About WNCMBA

Rika Harrison, Founder and Board Member of the Western North Carolina Minority Business Association, has more than 20 years of experience working in the private sector. Her entrepreneurial journey and passions have been developed and sustained by utilizing her management consultation, team building, and people-centered leadership knowledge and skills, and continues to drive the growth of her successful business ventures.

Being a homeschooling mom for the past 16 years has further fueled Rika’s desire to be an entrepreneur, as it provided flexibility, industry analysis, and time for strategic planning. The mission and goals of the WNC Minority Business Association is closely aligned with Harrison’s beliefs and passion.

Under her guidance, the WNC Minority Business Association (WNCMBA) is entering its 2nd year of providing services to the residents of Western North Carolina and neighboring regions. The Association is committed to inspiring and motivating the next generation of entrepreneurs, continuing to lead and support the efforts of local and regional black businesses in the region. All organizations affiliated with the WNCMBA take pride in the Association’s early milestone. This year, WNCMBA plans to host its first regional Black Business Expo, April 8th – 10th, 2022, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville, NC. The event’s theme will be “Inspiring and Motivating the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs.” The three-day event will include a professional business networking social event, a day-long vendor trade show, and multiple educational workshops led by prominent business leaders. To enable the success of the Expo, WNCMBA is seeking support via sponsorship or donation. Different sponsorship levels are outlined in the Sponsorship form on this website.

The WNCMBA is offering all minority-owned businesses a platform to promote their business products and services. The Expo will afford an opportunity to gain knowledge, to network, and learn how to be a more effective business owner and marketer from some of the most highly respected and well-known business experts in the United States. Please review the Vendor Application form to have your business products and services featured in our Expo. The WNCMBA is committed to our mission of continuously advocating and promoting the development, growth, and expansion of minority-owned businesses in Western North Carolina. To this end, we are asking for and need your support in the form of sponsorship, donations, vendor participation, promotion of and attending the expo. It is important that we hear your insights, ideas, and suggestions for our upcoming expo and future events. Our greatest desire is to serve the minority-owned businesses in WNC, in ways that are tangible and quantitative.