The Black Eco Chamber’s February’s Workshop and Black History Mixer Event

This past Saturday, February 18th, the Black Eco Chamber hosted two prominent events for the black business community in South King County at Federal Way’s Courtyard Marriott. 

As part of our monthly workshop series on building a successful business, the Black Eco Chamber hosted a workshop dedicated to corporate credit and business development. 

Panelists for this workshop event included Larry Gilmore, founder of ClearBlu Capital Group, and the founder of the Black Eco Chamber, and President/CEO of Brave New World Enterprises, Shyan Selah. 

The key topics covered in the Corporate Credit Workshop was building business legitimacy and credit risk management. The first included walking through the steps needed to establish a business’ profile including a business phone line, address, professional website and email, among other things. The second dealt with the benefits of having corporate credit separate from personal credit and how to manage that credit responsibly. This is a critical area of focus for any company that relies on credit to finance its operations. By effectively managing credit risk, companies can minimize their exposure to financial losses and maintain a strong financial position.

Attendees at the Black Eco Chamber’s Corporate Credit Workshop included black entrepreneurs from various industries, such as cleaning services, fashion, and food. Participants were split equally between newcomers and returning members who came to learn and exchange ideas about how to grow and scale their businesses.

After lunch, which was presented by Panera, Jeanette Twitty, a Black Eco Chamber member who attended January’s workshop: Funding Opportunities, stood up to announce that she and her husband who own both a for profit and non profit business benefitting those in need of transitional housing, used the notes from last month’s workshop to successfully obtain a commercial facility for their businesses. After a round of applause from attendees, panelists, and Black Eco Chamber event staff, Shyan Selah encouraged all the workshop registrants to go around the room and state who they were and what their business was to further network and encourage each other’s success.

“The Black Eco Chamber is powerful in so many ways but most importantly it allows for our business community to connect in an intimate environment that suits the culture’s needs,” says Shyan Selah. “The community is excited and ready to create ventures that launch dreams and further protects the interests of their families in a long term manner that stimulates growing multi-generational wealth. I’m just a vessel in this but a proud one nonetheless. There’s nothing like watching our economic talent come to life right before your eyes. Obviously there’s massive work and tons of energy that must continue to pour into the movement but we’re motivated to to do just that.”

That evening the Black Eco Chamber once again opened the main conference room doors at the Marriott in Federal Way for its quarterly networking mixer, this time in celebration of Black History Month. 

The atmosphere was relaxed and soulful with catering provided by Phat Factory DJ BBQ, a selection of R&B and jazz music playing in the background, and a slide show of historic photos of local and national black businesses from the 1920s to the 1960s. playing on the projector screens.

Attendance included a variety of black business owners and entrepreneurs – many of whom attended that afternoon’s workshop, but even more were first time participants of a Black Eco Chamber event. 

“These photos were chosen because they represent the innovation, entrepreneurship, and resiliency of the black business community,” said Event Producer, Candice Richardson. “To see the strength and perseverance of our ancestors during the times of Segregation and Jim Crow can only serve as inspiration and a reminder that the sky is the limit for our community in 2023.”

One of the standout features of the event was the opportunity to hear from several guest speakers who shared their personal experiences and insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Black professionals. These speakers provided valuable insights into the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as strategies for navigating the unique challenges faced by Black professionals in their careers.

Prominent community members who attended the networking mixer event included Bevin McLeod the Outreach and Equity Director for The Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State Representative David Hackney of the 11th district.

Upon being recognized by Creative Artist and Entrepreneur, Shyan Selah who hosted the event as the founder of the Black Eco Chamber, Representative Hackney stood up to comment upon Selah’s activism and passion for his community referring to the days when the two served together on the board of the Seattle-King County chapter of the NAACP, to Selah’s launching of the Black Eco Chamber in conjunction with Washington State Department of Commerce.

“Shyan could be performing anywhere in the world, and yet he’s here conducting this event. I’ve seen this man go into his own pocket to personally pay for the needs of people in our community,” said Hackney. “If there’s one thing to know about Shyan it’s that he cares.”

This was just one of many examples regarding the impact of the networking mixer and the sense of community that was fostered among the attendees. Both Shyan Selah and Executive Advisor to the Black Eco Chamber, Larry Gilmore, stood up to speak about their shared understanding and appreciation for the contributions of Black Americans to society and the importance of creating spaces where Black professionals can connect and support one another. This sense of community was palpable throughout the event and made it an incredibly positive and uplifting experience.

For more information on upcoming events from the Black Eco Chamber, please visit: https://www.blackecochamber.com/workshop-event-calendar/