Step into an evening of elegance\, inspiration\, and community pride at the Minority Business Alliance&rsquo\;s 2025 gala. This year\, The Year of the Sunset celebrates a powerful transition&mdash\;honoring the leadership of Quinton Harrell\, Kaye Monroe\, and Alex Urpi as their sun sets on years of championing minority-owned businesses\, and a new generation of leaders rises on the horizon.
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\nMeet Our 2025 Honorees
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\nQuinton Harrell\, \;Founder\, Heritage United Builders
\nQuinton is a lifelong entrepreneur and advocate for Black wealth-building\, serving as founder of Heritage United Builders\, co-founder of New Hill Development Corporation\, and chair of the Chamber&rsquo\;s Minority Business Alliance. His latest venture is reviving Bone Doctors&rsquo\; Barbecue Sauces with fresh energy and purpose.
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\nKaye Monroe\, \;Founder\, KDM Coaching &\; Associates
\nKaye is the founder and principal consultant of KDM Coaching &\; Associates\, where she advises leaders and organizations on workforce development\, leadership capacity\, and authentic engagement. She also serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Chamber&rsquo\;s Minority Business Alliance and leads the Women&rsquo\;s Dream Builders academy for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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\nAlexander Urpí\;\, \;CEO\, Emergent Financial Services\n
\nAttire: \;All-black formal wear.
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\nRegistration for this event closes Wednesday\, October 1st at 11:59 PM.
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\nThank You to Our Sponsors
\nWe&rsquo\;re grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who make this event possible.
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\nInterested in Becoming a Sponsor? Reach out to Kimberly Sheffield at ksheffield@jeffersonschoolfoundation.com and Teira E. Farley at teira@cicville.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
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\nMeet Our 2025 Honorees
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\nQuinton Harrell\, \;Founder\, Heritage United Builders
\nQuinton is a lifelong entrepreneur and advocate for Black wealth-building\, serving as founder of Heritage United Builders\, co-founder of New Hill Development Corporation\, and chair of the Chamber&rsquo\;s Minority Business Alliance. His latest venture is reviving Bone Doctors&rsquo\; Barbecue Sauces with fresh energy and purpose.
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\nKaye Monroe\, \;Founder\, KDM Coaching &\; Associates
\nKaye is the founder and principal consultant of KDM Coaching &\; Associates\, where she advises leaders and organizations on workforce development\, leadership capacity\, and authentic engagement. She also serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Chamber&rsquo\;s Minority Business Alliance and leads the Women&rsquo\;s Dream Builders academy for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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\nAlexander Urpí\;\, \;CEO\, Emergent Financial Services\n
Alex is CEO of Emergent Financial Services and Vice-Chair of Finance for the Chamber&rsquo\;s Minority Business Alliance. An investment advisor dedicated to helping families and small businesses achieve their goals\, he also serves on several local boards and is passionate about building community through finance\, service\, and mentorship.
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\nMeet the 2025 J.F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award Winner
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\nMeet the 2025 J.F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award Winner
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\nThe Minority Business Alliance of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce \;is \;proud to announce Janasha &ldquo\;Jay&rdquo\; Bradford as the recipient of the 2025 J.F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award. An award-winning author\, licensed financial advisor\, and Financial Empowerment Manager at United Way\, Jay is also the founder of Mahogany and Friends: The Tiny Investor Club\, a financial literacy brand and ed-tech company that helps children and families build smart money habits. Through its nonprofit arm\, the Mahogany and Friends Foundation\, she expands this mission with free workshops\, school programs\, and family coaching in underserved communities.
\nMeet the Hosts\n
\nAttire: \;All-black formal wear.
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\nRegistration for this event closes Wednesday\, October 1st at 11:59 PM.
\n
\nThank You to Our Sponsors
\nWe&rsquo\;re grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who make this event possible.
\n
\n
\n
\nInterested in Becoming a Sponsor? Reach out to Kimberly Sheffield at ksheffield@jeffersonschoolfoundation.com and Teira E. Farley at teira@cicville.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.