As the business landscape accelerates toward a future shaped by artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and rapidly shifting market demands, the CarolinasVirginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) is calling on small businesses and corporate partners to prepare for what comes next.

That call to action will take center stage August 2–4, 2026, when CVMSDC hosts its 49th annual Business Opportunity Conference (BOC26), sponsored by Allstate, at The Westin Raleigh Durham Airport. The threeday gathering is designed not only as a conference, but as a catalyst—an immersive experience where small businesses, minority business owners, corporate partners, government agencies, and community partners converge to build relationships, exchange ideas, and chart a shared path forward.

The theme, Futurism, challenges attendees to look beyond the present moment and imagine the next era of supplier development, innovation, and economic opportunity. The event is positioned as a threeday experience designed to connect business owners with major corporate partners, government agencies, and industry leaders who are ready to do business, emphasizing that it is where “the right people, the right conversations, and the right opportunities all come together.”

This year’s agenda reflects that ambition. From a VIP Welcome Reception and Scholarship Swing Golf Tournament to handson workshops, a Freedom Park tour, the Business Connections Roundtable, and the annual CVMSDC Awards Reception, BOC26 blends education, inspiration, and meaningful engagement. Multiday activations such as The Launch Point will offer curated resources and realtime support for business owners seeking to strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness.

CVMSDC President & Chief Engagement Officer Dominique Simpson Milton underscores the urgency of preparing for the future now. “Futurism requires more than imagination—it requires alignment. As the business landscape and technology evolve with unprecedented speed, small businesses and corporate partners must move forward together with shared purpose,” Milton said. “When our goals are connected, supplier development becomes a powerful engine for resilience, sustainability, and longterm economic growth. BOC26 is where we prepare for what’s next—by building the relationships that will shape the future of business.”

CVMSDC Board Chair Jonathan Wilkins, supplier diversity program executive at Presidio, said, “Small businesses bring agility, creativity, and thought leadership—qualities that corporations need now more than ever in this rapidly evolving business landscape. When CVMSDC corporate partners and SBEs align their goals, together, we’ll unlock a powerful system of shared success and prosperity. BOC26 is not just about preparing for the future, it’s about shaping it together.”

For nearly five decades, CVMSDC has championed economic inclusion through its four pillars: advocacy, certification, connections, and development. BOC26 continues that legacy, serving as one of the Council’s most impactful platforms for strengthening supplier development and expanding opportunities for small businesses and certified Minority Business Enterprises across the region.

The Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will host its annual Operation BigBookBag Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, August 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at SAFEchild, 2841 Kidd Road, Raleigh.

More than 300 backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed to area students on a first-come, first-served basis, helping families prepare for the upcoming school year. The drive-through community event is held in partnership with the Beta Lambda Sigma Charitable Foundation, SAFEchild, the National Black MBA Association, and the University of Phoenix Raleigh Alumni Chapter.