On Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) will host its annual gala at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel. Presented by Wells Fargo, this year’s theme is “Renaissance Reimagined: Where Culture Meets Commerce.”
The 2026 edition of the MBCC gala is bringing something new to the table, as it will honor nine individuals being inducted into the inaugural class of the Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame, which was announced live last Friday morning on WCCO/CBS News Minnesota.
Among the inductees is Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard.
“For decades, Tracey has been a staple of excellence in our community,” said Yolanda Pierson, president and CEO of the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce. “Not only has she successfully led the state’s oldest Black-owned business into the 21st century, she’s provided guidance and a platform to scores of young writers, editors and content creators, who’ve only helped to build upon the newspaper’s already indelible legacy. And it’s incumbent upon us to follow that lead.”…