Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Benham.
Hi Trey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was blessed to be raised by two caring parents that taught me so much throughout life. One thing that always stood out for me were the things they taught me through their actions, not just their words. We didn’t have much to complain about and honestly, with me being the youngest child, I was spoiled. With that said, my parents taught me the importance of giving back and never looking down on others. I was constantly surrounded by people from all walks of life and able to gain perspective from many different viewpoints.
Through watching my parents, I developed the need to be active in my community and to be the change I wanted to see. After graduating from Fort Valley State University, I made my way back to Cartersville with the intention of making a difference.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was not always smooth. In 2009, I was unemployed and raising a two years old. Too stubborn to ask for help, there were not a lot of people who even knew my situation. It was only by the grace of God that I was able to pay all of my bills, rent, utilities, internet, etc., all while providing for my son on a daily basis. By the end of 2009, my unemployment was out and I had no idea how I would continue to pay my rent. At this very moment, my rent went away. My landlord had lost my townhouse to foreclosure and told me I could live rent-free until the bank came by to claim the property.
When my unemployment first started, I made the hard decision to continue tithing with that little bit of money. That mustard seed of faith paid off in the end. I never paid one bill late and my son never lacked for anything. It is a constant reminder to never lose faith no matter how tough the situation may be.
In 2010, I had a good-paying job but was met with another tough decision. I started a second job working for Goodwill, taking donations at one of the stores. My supervisor at Goodwill refused to let me off work for a mandatory training at my other job. I had to make a decision on staying a Goodwill, making minimum wage but with growth potential, or staying at the job that paid better with limited ability to grow in the company. I stuck it out with Goodwill and quickly started to move up in the company but it was not easy taking that pay cut.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In 2020, I started a business with two of my friends, Todd Dean and Scottlin Smith. Our business is all about providing a voice to the Black community throughout all of Bartow County. When I first started getting active in the business community, I would often be the only Black person at events. After seeing this, I wanted to provide more opportunities for Black youth to see professionals in their own community that looked like them. Through Black Bartow Events, we are able to hold networking events, provide information on important resources that our community is often not aware of, and we’re able to provide a platform where other Black business owners can build their customer base and sell their products in the middle of downtown Cartersville.
Anyone looking for vendor opportunities, have a non-profit and would like to reach the Black community, or if you just need help planning your own event, you can reach out to us at BlackBartowEvents@gmail.com. We love building new relationships and helping out our community when possible.
Last, but not least, we have one event coming up that we are excited about and that is the Black Excellence Awards and Gala. It will be held on Saturday, June 11th at the brand new Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville. The night is all about honoring past, present, and emerging leaders in the Black community. In addition to the awards, the night will feature musical performances, food, dancing, and you will get to tour the new museum. We are looking forward to seeing everyone dressed up in the best, as this is a black tie event. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at events.eventgroove.com/event/Black-Excellence-Awards-Gala-61222.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
To be successful, you must be willing to listen and learn from others. I was always told a leader must know how to follow and I find this saying to be 100% true. While learning from others, you must also stay true to yourself. You need to have a strong foundation and the determination to seek the knowledge and perspective from others to help you build and grow.
Contact Info:
- Email: BlackBartowEvents@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/BlackBartowEvents
- Facebook: facebook.com/BlackBartowEvents
