Small Business Summit and Expo Success!

This past Friday was the inaugural Small Business Summit and Expo, Presented by Wells Fargo, a collaborative effort between the MN Black, MN Hmong, and St. Paul Area Chambers. 

What a powerful event it turned out to be! The event sold out with close to 300 people and 50 tabled vendors. We also invited a group of emerging entrepreneurs, thanks to Ramsey County’s sponsorship of this priority. I wandered through the vendor area, saw an amazing array of businesses (both large and small!), the volume high as the hall was full of people networking. Our lunch panelists were entrepreneurs who shared their own business stories, and the animated conversation was moderated by Tracey Williams-Dillard from the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder - an entrepreneur in her own right. People didn’t want the panel to end! My message to everyone in the room, mixed up all together as we were: what we are doing together is extraordinary. Historic, even. Together we are building a stronger tomorrow.

Today’s large businesses all started humbly, with an idea shared between just a few people. We are charged to do what we can to promote the innovation and entrepreneurial energy in that room and in this region. Thank you to everyone who suggested this event, took a chance on participating, and were moved enough to tell me how much the day meant.  
See you in the trenches,

B