BALTIMORE — A Baltimore Times-hosted and PNC Bank-sponsored networking event brought out a who’s who in the Charm City area to reflect on 2017 and to determine just how businesses and entrepreneurs can continue building their legacy in 2018 and beyond.
The gathering on November 30, 2017 titled, “Business & Building Your Legacy,” an entrepreneurship and small business discussion and networking event, was held at one of Baltimore’s first Minority Owned Business & Tech Incubators, the StartUp Nest.
Dennis Roberts
The StartUp Nest founders Kyle O’Connor, Marcus Howard and Deonn Henderson, were on hand to share their vision for creating the tech incubator and the work behind entrepreneurship.
They also provided tours of the venue.
“Baltimore is so rich, and bursting at the seams with untapped talent and brilliance. The Baltimore Times’ work to bring the community together and provide a platform for connecting [and] learning, where we are empowered to tell our stories as we build our legacy is so essential for not only small businesses but also to our community at large,” said Cassandra N. Vincent of Vincent Media & Consulting, LLC. “This was really more than a networking event— more of a safe space for honest dialogue, learning and meeting our fellow neighbors.”
Vincent who was the moderator of the panel discussion at the event says she enjoyed an “honest and lively” discussion with Kyle O’Connor of the StartUp Nest and Will Holmes of Will Holmes Consulting U.S.A.
“We discussed everything from doing business in the Baltimore market, how to build a business that matters and impacts change in our community, and we discussed ways to be effective in business,” Vincent said.
More than 30 small business owners, entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs participated in the event.
Holmes shared insights on doing business in the city.
“While on the panel, I stressed the importance of offering products and services that customers actually want to buy and utilizing free resources such as the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses Program and the services offered by the city of Baltimore and the Small Business Administration,” Holmes said. “The audience’s questions showed their eagerness to build strong, sustainable businesses and I was delighted to engage with them and I thank The Baltimore Times for inviting me.”
Nicole Webb of NK Webb Consulting also said she was thrilled to have attended the event.
“I had an opportunity to attend and it was awesome,” Webb said.
“It was nice to have a transparent conversation centered on business in the African-American community with those who have had business success,” she said. “The speakers were knowledgeable, credible and transparent in sharing their successes and failures with attendees in order to teach and allow others to learn from their mistakes.”
Ijeoma S. Nwatu, a digital freelancer and media consultant, echoed Webb’s comments.
“The event was nicely done and brought a great mix of entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals. The StartUp Nest was a good choice and their founders had a compelling and insightful story,” Nwatu said.
Vincent noted the importance of the sponsors who helped to make the event more exciting. She also noted participants— Christopher Harris Photography; Billie McCain of Be Bold Media; Cara Paige of Cover Paige Creative; and Kimberly Bracey of Painted Society; and, of course, PNC Bank.
“It was a fantastic event!” Vincent said.