JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon is no stranger to the D.C. area. He has appeared at the grand openings of more than a dozen new branches, expanding Chase’s footprint throughout the DMV. He is also a pied piper for local, small, and diverse entrepreneurs seeking resources and expertise to grow their businesses.
At its recent Chase for Business Marketplace, a day-long networking event recognizing May as National Small Business Month, more than 300 local small business owners flowed through Doc5 at Union Market in Northeast. Dimon and others shared their professional expertise, and participants participated in panel discussions with industry experts.
“Being in diverse communities works for us,” Dimon told a group of reporters between sessions when asked about the company’s position on DEI. “If we had documents that said ‘quota,’ that’s against the law. But if I wanted to hire 20 Black bankers, that’s not against the law, and that’s good for business. We recruit at 27 HBCUs, and that’s not going to change.”
Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business, noted the District’s influence on businesses nationwide.
“Washington, D.C. is home to some of the most creative and inventive business owners in the country,” Walter said in a statement. “They are showing up big for their customers, and we want to do the same for them. We’re honored to be a part of their business journey and look forward to their continued growth.”