BECO 2025 Spring Events Recap: Building Teams & Building Community
This April, BECO once again delivered on its promise to empower, educate, and connect Black professionals and entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest. With two impactful events—the “Build the Right Team” Workshop and the annual Spring Mixer—BECO created meaningful opportunities for attendees to grow their businesses, strengthen their networks, and celebrate the power of community.
From hands-on training in workforce development to sophisticated networking, BECO’s spring events reflected our organization’s mission in action: to cultivate Black economic power through access, collaboration, and high-quality programming.
Building Stronger Businesses: BECO’s “Build the Right Team” Workshop
Hosted on April 12th at the Dumas Bay Centre in Federal Way, the Build Your Workshop focused on one of the most critical aspects of sustainable business success—identifying the right talent. This goes beyond getting people with the right skill set, but also figuring out who’s the best fit for your company’s culture. Whether you’re a startup founder hiring your first employee or a seasoned entrepreneur expanding your operations and looking for the right partners, the ability to build and manage a solid team is essential.
As our last workshop of the season, this event was held in a conversation format that featured a panel of HR and sales professionals, business consultants, and seasoned employers who discussed the main focus areas of what it takes to acquire the best teammates for a variety of scenarios.
Key Takeaways from the Workshop Included:
- Interviewing techniques that go beyond resumes to uncover character, values, and potential
- Best practices for onboarding new employees to ensure engagement and alignment from day one
- Strategies for creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture
- Legal and compliance considerations for Washington State employers
What set this workshop apart was its community-centered lens: it didn’t just teach technical hiring tactics, but emphasized the importance of hiring in alignment with a business’s values and long-term mission. Attendees left feeling empowered to grow not just their payrolls—but their legacies.
A Night of Connection & Culture: BECO’s 2025 Spring Mixer
On the evening of April 19th, BECO members and guests gathered at Ms. Jane’s Fine Dining in Fife, Washington for our much-anticipated Spring Mixer.
The evening brought together a diverse crowd of business leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community advocates who represented industries as varied as real estate, construction, banking, insurance, health & wellness, the arts, and nonprofit leadership. While BECO events are always focused on business development, this year’s Spring Mixer struck a special balance between professionalism and celebration.
A Setting Made for Connection
Guests were greeted with curated cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the elegant, intimate interior of Ms. Jane’s. From cozy booths to open tables designed for conversation, the venue’s layout allowed for both relaxed mingling and purposeful networking.
We were proud to welcome first-time attendees as well as our seasoned members as everyone had a chance to forge new relationships.
An Unforgettable Finale: Cigars & Conversation
As dinner wrapped up, the evening shifted into a more laid-back tone. Guests were invited to step outside to continue networking with cigars under the stars.
This informal extension of the evening gave attendees more time to dive deeper into their conversations, follow up on earlier discussions, and make plans for future collaborations. The cigar session wasn’t just a fun twist—it represented the kind of intentional, culturally-rooted experience that BECO is becoming known for.
Why Events Like This Matter
While the Spring Mixer is designed to be a social event, it serves a much larger purpose. For many Black professionals and entrepreneurs, networking events often feel transactional or stressful. BECO flips that experience on its head by curating events that are affirming, intentional, and rooted in shared values.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for BECO Members
With two successful events in the books this spring, BECO has set the tone for a powerful 2025. The next several months will include:
- The 2nd Annual BECO EXPO, taking place on May 31, 2025, will bring together entrepreneurs, government leaders, investors, and creatives for a full day of panels, vendors, performances, and workshops.
- A very special Summer Networking Mixer
- Expanded partnerships and sponsorship opportunities for members looking to grow visibility
- Digital Access to this year’s workshops and conversations will be coming online by August 2025!
