A stroke of luck.

B.E. reader wins trip to Golf & Tennis Challenge

There was a lot of competition this past Labor Day weekend at the Sixth Annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami. But at least one person showed up at the event already a winner.

Earlier this year, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine sponsored a contest offering one lucky person a four-day, five-night all-expense paid trip to one of its events.

Meet the winner: Donna Bullock, an employee of the Atlanta regional office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. She is also a retired U.S. Army major and a 1979 graduate of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University).

As luck would have it, Bullock logged on to blackenterprise.com after seeing it featured in the magazine. "I wanted to go and see what it was about. I saw the contest survey, filled it out and sent it in [via e-mail]," says the self-proclaimed Internet buff.

Then, while she was in New York visiting her parents, Earl G. Graves, publisher of BE, called her home in Atlanta. "My husband answered it and thought that somebody was pulling a prank on him," says Bullock. "Mr. Graves called me [in New York] and I was just totally floored and very excited."

Given a choice of three primary packages: golf, tennis or spa (there is also a guest package for persons accompanying a primary registrant), Bullock chose the spa package to afford herself the flexibility to attend the seminars and workshops. "My goal, eventually, is to own my own business and teach financial management to youth and church groups," says Bullock, who attended all four financial seminars sponsored by American Express.

In addition to the seminars, the event proved valuable in another respect. "The networking is definitely the key issue here," says Bullock, adding that her only concern was that as someone new to the event, she didn't really know which categories the many businesses fell into.

But from beginning to end, the excitement didn't wane for this lucky lady. "Oh, it's wonderful! I've met a lot of [prominent] people. Mayor [Bill] Campbell of Atlanta, my city, and, of course, Mr. Graves, [actor/comedian] Mark Curry and just a whole lot of wonderful, intelligent African American entrepreneurs and business people," Bullock said during the event.

Bullock says she'll definitely be back again, and hopes she can share the experience with her husband of 18 years and her seven-year-old daughter who could not attend this year.

The 2000 Golf & Tennis Challenge will take place August 31-September 4 at the Doral in Miami.

BLACK ENTERPRISE UNLIMITED

Black Enterprise Unlimited is a division of Earl G. Graves Ltd. dedicated to the creation of products and services designed to meet your business needs. We can be contacted at B.E. Unlimited, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011-4399; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. Following is the contact information to help you learn more about the programs and products of B.E. Unlimited:

B.E. & AXA/EQUITABLE SKI CHALLENGE

To inquire about the Second Annual Ski Challenge, January 12-17, 2000, at Mail's Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado, call 800-209-7229.

B.E./BANK OF AMERICA ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE

To receive information about the 2000 Entrepreneurs Conference, May 10-14, at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, call 800-543-6786.

B.E./PEPSI GOLF & TENNIS CHALLENGE

For information on the 2000 Golf & Tennis Challenge, August 31-September 4, at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, call 800-209-7229.

KIDPRENEURS[TM] PROGRAM

The Kidpreneurs Program is dedicated to the creation of business education products for our children. To learn about our annual Kidpreneurs Konference, call 800-543-6786.

To order BLACK ENTERPRISE For Teens[TM], a publication focusing on economic and self-empowerment, or KidpreneursNews[TM], a publication designed to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in children, or to register your child in the Kidpreneurs or Teenpreneurs Club, call 877-KID-PREN (877-543-7736).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

More time is awarded

Entrepreneurs have more time to get their applications in for the 2000 Black Enterprise Small Business Awards. The deadline has been moved back to December 15, 1999.

Winners will be announced at the Fifth Annual Black Enterprise/Bank of America Entrepreneurs Conference, May 10-14, 2000, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

To obtain a nomination application or for more information, call 800-543-6786, fax: [phone] or log on to www.blackenterprise.com.

--D.S.