Black Business Alliance Kickoff

The Asheville Chamber kicks off our Black Business Alliance initiative on Thursday, January 22, at the Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville, with a program to introduce and highlight the Chamber‘s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and Black-owned businesses.

The Black Business Alliance is dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs and business owners through advocacy, training and connections. Programs will create opportunities for growth and relationship building. Inclusive programming aims to provide access to essential resources and guidance while ensuring that Black-owned businesses have the support systems and voice to thrive in our community. We envision a vibrant, diverse Asheville where Black-owned businesses are integral to the region’s economic strength — thriving, innovating and leading in a community that values equity, opportunity and shared prosperity. The first of a year’s worth of monthly educational opportunities, this event launches the Chamber’s work in supporting Black-owned businesses.

Join us for a networking reception from 5:00 – 5:45 pm, followed by a panel discussion in the theater from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. The discussion will cover topics such as the benefits of participating in the Black Business Alliance, an upcoming Learning Series,  plans for a BBA Awards Celebration, benefits of joining the Chamber, and the benefits of supplier diversity.

Moderated by Ava Smith, President and CEO of Flat Fee Recruiting, our panelists include Marcus Kirkman, Business Inclusion Manager with the City of Asheville, Keynon Lake, Founder of My Daddy Taught Me That, and Amy Jackson, Senior Director of Member Engagement with the Asheville Chamber, and Shawn Smart, Owner of Smart Shawn Consulting.

This event is free and open to all Chamber members and community partners who would like to attend.

Registration is requested.

About our panelists:

• Marcus Kirkman was born and raised in Sanford, NC where he learned the importance of faith, community and family. Marcus serves as the Economic and Development Business Inclusion Manager for the City of Asheville. As a WNC Business Investment Framer, he supports individuals with project ideas to attract investors to manifest their project ideas into reality. Marcus is an interfaith minister, interfaith counselor and professional coach and a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy, having honorably served for 22 years. He is married with two beautiful children and two grandchildren.
• Shawn Smart is a dynamic entrepreneur, marketing strategist and community advocate. As the founder of Smart Shawn Consulting, he is dedicated to helping overlooked and underserved entrepreneurs grow through automation, delegation and digital transformation. His mission is clear: to create pathways to financial freedom for those often left out of the traditional business landscape. Shawn also serves as a Community Health Worker and Event Coordinator with My Daddy Taught Me That and is the creative force behind Iconic Affairs, an event production company that blends entertainment with purpose, bringing people together while raising awareness and support for local causes.
• Ava Smith, President & CEO of Flat Fee Recruiting, has over 25 years of experience as a human resources professional. An award-winning entrepreneur, Ava began her career in the non-profit sector and shifted into manufacturing, the corporate arena and staffing. She is also a noted diversity trainer and has delivered hundreds of sessions throughout the Southeast for corporations, manufacturers, non-profits, government, universities, local chambers and more. With a presence in Upstate South Carolina and in Asheville, Ava has supported the community through serving on numerous nonprofit boards. She is currently the Vice Chair for DEI on the Asheville Chamber Board of Directors.
• Keynon Lake was born and raised in Asheville. In 2012, he founded My Daddy Taught Me That, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting youth through mentorship, academic enrichment and community engagement to build confidence, develop leadership skills and create pathways to success in school, in sports and in life.
• Amy Jackson, Senior Director of Member Engagement, has worked at the Asheville Chamber for 14 years where she fosters member connections.

For more information on how you can get involved, please contact us at member@ashevillechamber.org