Kathey Porter is a business expert that knows the lay of the entrepreneurial land quite well. It’s no wonder why she is looking to change the way that African American women show up in the world of business. One of the ways she is accomplishing this shift is by publishing the book, 50 Billion Dollar Boss.
Her book 50 Billion Dollar Boss looks at several successful African American women and chronicles their success, obstacles, challenges, and lessons learned.
Ms. Porter has owned several businesses and is currently the Director of Small Business and Vendor Diversity Relations with the University of Florida. Her experience as an adjunct instructor spans over ten years and includes stints at Virginia Tech – Pamplin College of Business, Savannah State University, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Strayer University, Columbia College and University of Phoenix. Kathey received her MBA from Georgia Southern University, BBA from Savannah State University and a CPSD (Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity) through the Institute for Supply Management.
She developed a strong acumen for branding and marketing while working as a marketing executive for Fortune 500 companies including Carson Products, Revlon Professional, and Colomer USA.
Kathey is the Director of Small Business and Vendor Diversity Relations at the University of Florida. She was previously the Supplier Diversity Administrator and an adjunct business instructor in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.
An expert on small business, supplier diversity and entrepreneurship, Kathey is the author of the book 50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership (Palgrave Macmillan) which was a 2015 NAACP Image Award Nominee. She has owned and operated several businesses including three retail stores, KPGroup Marketing, a marketing consulting business and Kuumba Brown, LLC, a designer and marketer of children’s bedding products. In 2014, she founded BusinessFAB Enterprises, LLC, a multiplatform media initiative focused on the development of content, communications, customized events and continuing education programs for women entrepreneurs (www.businessfabmedia.com).
Kathey has been an adjunct instructor for over 10 years at several colleges and universities including Virginia Tech – Pamplin College of Business, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Savannah State University, Strayer University, Columbia College and University of Phoenix where she has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses including Marketing, Public Relations, Business, Entrepreneurship, Communications, Leadership, etc.
Kathey is a frequent speaker/panelist at conferences and events focusing on supplier diversity, small business development/entrepreneurship, women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment and diversity and inclusion.