Melinda Calais Sylvester, Founder, President & CEO, Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce

In an interview with Focus:, Melinda Sylvester, founder, president and CEO of the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, discussed community-building, access to capital, workforce development, and global partnerships. “We call ourselves bridge builders — we’re bridging resources to our members and communities,” she said.

What are some of the chamber’s most impactful community-building efforts in the past year?

We collaborated and published a book, The Just Man – Raised by the Drumbeats, sharing our story of trials and triumphs as we built GGBCC. A great story on workforce development and great work ethics. This book is a platform to let others know you may fall like the just man seven times, but you will be raised up again.

GGBCC was honored as the National Black Chamber of the Year for 2025, for its “Bridge Builder” initiatives and Faith & Soul News Magazine, under the umbrella of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. We’ve been honored to serve as bridge builders through our chamber.

GGBCC was one of the welcome hosts of the Quasquicentennial 125th National Business League “Sold Out” Conference in Atlanta. Hosted by the National Business League, co-founded by the National Black Chamber of Commerce and the World Conference of Mayors.

In recent years, we hosted the Denver Chamber of Commerce at the High Museum in Atlanta. They leaned on GGBCC’s “Bridge Builders” experience.

GGBCC was launched in Fayetteville. One of our most meaningful efforts occurred in Fayette County, where we helped unite a community that had long coexisted but lacked true connection.

Today, if you visit Fayetteville, you’ll see the transformation, from a thriving movie studio and the Trilith community to more Black-owned businesses throughout the county. Yes, there are still opportunities for “Bridge Building,” so we encourage you to do your part.

Fayetteville has notable residents like Rick Ross. The late Louis Gossett Jr. also once called it home, and we’ve engaged with many other influential figures: Dan Cathy, Dottie Peoples, Michael Stampley, Shelly “Butch” Anthony, III, Speech with Arrested Development, and so many others call or called Fayette County home.

Though groundwork was already in place, we simply helped build on it. What stood out most was hosting diverse events and bringing together diverse groups of residents who began to recognize their shared priorities: safer neighborhoods, better schools, and economic opportunity.

We attended meetings, advocated, attended breakfasts at the Studio Café, assisted with community communications and engagements, and built amazing relationships.

What recent partnerships or business success stories highlight the chamber’s impact across Georgia?

GGBCC takes pride and is very humbled and honored to share our success story as “Bridge Builders/mentors,” from the words of Jalen Uboh, Chairman & CEO of J.S. Uboh Global Enterprises.

Bridge Builders are essential. They are the connectors who courageously span economic, cultural, racial and generational divides to create shared opportunities and mutual understanding. In a world often divided by difference, Bridge Builders unify through vision, dialogue, and action.

Early in my journey as a young entrepreneur, a Bridge Builder saw potential in me and opened a door I didn’t know existed — connecting me to my first government contracting opportunity. That relationship became a catalyst for a $250 million enterprise.

Without that bridge, my impact would have stayed local. With it, I’ve been able to serve nationally and globally.

Your leadership at the chamber has modeled the art of connection. Through your commitment to Building Bridges, community, programs, and business development, you helped. Meeting with the governor during COVID was a pivotal moment for us to advocate on behalf of Black-owned businesses.

We shared both our successes and the challenges many of our members continue to face. GGBCC, thank you for being a Bridge Builder for so many — including me. Your work continues to echo through every life you’ve uplifted. I’m grateful to walk this journey as one of your mentees and now, a fellow Bridge Builder.

We also partnered with Shelly “Butch” Anthony III, our first board chair, who had a bold vision for his brand, This Is It! Southern Kitchen & BBQ. He didn’t just want to expand locally, he aimed to build something on par with national franchises. With our support, his restaurants are now growing beyond metro Atlanta into places like LaGrange. That kind of expansion means more jobs and greater economic impact, which is a truly meaningful outcome.

What challenges are Black businesses still facing?
In real time, I want to acknowledge that many businesses, not just Black-owned businesses, are struggling: many layoffs, closures, downsizing, etc. GGBCC feels for them as well. But to answer the question for Black businesses: Access to capital and access to contracts remains a major struggle.

During the pandemic, many Black-owned businesses closed, and many are still trying to reopen or just stay afloat. Also, workforce development, recruiting and sustaining talent, and tech access are other critical areas, as well as bridging the gap and not falling behind in the digital space, and that’s the future. Seeking more access to digital tools and training on how to brand and market effectively online.

AI is here to stay, so we need to better understand our customers and reach new ones through technology. And address the generation gap in technology. The younger and seasoned generations will be able to better communicate and engage with each other.

The Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce is addressing this holistically. We look at Black-owned businesses and ask: How do we elevate, sustain and expand them? Sustainability is key and then expansion, where they can hire more employees.

That’s why we call ourselves bridge builders, we’re bridging resources to our members and communities.

We’re also working to launch a mobile tech bus that can travel across Georgia, especially to rural areas, providing digital access to our members and communities. The GGBCC mobile tech bus will bring Atlanta’s resources to other areas of Georgia and other areas of Georgia to Atlanta. 

GGBCC is currently upgrading its website to a more robust structure with better tools and resources. The GGBCC virtual tech bus is also underway. We are virtually offering more technology training, education, and resources.

I went to work for a major media company to learn digital marketing and technology firsthand. And what great resources we will be able to provide our collaborative partners. This will give them a competitive edge to reach more customers and share their stories with a larger audience.

How is the chamber working to improve financial access and banking relationships for its members?
People may say the pandemic was five years ago, but for some of them, they are trying to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. What we found during that time was that many of our businesses didn’t have relationships with banks. When emergency funding became available, banks prioritized clients they already knew, those with established financial records and personal relationships. Most businesses that reached out to us had few employees or were solo entrepreneurs.

So now, we’re building those relationships for our members. We have banking partners we can call, and we set up our businesses with real contacts they can reach out to directly. Our financial partners did go beyond assisting. Even if they couldn’t help directly, they always knew who could, and that has made a tremendous difference, with many businesses getting helped.

Now, we have to take it to the next level of relationships. It is not a one-size-fits-all.

We are working to expand our database and strengthen our relationships in the banking sector. That’s essential for long-term financial access and growth. 

How is the chamber advocating for Black, minority, and small businesses at the state and national levels, especially during these uncertain times?

I have hope. We are a people of hope, and we’re spreading that hope to Black, minority, and small businesses at the state and national levels. Like The Just Man Book: We are focusing on being “Raised By The Drumbeats!” and the soon-to-be-published book Bridge Builders.

We’re actively advocating, especially with everything happening legislatively at the state and national level. Recently, we shared “It’s Your Business To Vote! Getting businesses to vote, encouraging their employees, family, church members, customers and vendors to vote in elections — local, state and national! Business owners are trusted sources, they have the power to get more people to vote! We encourage business owners to run for office as well.

We’re on the ground at the Capitol, staying informed on what’s coming down the pipeline. We have friends who share their lobbyist information, we are a federation of the Georgia Chamber and collaborate with the Metro Atlanta Chamber. They have great resources, we are thankful for them and other chamber relationships.

Collaboration is important, no chamber should operate as an island.

The GGBCC meeting with the governor gave us insight into how the state process works.

Our advocacy spans state, local, national, and global levels. We’re part of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, which gives us a broader platform. Our relationship with NBCC spans over 20 years, from Louisiana to Georgia.

We will host a 30-minute “Bridge Builders: Win It or Winged It Wednesday!” virtual and in-person roundtable, starting at 8 a.m. It’s a space where business owners across Georgia and globally can learn about legislative issues, connect with the chamber, special guests, tell their stories, network, and share their business needs — most importantly, “Build Bridges.” Attendance will win wings at a favorite wing restaurant location in Atlanta or Georgia.

What workforce development initiatives is the chamber focused on?
We’re actively rolling out our workable workforce development series. Our focus is on preparing job seekers in Atlanta and across Georgia, whether it’s through interview coaching, professional attire support, or direct connections to employers.

Workforce is a core passion for us. As bridge builders, we aim to close gaps and help people access jobs with livable wages.

I returned to corporate America after more than 30 years away, just to learn so I could better teach. The second-largest media company in the United States gave me that opportunity. I’ve learned a lot, starting with CVs online, interviewing and especially with digital.

As a leader, it was important to humble myself and adapt — you can’t teach what you don’t know, or lead people somewhere you’ve never been, and I couldn’t rely on 30-year-old knowledge.

What role does the chamber play in fostering international business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and small businesses?
We’re actively building global partnerships. Right now, we’re working with Kenya and other countries, as well as opportunities with J.S. Uboh Global Enterprises.

Our family foundation is bridge building, thankful for my mom Theresa and dad Walter Calais, who set the example as Bridge Builders.

That passion came from my husband, Clarence Sylvester, who worked as a Senior Toolpusher across Africa in the oil industry and shared stories that inspired this vision and opportunity. Clarence also worked in Brazil, South Korea, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Mexico.

Our reach extends further: our daughter Clara teaches English in Vietnam, and our son Julius is a truck driver, who has driven across many states.

We are planning a trip to Vietnam and collaborating with the Vietnamese Chamber in Georgia. In Kenya, we’re developing an MOU with the Governor’s Office in Migori County, which holds great potential, from gold to fisheries to resort development. We’re linking local opportunities with investors and partners.

Though still in the early stages, we’re excited about the direction of our international work and partnership with the National Black Chamber under the leadership of President Charles DeBow, founded by our beloved late Harry and Kay DeBow Alford.

What are the chamber’s top priorities for the next few years?
GGBCC Tech Bus — “Meeting Businesses Where They Are”: Both Virtual and Mobile. Strengthening our relationships and “Build Bridges.” Our priority is to grow GGBCC Tech Bus organically.

We’ve already done a tremendous amount of work, and much of that momentum comes from embracing technology. That’s why we’re launching a tech bus, which is a virtual and mobile solution that brings access directly to businesses and communities across Georgia, starting with one brick at a time to “Build Bridges.”

We call this next phase GGBCC Plus. It is our digital sweet spot. Members will have business resources and relationships at their fingertips, even at 2 a.m., when many entrepreneurs are still working and thinking through ideas.

We are focusing on Rebranding and Rebuilding.

We want to bring on a virtual assistant who operates during our off hours, making us essentially a 24-hour chamber. So, if someone reaches out in the middle of the night, they’ll still get a response.

What makes GGBCC special is our response time. During COVID and the last Hurricane Helene, GGBCC was known as the first responder for businesses, bringing in our Hurricane Katrina experience. Surely, if your business is on fire, please call 911. We are thankful for our team, volunteers, and partners who continue to believe!