If there was anyone who was “in the business,” it would be the late AG Gaston. “Not only did he start, own and operate about 10 different businesses, he also employed hundreds, if not thousands, or 8,000 people over the course of their history,” Bob Dickerson said. Told. , and he would know. Mr. Dickerson was one of Mr. Gaston's employees at Citizens Federal Savings Bank. “I was in the lending department, and part of my job was making sure people paid their loans. In fact, that was my first job at a bank,” Dickerson said. said. After Dickerson himself had many years of success in business, he founded his business resource center in Birmingham and then organized a conference honoring Gaston AG about 20 years ago. “I thought we should do something in Birmingham in Gaston's name. Given what he meant, Mr. Dickerson's intention was to use the late Birmingham businessman as an example, through business ownership. The goal was to economically empower black people, after decades of disenfranchisement due to racist policies. “I wanted to do that eventually to make sure people understood,” Dickerson said. “Our theme in general is economic empowerment through enterprise development, and we still believe that that is key and what we should do as a community. We specifically aim to grow black enterprises. We should feed and lean into this aspect” here in Birmingham. “Mr. Dickerson said his annual conference has a strong track record of success.''Each year, we conduct activities that help train the business community. So one of the things that motivates me the most is when someone walks up to me and says, “When so-and-so speaks, when you say this, or when I talk about this in your conference? I was at the meeting when that happened. So, yeah, some good things are coming out of the AG Gaston meeting,” Dickerson said. According to Dickerson, Gaston's success essentially came down to his one simple idea: “Find a need and fill it.” And you can too. The 20th AG Gaston Conference will be held at the BJCC on February 13-14. Get your tickets here.
If I were to compare a “business person'' to a person, it would be the late AG Gaston.
Bob Dickerson said, “Not only did he start, own, and operate about 10 different businesses, he also employed hundreds, if not thousands, or 8,000 people throughout their history. I did,” he said. Dickerson was one of Gaston's employees at Citizens Federal Savings Bank.
“I was in the lending department, and part of my job was making sure people paid their loans. In fact, that was my first job at a bank,” Dickerson said. said.
After years of success in business himself, Dickerson founded the Birmingham Business Resource Center and later organized a conference honoring A.G. Gaston about 20 years ago.
“I thought we should do something in Gaston's name in Birmingham, given what he meant to our community,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson's intention was to use the late Birmingham businessman as an example to empower black people economically through business ownership. This comes after decades of disenfranchisement due to racist policies.
“So we ultimately wanted to do that to help other people understand the need for Black businesses to grow and develop,” Dickerson said. “Our theme in general is economic empowerment through enterprise development, and we still believe that that is key and what we should do as a community. We specifically aim to grow black enterprises. We should feed and lean into this side of things” here in Birmingham. ”
Dickerson said his annual conference has a strong track record of success.
“Every year we do activities that help train the business community. So if someone walks up to me and I'm in a meeting and I say so-and-so, and you say this or that… It's most encouraging when I say, “I made this connection at your conference. So, yeah, some good things are coming out of the AG Gaston conference. '' Dickerson said.
According to Dickerson, Gaston's success fundamentally stems from one simple idea.
“Find a need and meet it.”
And you can do it too! The 20th AG Gaston Conference will be held at the BJCC on February 13-14. Get your tickets here.
