LIGHTING THE WAY | BLC Newsletter Q3 2023
Message from the
Chief Executive Officer,
Arielle Johnson
As we approach the final quarter of the year and prepare for 2024, I am eager to get to work alongside our BLC Membership, Executive Committee and Community Partners. 2024 will present major opportunities, as well as new challenges.
Last week, I sent out the first of what will be many messages of importance about our opportunities to engage with the Democratic National Convention. In addition to being of major political importance, national conventions leave a major economic imprint on their host cities.
It is imperative that The BLC strategically position our membership to benefit from this massive opportunity. Together, we can ensure that as many BLC members as possible make major wins from DNC 2024. We will do our part but we cannot be successful unless you do your parts as well. The Business Leadership Council will be a united front in presenting our membership for opportunities. We cannot be overlooked if our membership consistently works together throughout this process.
Don’t miss out on opportunities by ignoring emails from the BLC. Please watch for our communications and promptly respond to our instructions. These RFP’s require rapid turnaround. A DNC Local Host Committee vendor portal has already gone live to support the creation of a comprehensive business directory.
I am confident that Chicago and the BLC will significantly benefit from the Democratic National Convention and am looking forward to collaborating with Keiana Barrett and the Black Business community to strategically advocate for our access, which is well overdue.
BLC can only successfully navigate all the opportunities and challenges through consistent communication and collaboration with our network. The attack on supplier diversity, affirmative action and programs built to combat disparity requires us all to do our part, consistently. I welcome your ideas, resources, and voices as we advocate for our rights, promote our talent and push for greater access.
Arielle Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Message from
Chief External Affairs Officer,
Lamar Brown
I am absolutely ecstatic to join BLC as your Chief External Affairs Officer! Having been a part of our dynamic community for three years, I've witnessed the profound value and purpose that BLC holds in advocating for and nurturing a thriving Black wealth ecosystem for our members and business owners. Get ready for a revitalized, reinvigorated era as we work together to infuse fresh energy, innovative ideas, dynamic programming, and forge impactful partnerships. Together, let's work to elevate BLC into an even more necessary, vibrant, and engaged organization. I look forward to working with you!
Lamar Brown
Chief External Affairs Officer
BLC New Members
The Business Leadership Council celebrates our established members whose powerful contributions have helped to make the BLC a respected partner in the Illinois Business Community. We also welcome new members whose professional skills, talents and business capabilities make us a more powerful voice for the African American business community.
Charles C. Calloway
Partner/ Diversity Outreach Partner
Chapman and Cutler, LLP Attorneys at Law
Vanguard, Professional Services Sector
Kendra Dinkins
President and CEO
Taylor Electric Company.
Electrical Contractor
Established, General Services Sector
Marlon Everett, MD
Owner and CEO
Grace Analytical Laboratory
Testing Technologies for Cannabis and Hemp
Established, General Services Sector
Carl M. Johnson
Associate
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Legal Services
Established, Professional Services Sector
Felix Leshley
President
Lesley Medical Supplies
Medical Supplies and Home Health Care
Established, General Services Sector
Joel Mitchell
Executive Director
EMMAUS
Non-Profit Raising Awareness of Youth Sexual Exploitation
Civic/Community Leader, Institutional Sector
Antwane Ratliff
Owner and CEO
Melrose Park Logistics
General Warehousing, Storage and Courier Services
Sustaining Membership, General Services Sector
BLC Events:
Past &
Future
The BLC’s goal is to educate, empower and enlighten our members about issues that impact our businesses and our communities. We invite impactful leaders to address our members and guests, to share their views and help us make informed decisions about our world.
Upcoming Events
Celebrate BLC Members Leading Chicago's 2024 DNC
Join us to celebrate BLC Members, Keiana Barrett and Christy George, Leaders of Chicago’s 2024 Democratic National Convention Host Committee.
November 8th, 2023 • 6PM
Location TBD
General Membership Meeting & Holiday Reception
December 14th, 2023
Location TBD
BLC at Chicago’s 2024 Democratic National Convention
The BLC will host key local and national figures for one of the kickoff receptions for the Democratic National Convention, 2024.
August 24th, 2024
Location TBD
Save The Date
February 15th (Black History Month Program)
June 20th (Juneteenth Celebration)
General Membership Meeting October 17th
December 19th (Holiday Event)
BLC Members in the News
BLC Members Melody Spann Cooper, Suzanne Griffith, Denitra Griffin and Graham Grady are lending their support to the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Chicago Community Trust’s African American Legacy (AAL) initiative, November 2nd.
BLC Member Britney Robbins of the Gray Matter Experience is gearing up for “Untapped--3rd Annual Fundraiser and Celebration”, Thursday, November 2nd . The celebration marks 7 years of work on their mission of to empower and uplift Black youth through entrepreneurship as Black leaders and visionaries at our 3rd annual fundraiser.
BLC Member and CEO Michael Sutton’s Infrastructure Engineering is celebrating its Silver Anniversary—25 years in business as one of Chicago premier engineering firms.
BLC Member Merry Green, Founder of Black Women’s Expo and CEO of MGPG Events received the "Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Humanitarian/Industry Service Award" at the 41st Annual Chicago Music Awards on Saturday, September 30th at the Harold Washington Cultural Center.
BLC Founding Member and Executive Committee Member Jim Reynolds of Loop Capital hosted a fundraising event at Taste 222 supporting Ex-cons for Community and Social Change (ECCSC). September 20th. ECCSC’s mission is to provide dedicated community servants trained to change the dynamic of trauma and violence in our communities.
BLC Member Joel K Johnson, President and CEO of TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) was a panelist at the 2023 Congressioinal Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, September 22nd in Washington D.C.
BLC Member Alex Sims-Jones’ passion project, “The Black Bench” selected their 2024 cohort for its leadership training program. Their goal is to develop Black community leaders, ages 25- 45 to develop and execute plans for delivering the resources of African American communities.
BLC Members Wilbur Milhouse, CEO of Milhouse Engineering and Nosa Ehimwenman, CEO of Bowa Construction are both in the running in two of the three joint ventures that received Requests for Proposals on September 14th from The Chicago Transit Authority to design and build the Red Line Extension.
BLC Members Kelly Powers Baria of Powers and Son, Jimmy Akintonde of UJAAMA Construction Inc. and Wilbur Milhouse of Milhouse Engineering celebrated the opening of Bally’s Chicago Casino, September 6th and 7th. These firms are part of Chicago Community Builders Collective, an all-minority-owned consortium Bally’s engaged to build its first casino in the City of Chicago.
Business Opportunities BLC Members
Q3 2023
The Chicago 2024 Democratic National Convention Host Committee has released an RFP for an individual or company to act as Owner’s Representative to the Host Committee for next year’s convention at the United Center. The Owner’s Representative will play a key role in advising the Host Committee and the DNCC on planning, contracting and execution of larger construction and venue modifications for the convention site. Final proposals due by October 25th.
BLC Member Z. Scott, President of Chicago State University, is seeking a Deputy Chief of Staff. CSU is Illinois’ only four-year U.S. Department of Education-designated Predominately Black Institution (PBI). CSU serves over 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 900 graduate students. The university is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a membership organization for public HBCUs and PBIs, and is a nationally accredited university.