Staff Report

What happens when black professionals from throughout South Florida come together? The conversation is very likely to center on succeeding, networking and helping create a more business-friendly landscape in which blacks can prosper.

Over the past two years, the Black Professional Summit has served as a catalyst for such conversations regarding community development in South Florida via its annual conference. The event provides professionals insight on how to maximize their career and create wealth-building goals. The Summit has also assisted students’ transition from college to professional life; with over 200 students and professionals attending workshops to expand their networks.

The theme for this year’s Black Professionals Summit is Thriving Beyond Borders, which sets to teach attendees how to leverage the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual workforce and culturally diverse environment in an effort to maximize and enhance their business and quality of life goals in South Florida and abroad.

On Sept. 23 the conference kicks off with an opening reception at Fate Nightclub in Hallandale Beach. Admission includes open bar and appetizers with speakers discussing love, business and travel.

On Saturday, Sept. 24 the action happens at Roz and Cal Kovens Center located near FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus where workshop speakers such as Gordon E. Knowles of Miami-Dade

Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Hollinger of The South Florida Times, and Michael Hall of Medium-Four will share wisdom to help participants “thrive beyond borders.”

The 2016 Keynote Address will be given by Jaret Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder of GreenbergTraurig’s Miami office and President-elect of The Beacon Council. He oversees approximately 160 attorneys and 200 business staff based in the firm’s founding office. Davis is a principal shareholder in the firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice, which focuses on both domestic and international transactions within the mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and credit markets arenas. Jaret represents numerous companies with an industry focus on the IT, health care, and biotech sectors.

For information about the Black Professionals Summit, visit www.blackprofessionalssummit.com.