Minority business expo opens today

Lenders participating in ‘Loan-a-thon’

Need financing for your minority-owned business? There’s an opportunity to meet with bankers and alternative lenders from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the “Loana-thon” at the annual Business Expo by The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council.

The council holds its 33rd annual Business Expo today and Friday at the Greater Fort LauderdaleBroward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., in Fort Lauderdale. The conference, which includes a trade fair, workshops and luncheon, has the theme of “race to success,” focusing on minority businesses providing revenue, accountability, customer service and excellence.

“The Business Expo is designed to ensure minority businesses at all stages of development are positioned for greater success, and to provide corporations and government agencies with information about supplier diversity,” said Beatrice Louissaint, president and

CEO of the group.

The keynote speaker is David Segura, chairman, founder and CEO of VisionIT, a Michigan-based company that works with some of the largest corporations in the United States.

Business expo exhibitors include: The Walt Disney Company, Florida Blue, Duke Energy, Jackson Health System, Florida Power & Light Co., JM Family Enterprises, Florida Department of Transportation,

Office Depot, NBCUniversal, Orlando Health, Comcast, MasTec, Pure Air Control Services, SDI International Corp., Paramount Solutions, AT&T, American Airlines and Solo Printing.

There also will be workshops during the event that include “construction opportunities,” “influences of rapidly changing technology,” “doing business in health care” and “how to attract and retain employees.”

The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council is a non-profit organization with the goal to increase purchasing from minority businesses by government entities and corporations. Founded in 1975, the group is one of 23 regional councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Conference tickets are available per day or for individual events. For more information, go to fsmsdc.org.

mpounds@sunsentinel .com, 561-243-6650, Twitter @marciabiz