The Black Business Association (BBA) will present its 2023 Salute to Black Women Business Conference, Vendor Faire and Awards Luncheon on Saturday, March 25, at the Hyatt Regency LAX.
According to BBA President/CEO Sarah R. Harris, the event theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
“This empowerment day will not disappoint. It will serve to uplift and fortify us at a time when the world seems to need saving, and we know that Black women will save the world,” said Harris.
“As we celebrate in the spirit of this year’s theme, we are honored to spotlight eight amazing women who consistently tell our stories in the ways they know best. With the same enthusiasm, we are delighted to explore how we can excel and move into our ‘Season of Greatness.’ We invite all to join us for a grand twentieth-year celebration,” she added.
The honorees are Mayor Karen Bass (President’s Award), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Chairman’s Award), award-winning director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Pinnacle of Excellence Award), retired NBC4 reporter Beverly White (Legacy of Excellence Award), retired radio personality Pat Prescott (Legacy of Excellence Award), California Black Media Executive Director Regina Brown Wilson (Leadership Impact Award), Leimert Park Village Book Fair CEO Cynthia E. Exum (Community Advocate Award), and Sentinel Assistant Managing Editor and author Devyn Bakewell (Rising Star Award).
In addition to the Awards Luncheon, life coach Wendy Gladney Williams will moderate the “Season of Greatness” symposium. Five women will join the panel discussion.
The participants will be Celeste Alleyne, director of Executive Engagements & External Talent at Microsoft; Cynthia Heard, vice president and COO at Los Angeles Urban League; Denise Pines, CEO, author, speaker, filmmaker and health advocate; Tammy Tumbling, executive vice president/COO at Orange County Community Foundation; and Brown Wilson of California Black Media.
The “Role Models for Success” Youth Forum will feature young professional speakers. Courtney Sabra Marie Gladney will serve as moderator. Gladney is a media and marketing specialist for the Housing Authority City of Los Angeles and owner of Sabra Marie Photography.
The panelists are Kim Anthony-Morrow, chief executive officer of Urban Excellence Institute and BBA vice chair; Mignon Blanc, maternal infant care sales specialist at GE HealthCare; Christina Dove, actress, content creator, author, and motivational speaker; and Dawnchelle Holmes, multicultural publicity and faith marketing executive for Eden Digital Group.
Sponsors include Southern California Edison, US Bank, Northrop Grumman, Los Angeles Sentinel, SoCalGas, Season of Greatness, Forgiving For Living, Suite Life SoCal, Metropolitan Water District, ADP and ABC7.
For additional information visit the BBA website at bbala.org.
