Generational Wealth Business Summit Returns to Inspire Baltimore’s Entrepreneurs

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the Financial Empowerment Movement will host the Generational Wealth Business Summit, a transformative gathering designed to equip entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders, and aspiring business owners with practical strategies to build and sustain wealth. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

This year’s featured theme, “How to Buy an Existing Business or Franchise,” provides attendees with insider knowledge on business acquisitions, franchise ownership, funding opportunities, and deal-making strategies. Participants will leave with actionable tools to start or expand their business journeys while connecting with lenders, brokers, and service providers.

“What I’m hoping people will get out of the summit is resources on how to build and grow their businesses and consider how they can buy businesses that are already thriving and to build businesses that are legacy building that can sustain through generations of families and create true wealth,” said Sharif Small, organizer of the summit. “What I’m also hoping for is for people to network and connect with one another.”

Honoring Trailblazers in Wealth-Building

The day opens with registration, networking, and exhibitor resource tables at 9:30 a.m., followed by an Open Reception and 2025 Trailblazer Tribute at 10:30 a.m. This tribute will highlight two iconic figures whose lives shaped Black entrepreneurship and wealth-building:

• Dorothy E. Brunson – A visionary in American broadcasting, Brunson became the first African-American woman to buy and operate both a radio station and a television station, breaking barriers in media ownership.
• Reginald F. Lewis – A Baltimore native who made history in 1987 as the first Black person to build a billion-dollar company. His acquisition of Beatrice International Foods transformed TLC Beatrice into the largest Black-owned business in the U.S., with operations across 31 countries and revenues surpassing $1.8 billion.

Panel: Business Acquisition and Franchising

From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the centerpiece of the summit will feature a dynamic panel of entrepreneurs and experts who will share insights on acquiring businesses, entering the franchise market, and planning for legacy wealth.

The discussion will be co-moderated by Shavon J. Smith, Esq., a business attorney, fractional general counsel, strategist, and author based in the Washington DC–Baltimore region.

Panelists include:

• Richard and Denise Snow, MBA – Franchisees of Brooklyn Robot Foundry, leaders in the International Franchise Association, and hosts of the Smart Start Now podcast.
• Tisha (Grannum) Skinner, MBA – Multi-franchise owner specializing in airport concessions; certified DBE, MBE, SBE, and ACDBE.
• David Smith – Director of Diversity Programs, International Franchise Association; connector and community engagement leader.
• Norland and Amina James – Hotel owners and founders of Duke Ventures LLC; educators and workplace performance experts.

A Pathway to Generational Wealth

The summit emphasizes not only entrepreneurship but also economic empowerment. Sessions will highlight strategies to:

• Empower underserved, unemployed, and low-income communities.
• Promote family business succession and legacy wealth planning.
• Create pathways to real estate and business ownership that reduce poverty and reinvest in communities.

The event concludes with additional networking and exhibitor engagement from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
• Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
• Cost: Free (RSVP required)

Registration: Eventbrite RSVP Link