Welcome to the GBCC

2010 Georgia Black Chamber Membership Campaign
Support Small and Minority Business Growth and Development Today!!

The weather did not stop more than 500 business owners and elected officials who attended the Georgia Black Chamber 12th Annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel in downtown, Saturday, Janauary 9, 2010. This year's event was chaired by Emanuel Jones, State Senator and Chair of the Georgia Black Legislative Caucus and Alicia M. Ivey, President and CEO of Phoenix Global Corporation.

Held each year on the Saturday before the Georgia General Assembly convenes, the breakfast gives elected officials an opportunity to bring essential information to small businesses. The program's aim is to promote and strengthen the bond of unity among elected officials, corporate partners and business, community and religious leaders from across the state.

Honorary chairs and head table guests included: Alicia M. Ivey, Phoenix Global Corporation; Kasim Reed, Mayor, City of Atlanta; Pastor Sam O. Mayo, The Tabernacle; Honorable Emanuel Jones, GA Legislative Black Caucus; Honorable Michael Thurmond, GA Department of Labor; Anna Henderson, GA Black Chamber of Commerce; Honorable Willie Burns, GA Conference of Black Mayor; Theresa Walker, GA Black Chamber of Commerce; Pastor Marlon Harris, New Life Baptist Church; Charles Owens, Army Corps of Engineers; Michael Hill, Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce; Jennifer Anthony, Greater Columbus Minority Chamber of Commerce; Pinky Modeste, Dougherty County Small Business Office; Catherine Glover, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce; Honorable Burrell Ellis, DeKalb County CEO; Alex Habersham, Macon Middle GA Black Pages; Judi Hawkins, Gwinnett Chamber; Vance Smith, Commissioner, GDOT; and Al Edwards, C.E.R.M. Reggie Gay, Reggie Gay Gospel Show served as the emcee, gospel artist Sonya McGuire and Briana C. Smith performed an inspirational dance.

As the state of Georgia prepares to elect a new Governor, all of the gubernatorial candidates were invited. Candidates confirmed were Thurbert Baker, Roy Barnes, Carl Camon, Jeff Chapman, John Oxendine, DuBose Porter, David Poythress and Austin Scott.

The GBCC also paid tribute to African American families whose businesses started generations ago, yet continue to thrive to this day. "The Generational Torch Award" honorees are Alexis Scott of the Atlanta Daily World; Nathaniel Goldston of Gourmet Services, Inc.; Bernard Bronner of Bronner Brothers; Michael Russell of H. J. Russell and Company; Alicia Ivey of Phoenix Global Corporation; and Jeffrey L. Robinson of J.W. Robinson & Associates.

The 2009 Lou Walker Memorial Golf Classic
has been rescheduled

Updated day and time to be announced. Please come back to www.gablackchamberofcommerce for new info.

On May 12, 2008, the National Black Chamber of Commerce will be participating in the kick-off of the French African Diaspora Chamber of Commerce to be held in Paris, France. This will be a very historical moment and will greatly enhance our influence in trade and business development in Africa and the Caribbean.

The Paris Chamber will represent the 8 million Blacks in France and will provide dialogue to all the French speaking nations who are a part of the French Commonwealth. Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce President, Anna Henderson and Executive Director, Theresa Walker will travel to Paris with a delegation of NBCC affiliates to participate and join in this historic celebration.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. hosted its first-ever Jobs and Opportunities Zone (JOZ) Partner Orientation session in Bentonville, Ark. in February 2008. Georgia Black Chamber President Anna Henderson was invited to participate in this session to receive tools and training to implement the JOZ program.

The GBCC is one of five organizations in DeKalb County participating in the JOZ program initiative which includes a $30K economic development and small business spotlight grants to each partner. Other organizations include DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, South DeKalb Business Association, Mexican American Business Chamber and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The partnerships with Wal-Mart Stores will help bolster economic opportunities surrounding the new Memorial Drive Supercenter in Decatur.

In early April, the GBCC will provide more information on the Wal-Mart JOZ program and will include details on the small business selection criteria. Each JOZ participating organization will highlight five member businesses throughout the year. Selected businesses will receive free advertisements in local newspapers, in-store radio promo, and much more

Thank You for your support
of a Successful GBCC
10th Annual Legislative
Prayer Breakfast

January 12, 2008

A special thanks to our sponsors:
Freddie Mac, AT&T, H A Office 515, Inc., The Development Authority of DeKalb County - Congressman Henry "Hank" Johnson, Georgia Power Company, Johnson Concrete Company, Inc., MARTA, Optimal Health Chiropractic Center, Parsons, Synovus - Atlanta Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, Richard Oden/Rockdale County, Dr. Anthony Parrish, DeVon Hudson State Farm Insurance Agency, C.E.R.M., Rainey Business Center, Sentinel Offender Services, and UGA-Small Business Development Center/MBU

Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce and WorkGiant have formed a partnership to assist companies and job seekers to overcome the many issues of Internet recruiting and job search. Currently companies are spending billions of dollars on Internet advertising without the guarantee of a successful hire. According to Staffing.org Recruitment Efficiency Index, the true cost of a hire is 18% of the annual salary. Job seekers are at risk when they post their confidential resume information online and are bombarded with SPAM. We are committed to giving you a more positive experience.