entrepreneur, author and speaker.
The events end Saturday with a job and career fair, followed by the 21st Black Engineer of the Year award ceremony.
“We are trying to develop a mutual strategy on issues impacting minority businesses,” said Campos. “The key is getting all the groups together to share one vision.”
