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The Formula For African American Business Success: P3 - Power Passion Profit

SB Informer
Friday, June 30, 2006; 03:11 AM

Hundreds of business owners, executives, operators, entrepreneurs, partners from all over the United States attended the most extraordinary and highly successful business-to-business event situated in Palm Springs, California. Presented by Wells Fargo and hosted by Turning Point Magazine, The TPC Foundation Inc., and The African American Chamber of Commerce Palm Springs - The African American Business Summit (AABS 2006) appropriately themed P3: Power Passion Profit, was held at the stunning Hotel Zoso, 150 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California on June 22nd – 25th, 2006.

Attendees gained immeasurable access to information, influence and resources needed to facilitate their businesses to grow and succeed by having the face to face networking with small businesses, corporations and owners, operators and professionals.

The event began on Wednesday, June 22nd with TPC Foundation Inc.’s Charity Golf Game which was dedicated to Edgar H. Twine Esq., a dedicated supporter of the Foundation. Golfers including representatives from Wells Fargo, Southern California Edison and more braved the early warm temperatures and had a grand time including a surprise appearance by ex-football player and actor Fred Williamson and his son.

On June 23rd, the African American Business Summit 2006 featured an awe-inspiring, educating and genuinely motivating “Free but not Equal” keynote by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Along with directing attendees with how to work within the community, Rev. Jackson also educated with information regarding what affects their businesses now such as
big oil/profits with his recent protest against BP (ARCO) - who made windfall profits of $5.3 Billion in the first quarter of this year, has 800 Gas Distributors and ZERO African American distributors as well as $16 billion in procurement but less than one third of one percent with African American Businesses. Rev. Jackson inspired the business attendances to join him in taking action and not just with just developing departments called ‘diversity’, but actually being diverse.

AABS 2006 presented targeted workshops with insight in government contracts, e-procurement, finance, equity, doing business in Post-Katrina New Orleans, technology/software, and with the entertainment industries to keep the attendees engaged. Other highlights included the exciting opening reception honoring the Turning Point Magazine/Wells Fargo’s 2006 Living History Maker winner, Michael E. Johnson, Founder of EM Johnson Interest, Inc., a leading San Francisco Bay area Real Estate development company and a moving opening keynote by Kelvin Boston, host of PBS’s Moneywise program; Conversation with A Winner with 2006 Chairman Danny J. Bakewell Sr., the Business/Vendor Fair hosted by Washington Mutual where attendees had a chance to meet with corporate and small business representatives face to face and enjoyed Your 15 Minutes of Fame! where attendees had a 15 minute platform to pitch their business to a receptive audience and a daily Cyber Cafe presented by Microsoft and Ligatt Securities which attendees got to stay connected to their businesses through available computer systems.

On June 24th, The African American Business Summit 2006 continued in top form by bringing together the top African American high pension fund principals in a session moderated by the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut, Denise Nappier and the TPC Foundation’s Smart Start Youth Financial Literacy Program for ages 13 to 17 with financial curriculum by SJC Investment’s Sidney Cooper, Brian Johnson and JoAnn Steward of Wells Fargo.

The event closed with the Power Passion Profit Luncheon with keynote Lisa Nichols, motivational speaker and co-author of Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. Ms. Nichols inspirational words were energetic and heart-felt with emotion to the body and soul of the attendees.

The African American Business Summit 2007 is already beginning its planning stages and is tentatively scheduled for June 20–24, 2007 with a location to be announced later.

For a complete listing of workshops, sessions and participants of the African American Business Summit 2006, please visit www.aabs2006.com. For event photos, please contact Meda/Marketing department head Adrienne S. Lamm at (323) 299-6000 ext. 107.

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