Influential African American professionals and entrepreneurs from around the world will gather with emerging leaders for the ICABA Global Hall of Fame Weekend at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, from Sept. 26-29. The event promotes economic development, diversity, and tourism.
“The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to be the host sponsor of the ICABA Global Hall of Fame Weekend and to welcome all attendees and 2019 inductees to our destination,” said Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Diversity and inclusion in the tourism and hospitality industry is more important than ever, and we are excited to be part of this signature event.”
The four-day event at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hotel offers an innovative lineup of sessions including global career, business, and health summits and master classes with business influencers, as well as special programs, all spotlighting economic empowerment, ways to build relationships and wealth, and strategies for leadership in a culturally-diverse society.
“These types of programs are important for developing pathways to success, and it speaks volumes having people of this professional scale present programs that address diversity and inclusion,” said Albert Tucker, Vice President for Multicultural Business Development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We have the top people coming here, a top message promoting tourism aligned with economic initiatives, and a top destination.”
In addition to providing opportunities for business connections, the event will also have an impact on tourism, explained Jerome Hutchinson, Jr., CEO of ICABA (International Career and Business Alliance), presenter of the ICABA Global Hall of Fame Weekend. “Attendees will have access to the world’s most accomplished and influential professionals in the private and public sectors. Attendees and leaders will also enjoy the cosmopolitan Greater Fort Lauderdale area with beautiful beaches and a great variety of attractions, restaurants and experiences.”
One highlight will be the Diversity and Inclusion Conference and Awards Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with keynote speakers Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest HR professional society, and Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest travel leisure company.
Taylor is a Fort Lauderdale native, and SHRM is sponsoring the diversity conference day. Carnival Corporation is a South Florida-based company that, under Arnold’s helm, was included in the first-ever NAACP Equity Inclusion and Empowerment Index which assesses U.S. companies on their commitment to racial and ethnic equity.
The ICABA Hall of Fame black-tie ceremony on Sept. 28 will honor 12 high-profile inductees for their groundbreaking contributions in business, media, health, law, and social justice. Inductees include Dr. Dennis Kimbro, one of the world’s foremost thought leaders on black sources of wealth; Yvette Miley, senior vice president and executive editor of MSNBC News and NBC News; and Andrew Young, Jr., former United Nations Ambassador and former mayor of Atlanta.
For more information and online registration, visit icabahalloffame.com.
