The Rudd’s R.U.B.B. Initiative Announces Fourth Annual Conference
VIDEO: Recap from the 2024 Conference. (Back2Besa / Converge Media)
Seattle, WA (September 16, 2025) – The Rudd’s Raising Up Black Businesses (R.U.B.B.) Initiative has announced the return of its fourth annual leadership conference, scheduled for Saturday, October 4th, 2025, at the University of Washington Seattle campus. This year’s theme, “The Time is Now: Leading & Rising Together,” aims to ignite Black entrepreneurship through robust sponsor support and an inspiring lineup of changemakers.
The R.U.B.B. Initiative, founded in 2021 by Lewis and Darnell Rudd, co-founders of Seattle’s renowned Ezell’s Famous Chicken, alongside their sister Faye Stephens, is dedicated to educating and elevating Black business owners in Washington state. The program is designed to empower, motivate, and equip Black entrepreneurs, celebrating their achievements, fostering a supportive community, and providing essential tools and knowledge for business growth. A core component of the initiative is financially empowering Black-owned businesses with no-strings-attached business grants in the Pacific Northwest.
This year, the conference will notably recognize restaurateur Theo Martin of Island Soul, whose legacy of love, food, and family embodies the spirit of the R.U.B.B. Initiative’s work. Martin is a recipient of a Rudd’s R.U.B.B. Initiative grant, supported by generous sponsors who continue to champion and invest in Black-owned businesses.
Attendees can look forward to a full day of programming from 10 AM to 5 PM, including networking opportunities, educational content, and connection sessions. Tickets are available for $60 per person and can be purchased at www.ruddsrubb.org. Scholarship requests can be directed to RUBB@ezellsfamouschicken.com.
The conference boasts an impressive roster of speakers and sessions:
Opening Charge: What It Means to Lead Now — Jenefeness Franke, MBA
Seattle’s Black Business Horizon: Legacy & Power — Fireside with Lewis Rudd and Wyking Garrett
Lead Whole: Vision, Wellness & Power in Practice — Keynote with Dr. Nwando Anyaoku
Command the Room: Breath, Voice & Presence — Public Speaking Lab with Toyia T. Taylor
From Insight to Impact: Career Coaching for BIPOC Excellence — Lynnyetta Keller & Teya Williams
Shift the Culture, Keep the Self: Culturally Grounded Leadership — Dr. Ndidiamaka Musa
AI for Us: Building Smarter, Not Harder with Agents & Automation — DeiMarlon Scisney, Alonda Williams
The Inner Grind: Identity, Endurance & Entrepreneurial Discipline — Kelvin Peprah & Federick Brooks
From Surviving to Leading: Resilient Leadership for Real Change — Lydia Nichols
Grants, Governance & the Power to Influence — Stasha Espinosa
Capital, Culture & Courage: Black VC Leaders on Investing in Our Future — VC Panel with Evan Poncelet, Aina Abiodun, Sierra Clouse, Arif Gursel, Yolanda Barton
Build Smart: Systems, Scaling & Sustainability for Black Business — Emmanuella Shasha & Jeff Gray
Stacking Legacy: Wealth Building Beyond the Bank — Philip "Sharp Skills" Jacobs, Bakary B. Sanneh, Aharon Goins
Contracting Dollars, Black Power: Unlocking Procurement + Public Contracts — DES Workshop, Sound Transit, APEX, OMWBE
Legacy in Action: Grant Award Presentation + Grantee Voice — Theo Martin
Final Word: The Journey Forward — Lewis Rudd
Conference Close: Refueled, Reimagined, Reconnected
Lewis Rudd emphasized the collective vision behind the conference, stating, “BBLC is a rally cry for collective elevation. In a time when so much is shifting, we stand together, not just to survive, but to sustain, evolve, and thrive. The time is now to build stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a more connected Black economic ecosystem.”
For more information and updates, follow the R.U.B.B. Initiative on social media:
Instagram: @rubbinitiative
Facebook: Black Business Leadership Conference
LinkedIn: RUBB Initiative
Hashtag: #BBLC2025 | #BBLC
