Business institute

JULY 14—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania Business Institute will host “How to Do Business With Allegheny County Economic Development” from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Ave., 7th floor, Downtown. The workshop will highlight the Allegheny County Economic Development initiatives for the county. Representatives will present their structure, requirements for doing business and their process of notifications for bids. There will also be professional service bids. Registration is requested by July 12. For more information, call 412-392-0610 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Financial

As an executive at the world’s largest consumer research organization, The Nielsen Co., I spend my days surrounded by data and statistics. In addition to the well-known TV ratings, Nielsen also measures what consumers buy and what consumers watch. I continue to be amazed at how ethnicity, race, gender and age all impact consumer buying habits and trends. What amazes me even more is that most of us have no idea how powerful we as African Americans are as consumers.

Do you know your power? And Lord have mercy if you do, are you using it for good?

When David Johnson, Jason Session, Debra Walker and Ava Floyd celebrated receiving their diplomas as graduates from dealers school out side the Rivers Casino last month, it marked the end of weeks of daily classes, eight hours a day. But it was worth it because they knew they were just weeks away from saying, “shuffle up and deal.”

They are among the 458 employees being added to the Rivers Casino staff to serve clients at its 86 new table games, which—if test runs meet Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board criteria, will being operating at 6 a.m. July 8.

NEW DEAL—Graduates David Johnson, Jason Session, Debra Walker and Ava Floyd pose during a July 1 ceremony outside the Rivers Casino.

From providing focus, motivation and valuable information to receiving support and a boost in confidence, is how participants described their experience at the Micro Business Institute.

“These classes have kept me focused and on track,” said Rhonda Sears. Aiming to operate an event planning business, she admits, “What I have learned during these 11 weeks is very valuable.”

BUSINESS BEGINNINGS—PCSI Executive Director Cecelia A. Jenkins, MBI participants Myneesha King and Phyllis Evelyn stand with Micro Business Institute Specialist Jasmine Ward during an MBI event.

A project of Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc., the MBI is dedicated to providing the tools for its participants to succeed as entrepreneurs and to become empowered to take charge of their financial future. In operation since early 2010, the MBI has been fostering the development of sustainable micro-businesses geared to stimulate economic development, self-sufficiency and job creation in poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh.