Reasoning that galas can provide attention, recognition and networking, Rodney founded the Black Business Gala three years ago as \u201can awards ceremony to celebrate and commemorate Black entrepreneurship in the tri-state area.\u201d<\/p>\n
She will host the third Black Business Gala \u2014 for the first time in Queens \u2014 on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, with a cocktail hour from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Terrace on the Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n She anticipates around 175 attendees at the event in a ballroom with an open bar, catered dinner, awards and live music.\n<\/p>\n \u201cYou get an opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs being honored and other entrepreneurs there,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cBlack business galas may honor bigger entrepreneurs. A lot of them don\u2019t focus on smaller companies or local entrepreneurs that I focus on.\u201d<\/p>\n She said various people submit nominations and she selects the winners, which include five this year.\n<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of entrepreneurs seem to have started in Queens,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cIt\u2019s somewhere we wanted to feature this year.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The envelope, please<\/p>\n Rodney added that they are recognizing seven honorees selected \u201cbecause there is a specific story and body of work.\u201d This year\u2019s winners include Janet Brown, an attorney, educator and community advocate based in Jamaica<\/a>. She specializes in family law, matrimonial law, guardianship, legal education and community advocacy.<\/p>\n Dr. Odetta Keane, a mental health professional, therapist and educator in Brooklyn, is founder and clinical director of Stay Keane<\/a> and vice president of mental health at Children of Promise<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a girl who grew up in Bed-Stuy,\u201d Keane said, \u201cand decided to tell the world to stop telling me who I am.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Miguerlande \u201cMimi\u201d Cayo Maitre is the owner and founder of the Nubian Hair Salon and Spa<\/a> in Elmont. She specializes in cosmetology for hair and natural hair care.<\/p>\n Ben Johnson, owner of Harlem-based Johnson Consulting Partners, is also known for the Ben\u2019s Crab brand. He founded Healthy Home Diagnostics LLC and the youth mentorship program FATTS.\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a serial entrepreneur,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cAnd he does mentorship for youth.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Wendy Straker, a floral designer in Brooklyn who literally makes the world a more beautiful place, founded My Lovely Stems<\/a> and Bloom Room Easton<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cShe also is a serial entrepreneur,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cShe has an event space in Philadelphia as well. She does a lot of community events and teaches the community how to do floral design.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Nitiya Walker is the founder of Seeds of Fortune<\/a>, empowering students through college access, scholarships, financial literacy and career development.\n<\/p>\n Syntyche \u201cSyn\u201d Clarke is the COO of Irie Jam Radio<\/a>, as well as a broadcaster, wardrobe consultant and community leader championing Caribbean culture, youth empowerment and community development.<\/p>\n Entrepreneurial evening<\/p>\n Rodney said the goal is \u201cbringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals, community advocates and other stakeholders for an evening celebrating Black business achievement,\u201d as well as networking.<\/p>\n \u201cI created the Black Business Gala to provide greater recognition and visibility to Black entrepreneurs,\u201d Rodney said, believing it can also create \u201copportunities for business owners to build meaningful relationships with other entrepreneurs, organizations, community leaders and professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n Through her consulting agency, Rodney works with minority- and women-owned businesses on\u00a0M\/WBE<\/a> certification, access to capital, government-contracting readiness, business development and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gala has become an extension of that work, by creating a platform to recognize entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs and contributing to New York City\u2019s communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Rodney said she also created the Black Business Gala \u201cto celebrate Black entrepreneurship while providing a space where business owners, professionals, community leaders and supporters can build meaningful relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n She said relationships are important and this event brings people together in one room who can benefit each other, including by providing business.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI look at what they do with the community, their message of business owners, everything they do,\u201d Rodney said of winners.\n<\/p>\n Business bio<\/p>\n Rodney grew up in South Ozone Park<\/a>, part of a thriving Caribbean community.\n<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents are Jamaican,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m of Jamaican descent. They came to America in the 70s. They\u2019ve been here ever since.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Her father, a professor of technology at the City College of New York<\/a>, and City Tech\u2019s<\/a> network administrator, passed away about a year ago. Her mother was a registered nurse in hospitals and then a school nurse<\/p>\n Rodney worked at the Queens Public Library<\/a>, then in the automotive industry, as business director for a dealership with brands including Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.<\/p>\n She then launched her own business and now has one foot in consulting and one in transportation. In addition to her consulting agency, she co-founded Queens-based Run Road Trucking, giving her experience as an entrepreneur.<\/p>\n \u201cEntrepreneurs need more than motivation,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cThey need access, strong relationships, information and opportunities.\u201d\n<\/p>\n She works to strengthen clients\u2019 business infrastructure, pursue certifications, prepare for funding and contracts and grow. \u201cThe Gala gives us another way to support entrepreneurship,\u201d Rodney said.<\/p>\n Previous winners include Erica Ford, who runs Life Camp<\/a>, a gun violence awareness nonprofit started after her son\u2019s death over a decade ago in Jamaica, Queens, as well as Rockville Centre-based New Hope Mental Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image0-20.jpeg\")
<\/a>Black Busness Gala Founder Richalin Rodney. Photo courtesy of Richalin Rodney<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/17A2986-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo courtesy of Richalin Rodney\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/277SN209088.jpg\")
<\/a>Erica Ford. Photo courtesy of Richalin Rodney<\/p>\n