Government leaders, business executives, and workforce advocates discussed the importance of economic mobility and small business growth during the Atlanta Business League’s Congress on the State of Black Business event on Tuesday.
Amid today’s uncertainty, business leaders in attendance emphasized the importance of seeking opportunities in unexpected places.
Held at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, the 18th annual event explored topics from infrastructure opportunities to global trade.
Two standout panels focused on small business inclusion in government contracting and workforce development strategies for underserved communities.
During a panel on regional leadership, officials stressed that small businesses are often unaware of the billions of dollars in contracting opportunities available at the city, county, and regional levels.
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, CEO of DeKalb County, noted that even services like mobile car detailing have secured six-figure contracts through the county.
“There are contracts for everything you can imagine,” she said. “If you have a business, government likely needs your service.”
MARTA Chief of Staff Steve Parker discussed the agency’s efforts to “unbundle” large infrastructure projects to make them accessible to smaller firms.
“We’re trying to provide a broader umbrella so small businesses of every type can participate,” he said.
Ricky Smith, General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, said the airport expects to invest $18 billion in infrastructure over the next decade.
“We have a robust minority and small business program,” Smith said. “We want small businesses to secure both prime and subcontractor contracts.”
Panelists emphasized the need for businesses to proactively engage with government websites and procurement events. Nicole Love Hendrickson, chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, and Stacy Key, president of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, encouraged small firms to seek certification, mentorship, and community support through organizations like ABL or the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
Strategies for ‘today’s world’
During a panel moderated by Goodwill of North Georgia President and CEO Keith Parker, workforce development experts addressed the region’s stark economic inequality and strategies for building a stronger, more inclusive labor force.
Parker discussed economic disparity in Atlanta and how the city is ranked last in the country in economic mobility.
“Economic disparity is so large that the top 20 percent earners in metro Atlanta earn $384,000, and the bottom 20 percent earn $11,000,” he said.
He added that he has received numerous calls from individuals in their 50s and 60s who have recently been laid off, emphasizing that workforce instability affects people across generations.
Goodwill offers free career coaching and training programs funded through proceeds from its retail stores. The nonprofit partners with more than 5,000 employers, public agencies, foundations and nonprofits to connect individuals to job opportunities.
Nancy Flake Johnson, president of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and Victoria Seals, president of Atlanta Technical College, joined Parker in underscoring how technical training, employer partnerships, and certification programs can offer life-changing pathways for people from underserved communities.
Seals emphasized that her institution is intentional about preparing students not just for jobs but for evolving industries.
“We position and train people to evolve as industries change,” she said.
Graduates are ready and able to reinvent themselves as businesses change direction, she added.
Dr. Irvin Clark, President of Southern Crescent Technical College, pointed to rapid growth in southern counties such as Henry, where advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity are creating new employment pipelines.
Clark said the goal is to keep Georgia attractive to industries seeking a qualified local workforce.
“We also don’t want them to think about pulling talent from [other states]. We want them to see that talent locally here in Georgia,” Clark said.
Corliss Davenport, Director of ATL Workforce Programs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, noted that many residents in underserved areas near the airport are unaware of its career opportunities. Hartsfield-Jackson is one of only five airports in the U.S. with a registered apprenticeship program, she said, offering jobs in HVAC, welding, electrical work, and other nontraditional fields.
Heidi Schneider of Gresham Smith, a design and engineering firm, shared that the company looks beyond traditional resumes and often hires candidates with transferable skills from unrelated industries. Those employees receive training and support to apply their talents in new ways.
“In this way, they’ve been able to enter a new career space that they didn’t even know was open to them,” she said.
New hires have come from varied backgrounds, including dental office management and grocery store public relations. Schneider noted that she previously worked as a wetland biologist and elementary school teacher before transitioning to Gresham Smith, where her area of work is tied to the transportation industry.
Thank you for such a comprehensive writeup. Here is a comment from one of our members who could not attend, but read this article. “This conference had stellar presenters, who provided outstanding content. Every minority owned business should have been there including mine.”
Your article is quite thorough, and I appreciate it. An article reader who was unable to attend has left a comment here. The speakers at this conference were second to none, and the material they presented was first-rate. This should have been a mandatory stop for all minority-owned businesses, including mine.