Our History
The National Black MBA Association – Los Angeles Chapter (LABMBA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is comprised of Black students, professionals, and entrepreneurs in Southern California.
The LABMBA has a rich and storied history and legacy as one of the four original chapters of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA).
The Los Angeles Chapter was founded in 1974 by several visionary individuals. However, the Los Angeles area and the soon-to-be chapter's influence on the National Black MBA Association predate the existence of the national organization. Two of its chapter's future members, Daniel (Checo) Langston and Ellis Gordon Jr., as MBA students, were in attendance at the first exploratory meeting held at the University of Chicago in April of 1970 to discuss the prospects of such an organization.
Daniel (Checo) Langston was chosen – still as an MBA student at UCLA Graduate School of Management – to be one of the nine Black MBA students from across the United States who came back to Chicago in April 1971 to formulate and design the structure and begin the operation of the National Black MBA Association. Throughout the early history of the NBMBAA, many chapter members held various national leadership positions, including National Board Chair, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, while simultaneously holding chapter leadership positions. From 2007 to 2010, LABMBA was part of the National CEO Chapter Presidents Advisory Board.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, a philosophical and policy shift concerning the national and chapter-level structure and relationship transpired. Before this shift, local chapters were under NHQ's (National Headquarters') nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. But with this change in direction, NHQ mandated that all able chapters establish their own individual 501(c)(3) status for reasons including, but not limited to, fundraising prospects and corporate partnership development. Under the leadership of former President Monique Jones, LABMBA was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) under the laws of California in July 1998.
LABMBA has successfully hosted the National Conference on five occasions: 1980, 1990, 1999, 2005, and 2010. With the 1980 National Conference being the second conference hosted, it positioned NHQ to have a solid financial footing. During that time of the National Conference, LABMBA members held National Board and President positions. LABMBA was honored as Chapter of the Year in 2012. It also received a Leadership Channel Award in 2016, had one of its chapter members awarded MBA of the Year in 2017, and was designated Model Chapter in 2018.
Today, LABMBA has over 1000 individuals on its membership rosters (past, present). Its membership comprises individuals with MBAs and other degrees, students (secondary, undergraduate, graduate), business owners, and those without an advanced degree who have distinguished themselves in business with established experience and reputation.
Since its inception, LABMBA has woven itself into the fabric of the surrounding community and continues today. It focuses on the organizational mission and developing and cultivating relationships with other Black-focused and community-based organizations, business schools, major corporations, and businesses (small, medium, large).