As the U.S. economy founders, black business owners must be creative and work cooperatively. That was the message from a panel of local business leaders who spoke at a recent breakfast forum about the state of black business in Charlotte.

Nearly all agreed that the economic downturn has taken a toll on black-owned companies.

Tanya Dial-Bethune, vice president and city executive at Mechanics and Farmers Bank, said she sees it daily as struggling companies seek credit. She said some black businesses might be better served working in partnership rather than trying to stand alone.

Debbie Kwei-Cook, vice president and general manager at Radio One (Q92.7 & Praise 100.9), said the economic downturn means major advertisers are cutting back. To compensate, she said, her company is creating packages to attract small local advertiser who otherwise could not afford it.

Competition for radio ads has become fierce in Charlotte, she said. The $100 million market has not grown substantially in the 20 years since she arrived here, she said. But now, instead of two black-oriented stations competing, the Charlotte market has grown to five or six such stations, all vying to divide the same pie.

“We have to figure out a way to help one another,” she said of black businesses in general.

The panelists said black business had been hurt, in part, because local and state laws that once required minority participation in public projects have been abolished.

Governments and mainstream contractors now “can kind of do business with who they want to do business with,” said N.C. State Sen. Malcolm Graham.

Graham, who represents the 40th District, said small business owners can do much to help themselves by simply making good business decisions, such as keeping debt levels low and protecting their credit ratings. He also advised business owners to re-evaluate all aspects of their spending.

“At the end of the day it’s about relationships,” said Robyn Hamilton, president and CEO of the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council. “We have to be deliberate about networking with one another and partnering with one another.”

 Gerry McCants, president of McCants Communication Group in Greensboro, who organized the event, said that even during hard economic times black businesses must think big.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” he told the roughly 75 people in attendance. “I don’t want us to feel that the state of black business is weak.”

McCants said he hopes to increase the frequency of such forums to foster greater dialog among black business owners.

Also at the event:

• Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt was given the Business Pioneer Award. Gantt is co-founder of Gantt Huberman Architects, which has won numerous local, regional and national design awards.
  
• The Charlotte Bobcats was named Corporate Business of the Year. Majority owner Bob Johnson made history in 2003 when he became the first African American to own a major professional sports franchise. Ed Lewis, the team’s vice president for government relations, accepted the award for Johnson, who was not in attendance.
  
• The Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to Mecklenburg County Commissioner Valerie Woodard, who died Oct. 3.
  
• Mike Minter, a former safety for the Carolina Panthers, was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Minter’s newest projects include a publishing company and Minter Consulting. He also is co-founder of Ruckus House Learning Center.
  
• P.J.J.D. Enterprises, which owns quick-service restaurants in the Charlotte, Philadelphia and Jacksonville airports, was named Small Business of the Year. Owner P.J. Benton has been a staple in the food service industry for more than 24 years.

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