Latino Voices Rise at the 2025 Black and Brown Business Summit
By Lily Allen-Dueñas, JEFAS Magazine
The upcoming 2025 Black and Brown Business Summit in West Des Moines, an initiative of the West Des Moines Chamber, is set to be a dynamic event. Taking place April 16 and 17, this year’s summit offers Black and Latino entrepreneurs and leaders a platform to showcase their achievements, share insights, and expand their networks. As the summit approaches, anticipation builds.
How This Summit Is Different
This year’s summit has undergone some significant changes. It outgrew its previous venue and moved to the Sheraton in West Des Moines to accommodate more attendees. This change also allows for new culinary offerings. Instead of the usual pasta bars and salads from years past, the Chamber can now support local restaurants and entrepreneurs to cater the Summit, which is an much-anticipated bonus.
Adding to the excitement, the summit will feature a “Choose Your Own Adventure” day where shuttle buses will take attendees on tours of various local businesses to hear from their founders, including stops at Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce and Mainframe Studios. Everett Mullican, the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Chamber, who is also Latino, plays a pivotal role in the Summit. He shared his enthusiasm stating, “The Summit continuously strives to be innovative, inspiring, and impactful. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a business tour showcasing a variety of industries that contribute to the strength of our community.”
For those who choose not to take the shuttle, due to the limited space or personal preference, the West Des Moines Chamber will host activities and discussions at the Sheraton. The specifics of this surprise agenda will be announced closer to the event.
Latinas and Latino Leaders Take the Spotlight
This year’s summit spotlights the vital contributions of Latino and Latina entrepreneurs, ensuring their stories and businesses receive the recognition they deserve. The lineup includes speakers and moderators like Marcela Hermosillo-Tarin, Kely Nascimento, Blanca Plascencia, Carlos Rojas, Bobbi Segura, and Jose Venales, among others who bring a wealth of experience and insight from various industries.
Katherine Harrington, the CEO and President of the West Des Moines Chamber emphasized, “We are thrilled to showcase such a dynamic group of Latino leaders. Their participation is crucial as it reflects the vibrant and diverse spirit of our entrepreneurial community.” She further highlighted the chamber’s initiative to focus on and foster inclusivity. “Our goal is to create an environment where Latino entrepreneurs feel truly seen and supported, providing them with the platform they need to thrive.” These efforts mirror the summit’s overarching mission to not only celebrate diversity, but to actively incorporate it into the fabric of the event.
Building on the summit’s commitment to inclusivity, Harrington highlights the deliberate steps taken to ensure Latino entrepreneurs not only participate, but feel a sense of belonging. “We’re not just creating a space for business growth but ensuring that Latino entrepreneurs feel a sense of belonging and recognition within our community,” she says.
One such initiative is a collaboration with JEFAS Latinas in Business Magazine for a panel of Latina entrepreneurs who have been featured in the magazine. They will share tips for success and growth on Wednesday, April 16 at 11:30 AM at the Bella Love Event Venue as part of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” bus tour, where summit attendees will have lunch while listening to the panel. President and publisher of JEFAS and Hola America Media Group, Erika Macias, will be on the panel with Blanca Plasencia, Kathy Guillen, Miriam De Dios Woodward, and Fabi Plasencia. The panel will be moderated by another original JEFA, Claudia Schabel. This collaboration not only brings together some of the most influential female business owners to share their wisdom, but also comes with a special offer. Hola America Media Group and JEFAS Latinas in Business Magazine readers can use code JEFAS100 at registration to get $100 off the cost of the 2-day event.
Blanca Plascencia, owner of El Fogón Restaurants in West Des Moines and El Guacamole in Waukee, will participate in the Blanca Plascencia propietaria de los Restaurantes El Fogón en West Des Moines y El Guacamole en Waukee participaráen el panel de JEFAS.
The Pitch Competition
The pitch competition at the upcoming summit has created quite a buzz with a prize pool of $152,000. This drew applications from entrepreneurs across the country. This year, the summit committee reviewed an overwhelming number of submissions.
Among the hopefuls was Ana K. Maceda, owner of Crown Cleaning in Des Moines, who, despite not being selected as a finalist, demonstrated courage and ambition by applying. Maceda shared her motivation, “I realized the only thing I had to lose was fear. And losing that isn’t really losing anything. By letting go of fear, I’m winning!” Her participation underlines the importance of representation and seizing opportunities for growth and visibility. “It’s time to put ourselves on the map, to step out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight,” she added, encouraging more Latino and Latina entrepreneurs to step forward.
A Call to Action for Latino Entrepreneurs and Allies
As the summit approaches, the call for Latino entrepreneurs to participate and for the community to support them is loud and clear. This is not just a business conference. It is a celebration of diversity. Whether you are a seasoned business owner or a newly minted entrepreneur, the Black and Brown Business Summit offers invaluable resources, networking opportunities, and a chance to see firsthand the impact of Latino leadership in business. Don’t miss out – You are needed in the room!
