Page 16 - CBOF55 Resource Guide

The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council's (ChicagoMSDC) signature event
is the Chicago Business Opportunity Fair, (CBOF), the nation's longest running trade
fair dedicated to economic growth and empowerment of minority-owned businesses
(MBEs).

Chicago and the nation will celebrate ChicagoMSDC's fifty-five years of growth and
development of minority-owned businesses when ChicagoMSDC convenes its 55th
Annual Chicago Business Opportunity Fair, CBOF55, on May 10, 2022, at the Hyatt
Regency Chicago.

In the 1960s, a chain of events erupted into civil and economic mayhem that shook
Chicago at its very core. Rising above the turmoil, a group of corporate and
community leaders were determined to cast a spotlight of hope on seemingly
hopeless situation.

Chicago Business Opportunity Fair (formerly Small Business Opportunity Day), was
established in the late 1970s, with 19 major Chicago-area corporations that became
the founders of what is now the Chicago Business Opportunity Fair and its sponsoring
organization - ChicagoMSDC. ChicagoMSDC is an affiliate of the National Minority
Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporate
membership organization that advocates and develops business opportunities for
Asian-, Black-, Hispanic- and Native-American business enterprises.

CBOF was seen as a game-changer. It became the premier event of the newly formed
Chicago Regional Purchasing Council (CRPC). CRPC's mission was to continue the
task of creating economic opportunities for MBEs.

CRPC's reputation of integrity and due diligence in the certification process became
an invaluable partner to majority buyers who sought to do business with qualified and
bona-fide MBE companies. Although this effort started in Chicago, this was also an
issue that was national in scope.

Not stopping at the creation of CBOF and CRPC, Robert Stuart of National Can,
recognized that a national organization was needed to coordinate, nurture and

maximize the momentum of this minority business development explosion.

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