THRIVING Melanin Family Magazine September 2018 | Page 25

Don't profit
from the
BUSINESS GROWTH
IN BALTIMORE CITY
Article by Nate Bell
culture
Courtney Brown is a business
coach who is a Baltimore City
native. Her sense of
networking and making
connections stemmed from
an understanding of the
power of customer service
and professionalism, which
lead her to establish C. Brown
Enterprise; a company
devoted to being a business
resource for minority owned
businesses. On August 11th,
2018 Courtney launched the
Black Label Expo, the first in a
series of annual pop-up
networking events where
customers can shop and
support local minority-owned
businesses.
When asked where she got the
idea for the expo, Courtney
stated, “From my timeline. I am
inspired by every black-owned
business that exists to be
recognized and respected in
their field, and not as an
opportunist here for the "popular-
wave" of profiting from the 
o
p
x
E
el
b
a
L
Black
 culture. There is so much talent in
our communities that I want to
create a unique space that
showcases just that. This
experience is for all who want to
support small businesses and
network with some of the City's
finest.”
Courtney partnered with Raven
Paris, a radio personality and
entrepreneur, who is known in
Baltimore for using the radio
airwaves as her platform to connect
with local artists. The Black Label
Expo was a passion project for
them both because it aligns their
mission of giving back to their
people, and promotes business
growth in Baltimore. Courtney
explains, “You always hear the 
Founder and Creator of Black Label Expo,
Courtney Brown
negative things about Baltimore in
the news, but you never really hear
about the positives. We have a lot of
talent here, and I just want to
create a space that showcases that.
”The Black Label Expo aims to
connect business owners to
resources that will improve their
customer service and
professionalism skills. Year after
year it unites some of the finest
businesses and influencers in the
DMV for a one of a kind shopping
experience. All business owners
exhibiting at Black Label Expo
receive a complimentary PDF copy
of Courtney’s workbook Make
Customers BAE: The Action Plan.
 Courtney's workbook was created
to teach business owners about 
SEPTEMBER
2018 • THRIVE | 23