FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

August 27, 2026

Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone and Michael Julian Bond to Honor Black Male Entrepreneurs During Black Business Month

WHO: District 10 Councilmember Andrea L. Boone

Post 1 At-Large Councilmember Michael Julian Bond                       

WHAT: BEW-ATL Cornerstone Awards honoring Black male entrepreneurs in Atlanta            

WHEN: Friday, Aug.  28, 11 a.m.     

WHERE: Martin S. Arrington, Sr. Council Chamber, City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. SW     

BACKGROUND: In recognition of National Black Business Month, Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone and Michael Julian Bond will join Black Entrepreneurs Weekend Atlanta (BEW-ATL) in honoring Black men in Atlanta who are excelling in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community impact. Councilmember Boone also recognized Black female entrepreneurs during Women’s History Month in March.

The honorees represent a broad cross-section of Atlanta’s leadership and entrepreneurial community, including entrepreneurs, community leaders, corporate partners, creators, and ecosystem builders. The celebration also marks the launch of BEW-ATL during Black Business Month and recognizes the individuals helping strengthen Atlanta’s business community and create opportunities for the next generation. 

BEW-ATL is focused on connecting Houston and Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystems, creating new capital connections, strengthening relationships with local leaders and institutions, and introducing Atlanta to Equiliberty and its work to help entrepreneurs and families move from financial health to wealth and ownership.

As part of the celebration, the BEW-ATL Cornerstone Awards will recognize individuals who have helped build the foundation upon which Atlanta’s next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators can continue to grow and succeed.

Councilmembers Boone and Bond will recognize the following BEW-ATL Cornerstone Awards honorees:

• Darrell Anderson — President & CEO, A-National Limousine Service, Inc.
• Matthew Adebowale (“CEO MattyJ”) — Mr. Document the Process
• Hank Stewart — Emmy Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author & Poet
• James M. “Jay” Bailey — President and CEO, H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
• Christopher Berry — Restaurateur
• Keith Dorsey — Younggunsceo
• Rick George — Brand Architect & Founder
• Virgil Harper — Chef & Owner
• Dr. Archie L. Jones, Jr. — Impact & Search Fund Investor, Advisor, and Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit at Harvard Business School
• Travis Jones — CEO & Owner, Jones & Jones Hospitality
• Cam Kirk — Founder & CEO, Cam Kirk Studios
• Marc Parham — Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta
• Khiry Peterson — Luxury Sales Broker
• Troy A. Phelps — Founder & CEO, Taphelps Brands
• Dae’Shawn “Dae Day” Shelton — Entrepreneur & Entertainment Executive
• Alfred Simmons, Jr. — T&J Industries Development & Contracting, Inc.
• C.J. Stewart — Co-Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
• Ryan Wilson — CEO & Co-Founder, The Gathering Spot

About Atlanta City Council

The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the City. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and has the final say on many land-use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the council’s consideration.

The Council is composed of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives include: Council President: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Kelsea Bond; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Thomas Worthy; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Wayne Martin; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Eshé Collins 

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contacts: 

Ed Hula
ehula@atlantaga.gov
678-260-1680 

William Doughty
wdoughty@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6056 

Tiffanie Kelly
trkelly@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6014