Contact Us

Minority Business Development

1500 East Main Street, 5th Floor 
Richmond, VA
23219 USA

Phone: (804) 646-5947

Fax: (804) 646-0136

Email: Ask Minority Business

 

Facebook - Minority Business

 

Advisory Board

Minority Business Enterprise/Emerging Small Business Advisory Board

The Minority Business Enterprise/Emerging Small Business Advisory Board (MBE/ESB) is composed of nine representatives of a minority business enterprise, two lenders or businesses other than a minority business enterprise, one Section 3 Contractor representative and one either at-large resident of the city or a member of the City Council.

The MBE/ESB Advisory Board provide advice and recommendations to the City Council and the Mayor on matters concerning the development of strategies, policies and operational procedures to achieve the city's goal to expand and improve recruitment, retention and contracting in all businesses and industries for minority business enterprises and emerging small businesses in the city. They also provide a report of the Board's advice and recommendations upon the request of either the City Council or the Mayor.

For the purposes of Section 2-761, the Board is classified as "advisory." The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer shall provide the necessary support for the Board. The Board shall meet no less than four times annually and shall keep minutes in accordance with the requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia, §2.2-3700 et seq.).

Our Current Advisory Board Members

Lester Johnson Jr., Chair   

Mama J Enterprises

President

Picture of Lester Johnson

Patricia Foster, Director

Office of Minority Business Development

Patricia Foster

Gale M. Jones, Secretary   

MBE/ESB Advisory Board

Office of Minority Business Development 

Gale Jones

Morris Cephas   

CEPHAS NeXt, Inc.

President/CEO

Picture of Morris Cephas

Shirley Crawford

Women's Business Center RVA

Executive Director

Shirley Crawford

Eddie L. Jackson, Jr.   

Blue Whale Commercial

Managing Director

Eddie Jackson

LeTeshia LeSane

Harlym Blue'Z Bar & Grill

Owner

Brittany Rawlinson

The Rawlinson Law Firm, PLLC

Attorney

Brittany Rawlinson

 

Grace Washington    

J&G Workforce Development, LLC

President

Grace Washington

 

Adrienne Whitaker, Member    

Virginia Housing

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Adrienne Whitaker