Jacksonville, FL — GWP Chairman and CEO Melvin Clark helped kick off the Florida Black Business Opportunity Summit as featured Guest Speaker at the opening breakfast for the 15^th Annual Black Business Expo at the Jacksonville University Club.

Mr. Clark was introduced by good friend Nathanial Ford, Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA).  Before an audience of invitation-only Black business leaders, public and elected officials and community activists, Mr. Clark addressed the theme of the 2016 conference:  Educate – Enlighten – Inspire.

Mr. Clark focused on the inspiring figures in his own life including his father Melvin E. Clark, Sr., a Western Pennsylvania COGIC Bishop and his grandfather, Carl Clark, Sr., a founding member of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and civil rights activist.

In addition, Mr. Clark shared his own inspirational journey from the founding and growth of Metroplex Corporation in the earlier 1980s to the acquisition and success of G. W. Peoples Contracting in the 2000s.  Mr. Clark urged his audience to be vigilant, to be prepared and to be persistent.  He also called on everyone, particularly the young people in the audience, to become engaged and exert the necessary influence to affect change, both in the community and in the political arena.

In that context, Mr. Clark added that in by being educated, by becoming enlightened and by being inspired and inspiring others, a fourth component can be added:  Empowerment.

The conclusion of Mr. Clark’s remarks was met with standing ovation and marked an exciting beginning to a weekend that included the Black Expo, a Taste of Jacksonville and the Black Pages’ Top 20 under 40 Awards.