PLANTATION — The power of partnerships and collaborations is the common thread of the fifth South Florida State of the Black Business Forum & Networking Reception this Friday, Aug. 22 at the Renaissance Hotel, 1230 S. Pine Island Rd., Plantation.

The forum will feature two panels of experts, who will share their insights and resources about the power of strategic partnerships and collaborations; mentor/protégé initiatives; growth industries including healthcare, technology, and tourism/hospitality; government contracting opportunities; and effective business growth strategies. The forum will be followed by a networking reception and exposition.

The forum usually falls in August, which is National Black Business Month, an annual initiative established to increase the number and scale of African/Caribbean/American owned businesses in the United States and globally. National Black Business Month was founded by Frederick E. Jordon and John William Templeton in 2004.

The Mosaic Group will present Lia T. Gaines, executive director of Center for Enterprise Opportunity (CEO) Inc., with its prestigious Vanguard Award for her leadership, dedication, and advocacy for minority-owned businesses in South Florida. Gaines has supported the forum since it began in 2010. The award was first conferred last year to Bill Diggs, who heads the Mourning Family Foundation.

“Thank you to the Mosaic Group in keeping the movement of founders, John Templeton and Frederick Jordan alive! The purpose of designating August as Black Business Month is to bring awareness to supporting Black businesses all year long,” Gaines said in a statement. “We can do this by creating a stimulus of spending our dollars with Black businesses, and in keeping the pressure on shaping and sustaining public policies to also spend public dollars with Black businesses.”

Gaines is known in Palm Beach County for her efforts to affect public policy as it relates to minority and women owned businesses.

The forum’s special guest speaker is Dave J. Miller Sr., president/CEO, of Atlanta, Ga.’s The Miller3 Group Inc. Miller has worked in community economic development, research, public policy, education and training, and logistics administration. He developed the disparity study methodology and is a leader in the industry.

F YOU GO

WHAT: 5th annual State of Black Business

WHEN: 1:30 -5 p.m. forum; 5- 7p.m. networking reception, Aug. 22

WHERE: Renaissance Hotel, 1230 S. Pine Island Rd., Plantation

COST: $20; $25 at the event

INFO: register at upscalebymosaic.com or call 561-290-6739; 561-531-4046