MEET THE SBNO TEAM
We believe behind every small business is a story worth telling.
From left to right:
A.J. Johnson, Founder & CEO, Taniqua Huguley, Event Coordinator, and Tyron Harris, Co-Founder & Executive Director
A.J. Johnson, Founder & CEO, Taniqua Huguley, Event Coordinator, and Tyron Harris, Co-Founder & Executive Director
Founded as AJ and Friend’s Small Business Night Out, SBNO stems from an eureka moment during a brief, late night, brainstorming session between three friends from Hartford, CT: AJ Johnson, Tyron Harris, and Kennard Ray.
These young men wanted to play a role in the upcoming National Small Business Week, which was recognized across the country each June. They decided to host a happy hour at Hartford’s Hook & Ladder restaurant and bar. This was no ordinary happy hour. The purpose of this happy hour was to recognize and acknowledge the work and commitment of small business owners in the Hartford community. The men also deemed this as an opportunity and space for local small business owners and professionals to connect with one another.
On June 20, 2013 SBNO hosted their first happy hour. With less than ten days of planning and promoting there were over 70 guests in attendance. It became obvious that Hartford’s business owners and professionals were eager to take their businesses to the next level and even collaborate with one another. As a result of the successful event, SBNO began to host an event that recognized small business owners on the last Thursday of each month. The group quickly realized the potential these small businesses had to assist in the revitalization of Hartford.
With the collective belief that small businesses are the economic engines that drive and grow community, the SBNO Team [Mr. Johnson, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Ray at the helm] set out to connect their personal and professional networks. SBNO became the “monthly-must” for leagues of local small business owners and professionals. With each event growing in attendance and exceeding more than 100 patrons at each “Night Out,” SBNO wanted to begin providing more resources for their guests outside of the monthly-mixers. In 2014, SBNO welcomed their Event Coordinator Taniqua Huguley to the team, with the intentions that she would assist in taking SBNO to the next level and help expand the SBNO brand. SBNO has continued to acknowledge small business owners for their work in Hartford and in CT, but on a larger scale. Hence, we no longer host monthly mixers, but we host annual events, and participate in community events on a monthly basis.
In addition to their annual events, the company began to provide workshops and consulting sessions with both existing business owners and aspiring business owners. SBNO works to provide small businesses with the skills and tools to develop and strengthen their brand. Each of our events allow business owners to market and promote their brand to a variety of social groups. We work with people representative of all social groups.
Today, Small Business Night Out has held events with over 250 people. The company’s highest attendance was at the 4th Annual Black Business Gala. That changed on October 26, 2017; there were over 400 people in attendance at SBNO’s 5th Annual Arts Celebration at the historical Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
These young men wanted to play a role in the upcoming National Small Business Week, which was recognized across the country each June. They decided to host a happy hour at Hartford’s Hook & Ladder restaurant and bar. This was no ordinary happy hour. The purpose of this happy hour was to recognize and acknowledge the work and commitment of small business owners in the Hartford community. The men also deemed this as an opportunity and space for local small business owners and professionals to connect with one another.
On June 20, 2013 SBNO hosted their first happy hour. With less than ten days of planning and promoting there were over 70 guests in attendance. It became obvious that Hartford’s business owners and professionals were eager to take their businesses to the next level and even collaborate with one another. As a result of the successful event, SBNO began to host an event that recognized small business owners on the last Thursday of each month. The group quickly realized the potential these small businesses had to assist in the revitalization of Hartford.
With the collective belief that small businesses are the economic engines that drive and grow community, the SBNO Team [Mr. Johnson, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Ray at the helm] set out to connect their personal and professional networks. SBNO became the “monthly-must” for leagues of local small business owners and professionals. With each event growing in attendance and exceeding more than 100 patrons at each “Night Out,” SBNO wanted to begin providing more resources for their guests outside of the monthly-mixers. In 2014, SBNO welcomed their Event Coordinator Taniqua Huguley to the team, with the intentions that she would assist in taking SBNO to the next level and help expand the SBNO brand. SBNO has continued to acknowledge small business owners for their work in Hartford and in CT, but on a larger scale. Hence, we no longer host monthly mixers, but we host annual events, and participate in community events on a monthly basis.
In addition to their annual events, the company began to provide workshops and consulting sessions with both existing business owners and aspiring business owners. SBNO works to provide small businesses with the skills and tools to develop and strengthen their brand. Each of our events allow business owners to market and promote their brand to a variety of social groups. We work with people representative of all social groups.
Today, Small Business Night Out has held events with over 250 people. The company’s highest attendance was at the 4th Annual Black Business Gala. That changed on October 26, 2017; there were over 400 people in attendance at SBNO’s 5th Annual Arts Celebration at the historical Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
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Each of the members of the SBNO Team are passionate about making change in the community and connecting members of our communities in creative ways. If there is anything you think the group can help with contact them at smallbusinessnightout@gmail.com. If there is a company that you believe should be recognized, please put them on the company’s radar.
SBNO for the city! |