What a year has 2023 been!
Over the last 12 months, we had the pleasure of working with local and national businesses and organizations through an array of services. From event production to nonprofit management and community engagement, we spent all of last year doing what we love and making an impact at the same time. Here are some of the highlights of our 2023:
Event Production
One of our most prominent services is event production. We have been able to provide memorable, transformative on-site experiences for over 15 years and 2023 is no different. In 2023, we helped produce all types of events from conferences to a wine festival, and community events. Please read below to see what we were able to create.
Corridors Connect
As the Event Production Partner and Project Manager for Corridors Connect, the EBS team was present at each location to help ensure everything ran smoothly and everyone had a great time.
It was a pleasure to partner with the City of Charlotte and Open Streets 704 to temporarily close city-owned streets within the Six Corridors of Opportunity in Charlotte and provide opportunities for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing with neighbors. We hope to do it again in 2024!
Assa Abloy – 2023 America’s Conference:
We had the pleasure of serving as Assa Abloy’s Direct Management Partner for their 2023 Americas Conference. During their multi-day stay in Charlotte, the EBS team facilitated a trip to Truist Field, team-building activities, catered meals, a brand photographer and so much more. We had a wonderful time working with Assa Abloy and look forward to doing it again in the future.
Inaugural Uncorked Experience Wine Festival
During the fall, the EBS team supported the inaugural Uncorked Experience Wine Fest Inaugural as their Event Production Partner. We had the pleasure of assisting the festival’s founder, Yolanda Holliday in making her vision of bringing Black winemakers and businesses to the forefront, a reality. The festival consisted of multiple events over three days including a Sneaker Gala at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, a wine business panel discussion, the Saturday festival, and more.
It was awesome to be part of such a meaningful event filled with great vendors, amazing music, high energy, and delicious wine.
Nonprofit Management
In our experience, a nonprofit needs not only the passion, but critical strategic planning to accomplish their goals and make the difference in society they intend. We are always more than happy to assist nonprofits in making their organizations grow and experience even more success! Here’s how we helped nonprofits last year.
The InvestHERS Summit
We had the pleasure of working with EmpowHERment in their efforts to uplift young girls through education, personal development, and mentorship. Specifically, the EBS team helped lead their InvestHers Summit, alongside a partner organization, where both organizations generously provided school supplies for 150 girls from Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools, including bags filled with materials and words of affirmation.
We are so proud of the work EmpowHERment is doing and look forward to continuing our partnership with them.
Community Engagement
Community engagement inspires getting behind a movement, standing for something, and building momentum. It creates a channel to educate, create awareness, and ensure people feel like they are part of a collective, and not standing alone on a deserted island.
Through virtual and in-person events, as well as other types of programming, we at Exceptional Business Solutions will work directly with you to identify your audience, collaborators, and vendors needed to create unforgettable moments in your community.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program
The EBS team believes in investing in business development. That’s why spent the majority of 2023 as a community partner with LISC Charlotte and Verizon to help provide business owners with access to the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. This virtual community offered business owners FREE access to coaching, courses, and other tools designed to help grow their businesses. It was an important and impactful partnership that we hope to be part of in the years to come.
Beyond Open
To assist minority-owned, small businesses located in the Six Corridors of Opportunity in Charlotte, we partnered with the Foundation For The Carolinas to promote the Beyond Open Grant.
This grant program was designed to build economic mobility by providing access to capital for diverse small business owners, without adding debt.
Throughout the summer, our Beyond Open Street Team hosted Beyond Open Information Huddles and canvassed the streets of the eligible neighborhoods to answer any questions and provide small business owners with the information needed to put their best application forward. 116 small businesses were selected to receive grants totaling $4.8 million during this year’s program. We can’t wait to help more small businesses next year!
Looking Ahead
We are so grateful to our clients for choosing us to be part of their 2023 team. It was a pleasure serving in various capacities and seeing local and national communities change for the better.
We may only be one month in, but we have a strong feeling that 2024 is going to be just as great!