Trell Thomas Expands Black Excellence Brunch Series
The event series celebrates Black professionals through community gatherings and a new podcast launch.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Trell Thomas continues to grow the Black Excellence Brunch series, which celebrates Black excellence and fosters community connections. The founder recently expanded his reach with the debut of the podcast How Excellent with Trell Thomas.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to strengthen professional networks and celebrate Black success in environments ranging from the White House to international locations like South Africa and Ghana. It bridges gaps in representation for Black professionals within leadership and hospitality sectors.
Black professionals hold 9.5% of hospitality leadership roles and 2.1% of director-to-CEO positions. The new podcast features 30-minute fireside chats.
The players
Trell Thomas
He is the founder of the Black Excellence Brunch series and host of the podcast How Excellent with Trell Thomas.
Patti LaBelle
She is a legendary singer and actress who was honored by the Black Excellence Brunch at the Essence Festival.
The details
Modeled after traditional Southern Sunday dinners, the invitation-only series is funded through sponsorships and has honored notable figures like Patti LaBelle at the Essence Festival. Thomas is now working to evolve this community-focused platform into a formal awards show titled the Black Excellence Honors.
Timeline
The Black Excellence Brunch series began in 2017.
Trell Thomas launched the How Excellent podcast in 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The series follows the precedent set by the Essence Festival by creating high-profile environments that celebrate Black achievement. It marks a broader cultural shift toward curated, exclusive professional networking events that blend community connection with brand sponsorship.
The brunch series remains invitation-only, meaning participation is curated rather than open to the general public. However, supporters can access content through the How Excellent with Trell Thomas podcast, which offers 30-minute sessions.
The takeaway
Trell Thomas demonstrates how personal community initiatives can scale into influential professional networks. His success highlights the growing importance of creating dedicated spaces for underrepresented leaders in the hospitality and corporate sectors.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest events in the Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Sentinel.
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