The Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council will host its 49th annual Business Opportunity Conference (BOC26) on Aug. 2-4, 2026, at The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport, bringing together small businesses, minority business owners, corporate partners, government agencies, community partners and industry leaders for three days of high-impact engagement, strategic networking, and future-focused business development. The BOC26 title sponsor is Allstate.

This year’s theme, Futurism, challenges attendees to look ahead and shape the next era of supplier development, innovation and economic opportunity. The conference is a three-day experience designed to connect business owners with major corporate partners, government agencies, and industry leaders who are ready to do business, emphasizing that BOC26 is where “the right people, the right conversations, and the right opportunities all come together.” BOC26 will feature a robust agenda including a VIP Welcome Reception, a Scholarship Swing Golf Tournament, corporate and small business workshops, a Freedom Park tour, the Business Connections Roundtable experience, a luncheon keynote, and the annual CVMSDC Awards Reception. Multi-day activations such as The Launch Point will offer ongoing engagement opportunities for attendees seeking hands-on support and curated business resources.

CVMSDC President & Chief Engagement Officer Dominique Simpson Milton said: “Futurism requires more than imagination—it requires alignment. As the business landscape and technology evolve with unprecedented speed, small businesses and corporate partners must move forward together with shared purpose. When our goals are connected, supplier development becomes a powerful engine for resilience, sustainability and long-term economic growth. BOC26 is where we prepare for what’s next—by building the relationships that will shape the future. This year’s Futurism theme builds on that vision, inviting participants to explore how innovation, technology, and strategic collaboration will shape the next 50 years of small business and minority business growth.”

Founded nearly five decades ago, CVMSDC continues its mission to enhance business opportunities for small business owners and certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) through its four pillars: advocacy, certification, connections and development. BOC26 serves as one of the Council’s signature platforms for advancing economic inclusion and strengthening the supplier ecosystem across the region. For more information or to register for BOC26, visit www.cvmsdc.org/boc26.

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