By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Conference will return to the Baltimore Convention Center on Feb. 12-14, celebrating excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the gathering bringing together hundreds of professionals, business leaders, military personnel, industry experts and students for professional development, networking and job fairs. Keeping with a recent tradition, the conference will offer a digital twin experience, allowing individuals to attend virtually or in person.
Tyrone Taborn, founder of BEYA and CEO of Career Communications Group (CCG), said the conference has sharpened its focus to meet rapidly evolving labor needs.
“We have elevated and refocused all of our attention to three areas in workforce training: artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cybersecurity,” said Taborn. “Those are the three areas that will have the most workforce demand no matter what field you’re in— whether it’s health care, finance or the military.”
Taborn said his team created a workforce development committee that was solely focused on revising the conference’s programming around these topics, with an emphasis on certification and practical training.
During the conference, the prestigious Black Engineer of the Year Award will also be bestowed upon a STEM leader recognized for community impact, innovation and support of the next generation of professionals.
Though BEYA has historically honored U.S. military and defense leaders through its Stars and Stripes ceremony, last year, branches of the armed forces withdrew from the conference’s career fair. Their absence followed an executive order issued by the 47th president last January that abolished equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives in the military.
While BEYA highlights and celebrates diversity, the gathering has always welcomed all students and professionals of all backgrounds, according to Taborn. The withdrawals, combined with broader corporate pullbacks, have taken a heavy toll on BEYA’s parent organization, CCG. Taborn said the company lost more than $3 million in 2025, forcing the company to consider reducing its staff by up to 60 percent this February. Still, he remains focused on the conference’s mission and his organization’s long-term vision.
“The future continues,” said Taborn. “As we regroup and pivot, building up our other products such as STEM City USA and our unbelievable AI certification and training will be the areas where we move forward until this turns around.”
“BEYA took a hit, but we’re strong,” he continued. “We have a strong community, and people are still contributing.”
BEYA’s origins date back to 1987. At the time, Black students were significantly underrepresented in STEM programs, particularly because they lacked access to them.
Taborn decided to team up with Eugene Deloach, who founded Morgan State University’s school of engineering in 1984, to organize the first awards ceremony. Through the conference, the pair strived to increase the number of engineering programs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the number of students enrolled in them. They also wanted to ensure that career pathways were available, as most STEM recruiters frequented predominantly White universities.
Today, MSU continues to be a key supporter of the conference.
“For 40 years, the BEYA STEM Conference has stood as both a mirror and a mandate— reflecting the extraordinary excellence of Black innovators while challenging institutions and industries to do more to cultivate, support and sustain talent,” said David K. Wilson, president of MSU.
Wilson emphasized that BEYA’s purpose continues to be deeply rooted in the same values that shape MSU: access, opportunity and impact.
“From the earliest collaborations with HBCUs to its global reputation today, BEYA has demonstrated that excellence in STEM is inseparable from responsibility,” said Wilson. “As we mark this 40th anniversary in Baltimore, Morgan remains proud to stand alongside BEYA in advancing inclusive innovation and preparing the next generation of leaders who will shape our collective future.”
