(Black PR Wire) Miami, Fla. -- The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) will host the 34th Annual Business Expo, its premier event, April 11-12 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. Under the theme Ignite, the conference will focus on Opportunities, Ideas, Partnerships, Learning and Change. The Expo attracts business leaders and corporations from across the state and around the country. The event consists of a trade fair, workshops and a luncheon, providing a forum to network and showcase your company’s products and services.

“The Business Expo is designed to ensure minority businesses at all stages of development are positioned for greater success, and to provide corporations and government agencies with information about supplier diversity,” said Beatrice Louissaint, President and CEO of the FSMSDC.

At the luncheon, there will be conversation with Troy D. Taylor, Chairman, Founder and CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida LLC (Coke Florida), a family-owned, independent Coca-Cola bottler, will highlight the Business Expo Luncheon. The company is one of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses, with over $1.2 billion in sales and more than 4,600 employees. In 2018, Black Enterprise recognized Coke Florida as the fifth-largest black-owned business in the United States on their B.E. Top 100 list. Coke Florida is Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)-certified and was recognized as the largest minority-owned business in Tampa Bay. Coke Florida was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tampa.

The 34th Annual Business Expo is an ideal opportunity for minority entrepreneurs to present their products and services to purchasing agents from government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Exhibitors and sponsors include: The Walt Disney Company, Florida Blue, Duke Energy, Jackson Health System, Florida Power & Light Company, JM Family Enterprises, Office Depot, Orlando Health, AT&T, American Airlines, MasTec, Vistra Communications, Pure Air Control Services, SDI International Corp., and Solo Printing.

This year, the workshops will include: Hard Hat Construction Matchmaker, Procurement-ready Boot Camp, Supplier Diversity Roundtable, MasterClasses (learn success secrets and strategies from the best), and CEO Forum (hear from leading CEOs who are running innovative, high-performing and unique minority businesses).

The Annual Business Expo also includes a Youth Entrepreneurs Workshop. More than 100 students from local schools are expected to participate.

About FSMSDC

The Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing access and growth for minority businesses in Florida. The organization’s goal is to increase purchasing from minority businesses by government entities and corporations, while increasing the operating capacity of minority businesses through hands-on business assistance, training, and access to technology and capital resources. Founded in 1975, the FSMSDC is one of 23 regional councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The FSMSDC acts as a liaison between corporate America and certified Minority Business Enterprises in the state of Florida.

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