North Raleigh Today

The City's Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Program, in collaboration with the Wake County Public School System, is pleased to announce the commencement of registration for the 25th Annual Small Business Expo slated for June. The event promises a wealth of opportunities for participants to network with local and state procurement and primary contractors, gain insights into resources available to them, and enjoy an enlightening keynote address during lunch.

The objective of this expo is to provide small business owners, particularly those owned by minorities and women, with access to tangible resources that can aid their growth and development. The event will take place on Friday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the McKimmon Center located at 1101 Gorman St.

The schedule for the day includes a lunch session with a keynote speaker from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which requires prior registration. This will be followed by an Information Expo open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., where registration is not required; attendees are welcome to drop by for information.

This year's keynote speaker is James Montague, President of F7 International Development. Mr. Montague's entrepreneurial journey began in Southeast Raleigh when he started cutting hair in his mother's kitchen at the age of 14. By the time he was 19, he had opened his first salon and later expanded into real estate development, including establishing Statue Side Business Plaza at just 27 years old.

Mr. Montague has several completed residential and commercial projects under his belt including Elders Peak Apartments, a Senior Living Residential Facility in Raleigh, NC. He recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of his latest project, Montague Plaza, located just two blocks from where he grew up.

When asked about his company name - F7 International Development - Mr. Montague explains that the “F” stands for Faith In Action. He believes that faith is the driving force behind his problem-solving abilities and his commitment to helping others.