Opening Plenary
Marriott Ballroom Salons 2 & 3
MBDA National Director David A. Hinson will share the history of MED Week and the Agency’s impact on the minority business community over the past 30 years. Dr. Rebecca Blank will address the “State of Commerce” and her outlook on sustaining America’s position in global markets, as well as the necessity of minority-owned businesses for a restored U.S. economy.
Billion Dollar Roundtable: Mastering the Global Supply Chain
Marriott Ballroom Salons 2 & 3
This group of industry experts from some of America’s premiere corporations will share insight and nuggets of wisdom on how they became global giants and market leaders. They have mastered the discipline and leadership required to gain a competitive edge and embrace and leverage supplier diversity and inclusion. As a result, they continue to expand their global footprint and are globally competitive on all fronts.
Moderator
Shelley Stewart, Jr., Vice President, Sourcing & Logistics and Chief Procurement Officer, DuPont
Panelists
Hans Melotte, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Michael Robinson, Program Director for Global Supplier Diversity, IBM
Sally Saba, MD, Executive Director, National Supplier Diversity, Kaiser Permanente
Mergers & Acquisitions: A Smart Investment Strategy that Leads to Exponential Growth, Job Creation, and Bottom Line Profitability
Virginia Room C
This panel of investment bankers will share insight and the benefit of mergers and acquisitions when used as a growth strategy for minority-owned firms seeking to grow their businesses domestically and internationally. Panelists will discuss why traditional financing options work for organic growth business models; while high growth business models require strategic leveraging of options offered through mergers and acquisitions.
Moderator
Harvey Strode, Principal, UCBB Capital & Transition Solutions, LLC and Managing Director, Hunter Wise Financial Group, LLC
Panelists
Taylor Devine, Managing Principal, Hunter Wise Financial Group, LLC
Fred Jager, President and CEO, Hunter Wise Financial Group, LLC
Leveraging International Opportunities in Emerging Markets: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
Virginia Room A
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa currently account for more than a quarter of the world's land mass, and together hold more than 40 percent of the world's population. The increasing demand for consumer goods, coupled with major infrastructure needs in these markets, underscore their potential as an export destination for U.S. goods and services. This session will provide best practices and export strategy models for leveraging the increasing commercial opportunities in these markets.
Moderator
Holly Vineyard, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Market Access and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Panelists
Thomas A. Duckenfield, Esq., Co-Founder and Principal, Diversity Spectrum Corporation
Cynthia Griffin, Regional Director, Western Hemisphere, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Allen Herbert, President, Jaka Consulting Group
Nicole Melcher, Director, Office of China Economic Area Market Access and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Advanced Manufacturing: Transforming America’s Manufacturing Industry into one with Unlimited Possibilities
Virginia Room B
Advanced manufacturing holds the most potential for transforming America’s manufacturing industry into one with unlimited possibilities. Advanced composite manufacturing uses carbon fiber blended material to build the next generation fuel efficient aircraft and automobiles. Recognizing the job creation potential of manufacturing, the White House has made the development of this industry a top priority. This workshop defines advance manufacturing, examines the abundant opportunities available, and explores how advanced manufacturing will be an important industry for minority entrepreneurs.
Moderator
John Peterson, Director, Supply Chain Operations, Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems
Panelists
Dr. Eric K. Lin, Chief, Materials Science and Engineering Division, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology
James Hall, PE, Director, ME Advanced Propulsion Center, General Motors
Dr. Don Kinard, Senior Technical Fellow, Lockheed Martin
Stephanie Shipp, Senior Research Member, The Science and Technology Policy Institute
What’s Hot in Government Contracting: Making America More Competitive by Growing Minority-Owned Businesses
Exhibit Hall B South
This panel will take a broad yet comprehensive look at government programs to provide greater access to domestic and global opportunities. Over the past two decades, the world has been shifting into an innovation economy, and as President Obama states, “Nobody does innovation better than America.” Participants will learn how to effectively work with Small, Disadvantaged Business Utilization offices for access to Federal contracts totaling over $500 billion.
Moderator
Mark Oliver, Director, OSDBU, U.S. Department of the Interior
Panelist
Teneshia Alston, Senior Program Specialist – Team Leader, OSDBU, U.S. Agency for International Development
Dot Harris, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy
Farooq A. Mitha, Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Small Business Programs
Deniece Peterson, Director, Federal Industry Analysis, Deltek
White House Keynote Address
Exhibit Hall B South
Attendees will hear from a senior level White House official on the President’s commitment to help America’s small and minority owned businesses grow and prosper. These businesses are the engines of job creation and essential to strengthening our national economy. The Obama Administration will continue to promote job creation in America, advanced manufacturing to generate jobs here in the U.S. and doubling U.S. exports by 2014.
Minority owned businesses will contribute significantly to the continued growth of the U.S. economy. The White House will share why retooling the patent system in America and facilitating commercialization will make it easier for entrepreneurs and innovators to bring their ideas to market. This Administration will also share how it has and will continue to make an unprecedented commitment to entrepreneurship in America.
30th Anniversary Awards Luncheon
Marriott Ballroom Salons 2 & 3
Honoring some of the nation’s fastest growing minority-owned firms, entrepreneurs, and advocates, these awards celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing minority business enterprises.