HALLANDALE — Small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs spent much of Saturday learning how to improve and expand their businesses and enterprising ideas at The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s second annual Minority Business Conference.
Nearly 115 business people turned out at the Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center for the meeting, with Alvin B. Jackson Jr., director of the
Community Redevelopment Agency, giving the keynote address. He spoke on customer service as a critical component to success.
Breakout sessions featured workshops by legal, marketing, organizational and technology experts from the Broward County area.
The sessions provided small business owners with “access to the tools and expertise necessary for their businesses to grow and prosper," said Randy Blass, managing director of The Jim Moran Institute and associate in organizational behavior at the Florida State University College of Business, one of the conference sponsors.
Participants also heard from attorney Gaila Anderson of the Anderson Law Group, who spoke on “When is it Time to Seek Legal Advice?” Rafael Cruz, regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center for Broward County, talked about “10 Keys to Success for Business Startups” and Marcell Haywood, president/COO of Dirt Pros EVS, discussed the topic “From $200 to $5,000,000 through Great Customer Service.”
Jack Hittle and Bonnie Unsworth, partners/managing directors of Just Small Business Websites, discussed using the Internet, “Working Your Website so your Website Works for You!”
Bernadette Morris, president/CEO, Sonshine Communications, Black PR Wire and Women Grow Strong, talked about “Social Media: A Key Component of Great Customer Service.”
Jerome S. Osteryoung, director of outreach at The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, Florida State University College of Business, discussed “Customer Service: The Heart of Each and Every Business.”
Attorney Veronica Robinson, managing partner, Florida Operations of the Law Offices of E.F. Robinson, talked about “How Human Resource Laws Can Affect Your Business.”
Other sponsors included Broward College, Inspiration University, the city of Hollywood, the Urban League of Broward County, Hispanic Unity Florida, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Lauderdale Business Association, the Small Business Development Center of Broward and the city of Hallandale.
Photo: DAVID I. MUIR/DAVIDIPHOTO
BUSINESS TRAINING: The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the Florida State University College of Business, second annual Minority Business Conference held at the Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center on Saturday.
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