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(TRENTON, NJ – July 15, 2024) The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey’s (AACCNJ) second annual Juneteenth Black Business Expo, received rave reviews, from its attendees and sponsors, and has been lauded as the premier Juneteenth business event in the state of NJ, for the second consecutive year. The organization celebrated its seventeen -year anniversary, on the Teaneck Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, site of the 2024 Expo.
“We are extremely pleased and humbled by the level of support we received at our Second Annual Juneteenth Black Business Expo, we thank everyone for their attendance,” said John E. Harmon, Sr., Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ. “This event was truly a presentation of Black entrepreneurship and our public and private sector partnerships, throughout the state. We are extremely grateful to Governor Phil Murphy for his participation and the coalescence of agency support from his administration, for the second consecutive year.” A special thank you to Ralph Weaver, CEO of East West Connection, and Jacqueline Baptiste, Executive Advisor & Brand Ambassador, for their project management, excellence was on full display!”
“After months of planning with the Chamber, my colleagues and I at East West Connection were overwhelmed by the positive feedback we received from the AACCNJ Juneteenth Black Business Expo attendees. It was a dynamic Expo that provided a needed forum to showcase Black entrepreneurship excellence while forging relationships with majority owned companies, and state government agencies that will lead to business opportunities for Chamber members. We are thankful and honored to partner with the Chamber as they continue to advocate for Black businesses throughout the state and we look forward to an even bigger and better Expo in 2025,” said Ralph D. Weaver, founder and CEO, East West Connection.
“It has been a wonderful experience, over these past months, collaborating closely with Ralph Weaver, and the awesome group of professionals at EWC, " said Jacqueline E. Baptiste, Executive Advisor to Founder, President & CEO, & Brand Ambassador, AACCNJ. “A personal thank you also to my team, and the AACCNJ staff, for their collective efforts to transform our CEO’s vision into a reality; at the AACCNJ we never rest on our laurels, we always build on our success.”
Expo special Guest Speakers include Governor Phil Murphy, Rev. Dr. Steffie Bartley, Sr., Northeast Regional Director, National Action Network, and Michael J. Alvatroni, President of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Executive..
Premiere Exhibitors included Hackensack Meridian Health, and Johnson & Johnson. Elite Exhibitors included Davis EIS, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ. Innovator Exhibitors included Citizens Bank, Crossriver, East West Connection, Fiserv, Provident Bank, Lakeland Bank, and Valley National Bank.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to the health and wellness of everyone in the communities we serve,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are honored to support the African American Chamber of Commerce Juneteenth Black Business Expo. In bringing vital screenings for health issues, we know members of the community are at risk for, we are not only saving lives, but building important ongoing relationships between patients and healthcare professionals for continued care."
“Inclusion drives innovation in our company, entrepreneurship in our communities, and commerce in marketplaces around the world. We are proud of our partnership with the AACCNJ and our combined impact for our clients and communities, fostering economic opportunity,” said Neil Wilcox, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Fiserv.
“The Chamber is an incredible partner of Horizon, and they continue to provide the valuable business tools and resources to support their membership and the community at large. We are proud to support their important work statewide,” said Jonathan Pearson, Sr. Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Horizon BCBSNJ.
EXPO HIGHLIGHTS
Malcolm Jenkins, NFL 2x Super Bowl Champion and passionate philanthropist, was this year’s speaker and participated in a conversation moderated by AACCNJ’s Founder and CEO John Harmon. Malcolm Jenkins shared with attendees his story of resilience and triumph. After a prolific football career, Malcolm Jenkins is now a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
The expo offered four hours of 15-minute matchmaking appointments with corporate procurement leaders; from NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Ferreira Construction, HNTB, SJI, Turner Construction, PSEG, JCP&L (First Energy Company), and New Jersey American Water.
The expo featured breakout sessions ranging from topics such as: CRM, AI, and Shifting Generational Dynamics, Winning RFP’s and Keeping Your Business Relevant, Empowering Black-Owned Businesses & the Role of DE&I Programs/Initiatives, and Creative Funding Strategies for Small Businesses and Holistic Well-Being.
The Expo featured a Business Corner, presented by Premiere Sponsor J&J, where attendees were able to have professional headshots, and receive feedback on capability presentations, J&J also managed a pitch contest for a select number of businesses, the grand prize winner won a 2-hour consultation with an executive from a leading company!
The Expo was a one-stop resource for free of charge community preventative health care for the attendees, with screenings for blood, cholesterol, glucose, stroke risk assessment and PSA, administered by Premiere Sponsor Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Care professionals. HMH featured a maternal health workshop featuring a screening of Toxic: A Black Woman’s Story.
Expo attendees stepped into the immersive world of Black Heart’s interactive AI exhibition, created exclusively for the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. They were able to engage with an innovative AI chatbot trained on the rich history of Black Wall Street, the profound legacy of African American entrepreneurship, and the dynamic community of the Chamber’s members. Explore narratives, ask questions, and uncover insights, as this innovative showcase celebrates the past, present, and future of African American business excellence.
“Art and Couture Fashion Row” featured a select number of Black Owned businesses displaying the best in Black, art, fashion and more, including returning vendors, Art’s World, and Secur by Keeley B.
The AACCNJ announced the winner of the essay contest for college students and high school seniors in connection. The contest aims to engage students in a discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion in government contracting and procurement. The contest was open to NJ college students aged 21 or younger and NJ high school seniors and offered a grand prize of $1,000 and $750, respectively.
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