Dream Exchange Sponsors Historic 125th National Business League Conference: A Milestone in Economic Empowerment
Dream Exchange Sponsors Historic 125th National Business League Conference: A Milestone in Economic Empowerment
August 29, 2025 | By Robert Todd
Dream Exchange proudly participated as a sponsor of the National Business League’s 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary Conference and Gala, held August 20-23, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. This landmark event marked not just a celebration of 125 years of Black business excellence, but a defining moment in our ongoing movement toward economic sovereignty and equal access to capital markets.
Dr. Ken L. Harris (President and CEO, National Business League), Ms. Jane Hayton (Chief Public Officer, Dream Exchange), Mr. Joseph J. Cecala, Jr. (CEO and Founder, Dream Exchange), Mr. Dwain J, Kyles (Managing Member, DX Capital Partners, LLC) and Mr. Charles H. DeBow, III (President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce) attending the National Business League’s 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary Conference and Gala.
A Historic Gathering of Vision and Purpose
The 125th National Business League Conference (the “NBL Conference”) brought together over 3,000 Black Business Enterprises (BBEs), leaders, elected officials, and delegates from more than 30 Pan-African nations and island regions. Founded by the legendary Booker T. Washington on August 23, 1900, the National Business League (NBL) has spent more than a century championing economic self-determination and lifting Black entrepreneurs worldwide.
This year’s conference theme, “125 Years of Self-Reliance, Self-Determination, and Economic Power,” perfectly aligned with Dream Exchange’s mission to create equality of opportunity through ethical, accessible financial markets. Attending the presentations, panels, and networking sessions that honored both historical achievements and future innovations, our team recognized that this gathering represented much more than a traditional business conference—it was a call to action for the next generation of economic leaders.
Dream Exchange’s Commitment to Financial Inclusion
Our participation in this historic conference wasn’t merely ceremonial. As the company preparing to become the first minority-controlled stock exchange in U.S. history, Dream Exchange’s presence at the NBL Conference represented a tangible commitment to the economic empowerment that Booker T. Washington envisioned over a century ago.
“Our presence at the 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary of the NBL is a celebration of history, perseverance, and achievement,” said Joe Cecala, CEO of Dream Exchange. “We support the vision of the NBL and National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) to level the playing field in the marketplace by ensuring their community gains access to the resources their businesses need to grow and thrive.”
Dream Exchange was represented by a distinguished delegation including CEO Joe Cecala, Dwain J. Kyles (Managing Member of DX Capital Partners), and Don Bowen (Board Observer). Their participation reinforced Dream Exchange’s dedication to expanding opportunity and ensuring fair and equal access to capital for successful businesses from all backgrounds.
Bridging Past Wisdom with Future Innovation
The NBL Conference provided an ideal platform to explore how Dream Exchange’s innovative approach to capital markets aligns with the NBL’s long-standing mission. While the NBL has worked for 125 years to build economic foundations within Black communities, Dream Exchange is positioned to provide the next-generation infrastructure needed to scale these efforts dramatically.
Dream Exchange’s venture exchange concept—designed specifically for small-to-medium-sized, early-stage companies—directly addresses the capital access gap that has persisted since Booker T. Washington’s era. By creating a marketplace that prioritizes ethics, humanity, and fairness, the company is building on the philosophical foundation that Mr. Washington established while leveraging modern technology and regulatory frameworks to reach previously underserved markets.
The Power of Strategic Relationships
The NBL Conference facilitated meaningful connections with key leaders in the Black business community, including Dr. Kenneth L. Harris, President and CEO of the NBL, and Charles H. DeBow III, President and CEO of the NBCC. These relationships are essential as the company works toward its shared goal of economic growth through increased access to capital markets.
“The 125th Anniversary of the National Business League marks not just a celebration of our history, but a bold step into the future,” noted Charles H. DeBow III during the conference. This forward-looking perspective resonates deeply with Dream Exchange’s vision of transforming how small and emerging businesses access public capital markets.
Addressing the Modern Capital Access Challenge
The timing of this NBL Conference couldn’t be more critical. Since the 1990s, there has been a significant decline in small-to-mid-sized IPOs, leaving countless innovative businesses without access to public capital markets. Today, small IPOs are nearly extinct, creating a substantial gap between the entrepreneurial energy we witnessed at the NBL Conference and the capital infrastructure needed to support it.
This challenge is particularly acute within minority business communities. While the NBL Conference celebrated numerous success stories, it also highlighted the systemic barriers that continue to limit access to growth capital. Dream Exchange’s mission directly addresses this challenge by creating new pathways for businesses that have historically been underserved by traditional exchanges.
The Venture Exchange Solution
Dream Exchange’s proposed venture exchange represents more than just another trading platform—it’s a purpose-built exchange designed to serve the exact population of businesses that dominated discussions at the NBL Conference. By focusing on small-to-medium-sized, early-stage companies, the venture exchange creates an ecosystem where the entrepreneurial spirit celebrated at this gathering can access the capital needed for sustainable growth.
The venture exchange concept allows companies to go public at earlier stages and smaller sizes than traditional stock exchanges currently permit. This innovation could fundamentally change the trajectory for the types of businesses represented at the NBL Conference, providing liquidity options and growth capital that have been largely unavailable through conventional channels.
Technology and Tradition: A Powerful Combination
One of the most striking aspects of the NBL Conference was how seamlessly it blended respect for historical achievements with embrace of cutting-edge innovation. Panels on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and blockchain technology shared the agenda with celebrations of century-old institutions and time-tested business principles.
This balance perfectly reflects Dream Exchange’s approach. While the company leverages the most advanced trading technologies and regulatory frameworks, its core mission remains rooted in the fundamental principles that guided Booker T. Washington’s original vision: creating economic opportunity, building wealth within communities, and ensuring that access to capital isn’t limited by background or connections.
Beyond the Conference: Long-term Impact
The relationships formed and conversations initiated at the 125th NBL Conference will continue to influence Dream Exchange’s development long after the Atlanta gathering concluded. The insights gained from interacting with hundreds of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community advocates have reinforced our conviction that there’s both tremendous need and tremendous opportunity in serving underserved market segments.
The NBL Conference also highlighted the global nature of modern Black business networks. With representatives from 33 countries participating, it became clear that Dream Exchange’s impact could extend far beyond U.S. borders. As the company develops its platform, this international perspective remains top of mind, recognizing that capital access challenges exist worldwide and that innovative solutions can have global applications.
Looking Forward: The Next 125 Years
As we reflect on our participation in this historic conference, we’re energized by the possibilities ahead. The NBL’s 125-year journey provides both inspiration and a roadmap for the work ahead. Just as Booker T. Washington’s vision evolved into a global movement that has empowered countless entrepreneurs, Dream Exchange aims to create lasting institutional change that will benefit generations of business builders.
The conference reinforced our belief that the time is right for innovative approaches to capital market access. The energy, creativity, and determination we witnessed in Atlanta demonstrated that there’s no shortage of entrepreneurial talent in underserved communities. What’s been missing is the infrastructure to support that talent with appropriate capital resources. Dream Exchange is positioned to help fill that gap.
Our Commitment
Dream Exchange’s sponsorship of the NBL Conference (NBL’s 125th annual conference!) exemplifies our commitment to maintaining its relationship with this vital organization and the communities it serves. As the company moves forward with its application process to become a registered national stock exchange and prepares for the eventual launch, it will continue to engage with NBL leadership and members to ensure the platform truly serves their needs.
The NBL Conference provided invaluable feedback and insights that will inform us of our exchange’s development. By listening to the challenges and opportunities described by hundreds of business leaders, we are now better equipped to create solutions that address real-world needs rather than theoretical problems.
Building the Future Together
Dream Exchange’s participation in the National Business League’s 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary Conference was more than a sponsorship opportunity—it was a chance to connect our mission with a community that shares our commitment to expanding economic opportunities and equal access to capital.
The legacy of Booker T. Washington lives on not just in the institutions he founded, but in the innovative solutions being developed by companies like Dream Exchange that share his vision of economic opportunity for all.
The next 125 years of business development will be shaped by the connections made, relationships formed, and commitments reinforced at this NBL Conference. Dream Exchange is proud to be part of this continuing story and looks forward to contributing to the next chapter of economic advancement through accessible, ethical capital markets.
