Black Economic Forum explores business trends

South Florida is an emerging market, entrepreneur Tony Lesesne said at the seventh annual South Florida Black Economic Forum. To empower business owners, the daylong conference offered a number of events focused on new opportunities.

Through networking, panel discussions, and an awards presentation AfricanAmerican professionals were privy to the latest information. Programs aimed to increase the number and scale of African and CaribbeanAmerican owned ventures.

The forum was co-sponsored by the Urban League of Broward County and The Mosaic Group, a marketing and public relations firm.

Ron Drew, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance senior vice president of marketing and communications, spoke as part of a panel about growth opportunities. He said the area’s economy is moving beyond tourism and real estate.

The fastest job growth is in professional and business services with more than 12,000 new jobs, Drew said. Education and health services — Ann Marie Sorrell, Mosaic Group

follow with 6,800 jobs. Compare that with trade, transportation jobs at 3,800 and construction at 3,700.

“When you look at the growth rate in business and professional services, it’s a 9 percent growth rate,” Drew said. Industries with high growth rates include aviation, technology and life sciences.

Startup costs to enter fields such as aerospace and life sciences are among the highest. But businesses that serve those industries have more accessible entry points, Drew said.

“Have a company that serves Magic Leap or Citrix. That’s a lower point of entry and it’s easier to start in and build from there for a midlevel or smaller, new company,” Drew said.

Gordon Eric Knowles of the Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce said industries in trade, logistics and the seaports president

are expanding. And the area’s proximity to the Southern Hemisphere is vital.

“We are part of Latin America. If we are not paying attention to that, we’re missing out on a lot of opportunity,” Knowles said.

“We’re all connected,” exhibitor James Drake of McKinley Insurance Services said. “You can live in Broward and work in Dade and vice versa.”

In addition, Mosaic Group president Ann Marie Sorrell announced the launch of BlackBusinessLoop.com. The website will promote business growth and events and encourage the public to support black-owned businesses.

“We aim to foster growth and sustainability while reducing unemployment and bridging the wealth gap in South Florida,” Sorrell said.

hwolt@sun-sentinel.com