October Upstate RING Meeting
2025-10-01 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Join us Virtually on October 1st for our next UPSTATE RING Meeting
Date: 10/1/2025
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST)
Location: Virtual via Teams
Register: TBD

The Upstate RING comprises a ten-county area, including Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, along the I-85 corridor in South Carolina. Manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and technology are all prominent business industries in the upstate and are changing dynamics of jobs and influencing the way entrepreneurs are starting, growing, and acquiring businesses. With several automotive and aerospace related companies headquartered in the upstate supported by a strong system of higher education, it is considered one of the strongest manufacturing sectors in the United States, making it a popular hub for entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds.
When We Meet

We welcome you to join our community and connect with our Corporate and MBE members through our monthly meetings and any networking events scheduled.

RING Meeting – May 7th at 11:00 am / VIRTUAL / Link TBD
RING Meeting – June 4th at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting – September 3rd at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting – October 1st at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting- November 5th at 11:00 am / Location TBD

Marketing in a Digital World with Chase Bank Webinar
2025-10-07 15:00 - 16:00
🚀 Free Webinars for MBEs
Tools for Every Stage of Growth
The Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) is proud to partner with the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) to present a free webinar series designed to empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. In collaboration with experts from Chase Bank and U.S. Bank, these sessions will explore essential topics—from financing options and growth strategies to digital marketing and business planning tools.
Marketing in a Digital World: Tuesday, Oct.7, 2025, 3:00 PM ET

In this session, you’ll gain practical tools and expert insights to make informed marketing decisions that drive long-term growth.
What You’ll Learn:
• How to position your business to stand out in a crowded marketplace
• Strategies to effectively target and engage your core audience
• Ways to expand your digital reach across websites, mobile apps, and social media
• How to plan, measure, and optimize the impact of your digital marketing efforts
Host: An Phan, Chief Programs Officer
About our speaker:
Justin Hurst, Vice President and Senior Business Consultant with Chase Bank
Justin started and ran a company that operated internationally for 8 years with a successful exit. He’s been in business banking for more than 10 years working with Small Business Owners and large commercial brand clients, like Anheuser-Busch and PepsiCo. He lived in Mexico for a few years and speaks fluent Spanish. He resides in Charlotte, NC. Additionally, Justin lived abroad in Spain while earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance and completed his studies at Cal Poly, SLO located on California’s beautiful Central Coast. Justin has been a contestant on the show “the Price is Right” and his favorite vacation spots are Jamaica, Morocco, Mexico, and Spain.
Join the discussion – REGISTER Today!

💡 Upcoming Webinars
Developing a Business Plan: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, 3:00 PM ET

📅 Don’t miss this opportunity! Register today to gain valuable insights, connect with financial and business experts, and access the tools you need to help your business thrive.

VA RING Meeting: Access to Capital
2025-10-14 11:30 - 12:30 | 200 High Street, Suite 201, Portsmouth, Va, 23704, 200 High Street, Suite 201, Portsmouth, VA, 23704, United States
VA RING MEETING – Access to Capital
Looking to grow your business but need funding resources? Join us for an exclusive session on Access to Capital featuring lenders, SBA, and the Business Consortium Fund.
📍 200 High Street, Suite 201, Portsmouth, VA 23704
📅 October 14, 2025
⏰ 11:30 AM
👥 Open to MBEs & Corporations
🔗 Register now: https://tinyurl.com/5ekadyw7
Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and gain the tools to scale your business!

October Metrolina RING Meeting
2025-10-16 12:00 - 13:30 | 9319 Robert D. Snyder Rd, Charlotte, NC 28223, 9319 Robert D. Snyder Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, United States
Join us IN-PERSON on October 16th for our next Metrolina RING Meeting!
Date: 10/16/2025
Time: 12pm- 1:30pm (EST)
Location: 9319 Robert D Snyder Portal Building, Room 242
Register: Join Here!

The Metrolina RING covers Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding areas. As one of the fastest growing cities in the US, Charlotte is known for fostering business within Financial Services, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Professional Services industries. The Charlotte Region is also home to more than 3,000 advanced manufacturers and the headquarters to several Fortune 500 companies. With the rapid growth of this area, we also have many opportunities for business in the Construction industry.

When We Meet

May 15, 2025 / 8:30am – 10:00am
July 24, 2025 / 8:30am – 10:00am
October 16, 2025 / 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Pre-Certification Briefing
2025-10-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-26 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-31 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-01-28 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-02-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-05-27 10:00 - 11:30 and 6 more dates | https://site.eventmatches.com/2025Pre
Join us the last Wednesday from 10:00am – 11:30am!
Pre-certification Briefing Meeting Requirements

To participate in the pre-certification briefing, a company must be a legally recognized entity of the CVMSDC region and the ethnic minority owner(s) must possess at least 51% of ownership.
The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.
The orientation will cover information about the Council

– How to Get Certified,
– Who can be Certified
– Certification Criteria

How long the Process will take.
ONLY ONE ATTENDEE per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.

SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY.
Register here: https://site.eventmatches.com/2025Pre

Developing a Business Plan with US Bank Webinar
2025-11-04 15:00 - 16:00
🚀 Free Webinars for MBEs
Tools for Every Stage of Growth
The Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) is proud to partner with the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) to present a free webinar series designed to empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey.
Developing a Business Plan: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, 3:00 PM ET

Whether or not you’re pitching to investors or lenders, starting a business requires a solid plan. A well-crafted business plan provides direction, helps validate your ideas, and outlines the steps needed to achieve your goals. It also serves as a roadmap for both short- and long-term growth.
If you plan to seek funding—whether from investors or through a business loan—many financial institutions will require a business plan as part of the application process.
Key Takeaways:
• Understand the essential components of a business plan
• Learn how to create a business plan you can use to guide your growth
• Prepare a plan suitable for sharing with lenders, investors, or other stakeholders
Host: An Phan, Chief Programs Officer
About our speaker:
Cassandra Kidd
U.S. Bank | Business Access Advisor | AVP – Central Arkansas
Cassandra boasts 30 years in the banking and finance industry, most recently working as a branch manager at U.S. Bank before assuming the BAA role. She is a Board member for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and a member of the Urban League of the State of Arkansas, Southwest Little Rock Business & Community Group and Alpha Kappa Alpha. She enjoys volunteering time at P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids) and Start to Finish Homeless Outreach. Cassandra is passionate about connecting underrepresented business owners to resources, information, and capital to grow and scale sustainable businesses.
Join the discussion – REGISTER Today!

📅 Don’t miss this opportunity! Register today to gain valuable insights, connect with financial and business experts, and access the tools you need to help your business thrive.

November Upstate RING Meeting
2025-11-05 11:00 - 12:00
Join us Virtually on November 5th for our next UPSTATE RING Meeting
Date: 11/5/2025
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST)
Location: Virtual via Teams
Register: TBD

The Upstate RING comprises a ten-county area, including Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, along the I-85 corridor in South Carolina. Manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and technology are all prominent business industries in the upstate and are changing dynamics of jobs and influencing the way entrepreneurs are starting, growing, and acquiring businesses. With several automotive and aerospace related companies headquartered in the upstate supported by a strong system of higher education, it is considered one of the strongest manufacturing sectors in the United States, making it a popular hub for entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds.
When We Meet

We welcome you to join our community and connect with our Corporate and MBE members through our monthly meetings and any networking events scheduled.

RING Meeting – May 7th at 11:00 am / VIRTUAL / Link TBD
RING Meeting – June 4th at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting – September 3rd at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting – October 1st at 11:00 am / Location TBD
RING Meeting- November 5th at 11:00 am / Location TBD

5th Annual P.O.W.E.R Forum
2025-11-21 08:00 - 16:00 | Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N 3rd Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
Take your business to new heights at the 5th Annual P.O.W.E.R. Forum — Runway to Revenue: Navigating Airport Business Success.
📅 Friday, November 21, 2025📍 Greater Richmond Convention Center⏰ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Hosted by the Richmond International Airport and the National Institute of Minority Economic Development, this full-day event connects entrepreneurs, airport leaders, and business professionals to explore opportunities in the aviation industry.
Learn more at flyrichmond.gob2g.com or email business@flyrichmond.com.

Brasfield & Gorrie: EQUIP Project Quality Control Workshop
2025-12-09 11:00 - 12:30 | https://www.cvmsdc.org/council-event/brasfield-gorrie-equip-project-quality-control-workshop/
Project Quality Control Workshop
Tuesday, December 9 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT (Virtual)
Join us for the Project Quality Workshop! Hosted by Adam Durden, Project Manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, this session will cover essential aspects of Project Quality, including:
· The purpose of quality control
· Control vs. inspection
· Setting your job up for success
We’re also excited to welcome a special guest who will share insights on supporting contractor financial wealth.
After the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to join virtual breakout rooms and network with several of our Preconstruction Managers.
Register Here

Explore Abroad - Entrepreneurship in Kenya
2026-01-23 08:00 - 2026-02-07 17:00
Join us January 23- February 7th for the Explore Abroad- Entrepreneurship in Kenya.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: TBD
Registration: TBD

2026 South Carolina Automotive B2B Supplier Matchmaker
2026-02-10 10:00 - 16:00 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, 220 Main St., Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The South Carolina Department of Commerce, in partnership with the South Carolina Manufacturers + Commerce, will host the 2026 South Carolina Automotive B2B Supplier Matchmaker on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Greenville, SC. This event is an excellent opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers to connect, explore new partnerships, and strengthen South Carolina’s manufacturing network.

📅 Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
🕗 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Greenville, SC
📝 Registration: Click here to register

ProForum (Corporations Only)
2026-03-18 08:00 - 17:00
Join us March 18th for the 2026 ProForum (Corporations only) Conference.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: Charlotte, NC
Registration: TBD

2026 Automotive Summit
2026-05-04 08:00 - 2026-05-05 17:00
Join us May 4th-5th for the Automotive Summit in Detroit, MI.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: Detroit, MI
Registration: TBD

2026 BMW Supplier Xchange- Save the Date
2026-05-13 | GREENVILLE CONVENTION CENTER
SAVE THE DATE.
BMW SUPPLIER XCHANGE
May 13th, 2026, Greenville Convention Center
Official Registration will open February 2026
Click the link below for Sponsorship opportunities – Contact BMW_SupplierEvents@bmw.com for more info and event details to follow!
2026 Sponsorship Matrix
Our mission is to actively seek out and partner with a diverse range of suppliers that reflect our customers.

We believe that engaging a wide range of suppliers is not just the right thing to do, but also a strategic imperative that drives innovation, reduces risk, and fosters economic growth for all. By prioritizing this approach, we commit to building strong, long-term relationships with our suppliers, promoting equity and inclusion in the broader business ecosystem, and creating sustainable value for our customers, shareholders, and society at large.

2026 Business Opportunity Conference (BOC26)
2026-08-02 08:00 - 2026-08-04 17:00
Join us August 2nd-4th for the 2026 Business Opportunity Conference in Raleigh, NC.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: The Westin, Brier Creek, Raleigh, NC.
Registration: TBD

2026 NMSDC Conference
2026-11-01 08:00 - 2026-11-04 17:00
Join us November 1st-4th for the NMSDC Annual Conference.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: TBD
Registration: TBD

2026 Small Business Summit (SBS26)
2026-12-02 08:00 - 2026-12-03 17:00
Join us December 2nd-3rd for the 2026 Small Business Summit in Richmond, VA.
COMING SOON! Keep a look out for more details for this event.
Where: Richmond, VA
Registration: TBD
