9:00-9:30 AM
Featuring National Director David J. Byrd
Countdown of Century Club Award Winners
MBDA Spotlight
Announcements
10:00-10:30AM
Get Advice. Get Perspective. Get Inspired. Hear from the nation’s top minority-owned firms, champions of minority businesses and legacy makers in the minority business community. Each session is designed to get “up close and personal” with the 2020 MED Week Award Winners to tell empowering stories with key takeaways of uncompromising perseverance, triumph and vision.
MONDAY
How I Did It: REIMAGINING IMPACT
Impact is typically synonymous with force and physical effort; however, true impact is not just seen it is felt. This session will explore the essential drivers of successful businesses that continue to redefine the blueprint for innovation, engagement, and execution.
FEATURING:
- RICHARD MANSON, PRESIDENT, SOURCEMARK, LLC MINORITY HEATH PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR
- ALBERT EDWARDS, PRESIDENT, CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT, MINORITY CONSTRUCTION FIRM OF THE YEAR
- MERCEDITA ROXAS-MURRAY, CEO, MONTAGE MARKETING GROUP, THE MINORITY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FIRM OF THE YEAR
TUESDAY
How I Did It: THE ART OF BUILDING "THE SHIP"
"The essence of great leadership is influence not authority." Whether leader”ship”, relation”ship”, or champion”ship” our award winners have mastered perseverance and the art of creating pathways, partnerships and winning solutions as business owners and advocates.
FEATURING:
- ROSA SANTANA, CEO, FORMA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP DISTINGUISHED SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AWARD
- USHA BODDAPU, CEO, ESOLVIT, INC WINNER OF MINORITY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR
- JOHN SHORAKA, CO-FOUNDER GOV CONTRACT PROS, ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
WEDNESDAY
How I Did It: THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
“Hard work beats talent every time; especially when talent decides it doesn’t want to work hard.” This session explores the intersection of competition, talent, and seizing the day! Come hear from award winners who have identified, fine-tuned, and played to their competitive advantage to win contracts, create greater access to capital, and grow their businesses.
FEATURING:
- GLADYS KEITH, PRESIDENT, FSB AGENCY, INC ACCESS TO CAPITAL AWARD
- DON TIAGA, PRESIDENT, FEDBIZ IT SOLUTIONS WINNER OF MINORITY VETERAN -OWNED FIRM OF THE YEAR
- ZAHEER FARUQI, PRESIDENT, AVENTURE AVIATION, MINORITY EXPORT FIRM OF THE YEAR
THURSDAY
How I Did It: THE POWER OF THE PIVOT
2020 has thrown the world a few curve balls. This session will explore how nimble business owners changed course to fortify operations and seize opportunities through work flow automation, innovation, and new ways to meet new market demands.
FEATURING:
- ANGELINA GARCIA, CEO, Y-NOT MANUCATURING MINORITY MANUFACTURING FIRM OF THE YEAR,
- GREGORY BUSH, JR, PRESIDENT, KFA,INC, MINORITY INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FIRM OF THE YEAR
FRIDAY
How I Did It: CREATING OPPORTUNITY. BUILDING LEGACY
"Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you." Legacy making does not happen overnight, it happens over time. Our award winners share how they have leveraged their careers to create opportunity for minority businesses through advocacy, resiliency, and philanthropy.
FEATURING:
- SALVADOR ENRIQUEZ, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY MANAGER, WELLS FARGO, THE RONALD H BROWN LEADERSHIP AWARD
- DIANE E. SUMPTER, PRESIDENT, DESA, INC WINNER OF THE ABE VENABLE LEGACY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
- RODA WARD CARTER, PRESIDENT CARTER HEALTH DISPOSABLES, LLC, ROBERT J BROWN MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR
Thriving Through Adversity: Calling all Warriors presented by DJ Vanas
Date: September 15, 2020
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
We live in times of unprecedented uncertainty and change which has triggered a turbulent business environment and the fear and stress that comes with it. In this session, D.J. will share a unique, powerful perspective from Native American culture on what a warrior is (and isn’t), how we can emulate the principles and spirit of that role in what we do – and understand that the business of warriors can make us warriors in business! Learn how to think “tribal-centrically” to create solutions, strategies to stay balanced in the struggles and see how to be the leader in business your tribe needs right now. He’ll also share a straightforward and entertaining way of how to navigate change with confidence and clarity, how to stay resilient, and how to keep a sense of humor even in the face of turbulence. Now is the time for warriors in business to stand up, be strong and lead by example – are you ready?
D.J. is both an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe and former Air Force officer. He was featured in the PBS film The Warrior Tradition, which aired nationwide on Veterans Day, 2019.
Keep Moving Forward: Take Your Business from Stalled to Stellar
Date: September 15, 2020
Time: 2:00- 2:30pm
This seminar focuses on 3 stages of growth - with advice for managing cash flow, generating opportunities, and getting credit for a job well done (not to mention disrupting poverty in your community). Learn how to start strong with limited resources, leverage transferrable skills, establish an impressive record of past performance, and be ready to grow your team quickly when opportunity strikes. Join the discussion and make plans to scale your business!
Register so that you can:
- Take pride in being ridiculously persistent
- Become indispensable through customer loyalty and customer connection
- Run lean, reinvent, and run leaner (hint: efficiency wins contracts.)
Speaker:
Mark Masters
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Chloeta
Growing Your Business: With or Without Capital
Date: September 15, 2020
Time: 3:00-3:30pm
You’ve heard “It takes money to make money,” but never quite in this way. A lot has changed in growing your company with tested options for raising capital. Learn how to make the right funding choices to scale your business from an entrepreneur who bootstrapped her first start-up and raised more than $11 million for her second venture.
Register and gain insight into:
- Growing your business when outside capital isn’t an option
- Funding options including crowdsourcing, venture capital, contracts, and traditional and non-traditional loans
- Actions to take now to secure the right capital
Speaker:
Sevetri Wilson
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Resilia
Global Shift: Disruption, Trends, and Opportunities related to Exporting and International Business
Date: September 15, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted demand, production, and delivery across many industries and sectors. However, two key questions are to what extent has exporting been disrupted since March, and which market and sourcing shifts are companies making that matter to MBEs? Hear about exporting trends, opportunities by region (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America), and efforts to remove barriers to exporting - in the context of what it all means for MBEs.
Register and better understand:
- How global and regional events have shifted the exporting landscape, and related impacts on domestic sourcing
- Which international markets a MBE should target
- The impacts of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Prosper Africa Initiative
Perspectives on Increasing Capital for Minority Business
Date: September 16, 2020
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
In today’s marketplace, minority entrepreneurs are discovering that having the ability to access capital efficiently is critical for long-term success. Non-traditional sources of capital are becoming increasingly utilized due to entrepreneurs’ need to remain financially innovative. This session will explore various strategies for accessing capital through private equity and alternative capital solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to identify and connect with alternative sources of capital
- Understand how your firm can stand out to investors
- Understand how to leverage your company’s equity to attract capital
Moderator: Robert L. Greene, President & CEO, NAIC
Panelists:
Andre Rice
President
Muller & Monroe Asset Management
Ivelisse Simon
Managing Partner
Avante Capital Partners
Kobi Wu
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
VisuWall
Rafael Diaz-Granados
Chief Executive Officer
Paragon
Embracing Digital Transformation in the New Business Economy
Date: September 16, 2020
Time: 2:00-3:00pm
Come learn about strategies and best practices that businesses are using to conduct business development, manage operations, connect with clients domestically and internationally, communicate with stakeholders, paid consultants and staff in the new norm.
Panelists:
Maria Boyce
Vice President, International Trade Policy
Global Public Affairs, UPS
Gene Waddy
Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Business Solutions/Diversant, LLC
Della Clark
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Enterprise Center & Operator Philadelphia Business Center
Lois Rouder
Senior Business Development Manger
Amazon Business
E-Everything: Using Design Thinking as a Framework for Engaging Stakeholders
Date: September 16, 2020
Time: 3:00-3:30 pm
Change can be hard. It can also produce our best work and spur growth. This session will give you two essential tools to tackle digital transformation – Design Thinking and a Winning Mindset. Through case studies and attendee input, you will learn Design Thinking techniques that will help you identify goals and outcomes of any digital transformation. Then, learn how a Winning Mindset efficiently pulls employees and partners to want to solve the problem together, and wanting to see it through to the other side and beyond!
Register and come away understanding:
- Design Thinking – what it is and how it helps shape conversations related to change
- Winning mindsets – the difference-maker in e-shifts that spur company growth
- How to apply design thinking in a small shop, or partner to think big
Speaker:
Michelle Franklin
Associate Partner, Talent & Transformation, Digital Change - Shift to Cloud
IBM
Enduring Truths: Chamber Presidents Talk Adversity, Policy, and Persistence
Date: September 16, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Join the conversation as three national minority chambers of commerce share how MBEs are coping this year. Hear how each of these leaders has personally persisted over the years in business, life, and leadership. Learn about the many services that your business can access directly through their ongoing advocacy and chamber resources.
Register and get real about:
- What you can control as you move forward
- Thinking outside the box and finding opportunity
- Today’s unique challenges and setting intentions for the future
Panelists:
Ramiro Cavazos
President & Chief Executive Officer
US Hispanic Chamber
Ron Busby, Sr.
President & Chief Executive Officer
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)
Rick Wade
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Susan Au Allen
National President & Chief Executive Officer
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC)
Supply Chain Shift: How MBEs Strengthened a Manufacturer’s Response to Disruption
Date: September 17, 2020
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
An intimate look at how supply chain shifts have strengthened connections between suppliers and the furniture manufacturer. Through 3 case studies, the panel shares how great communication, data transparency, and good, old-fashioned re-engineering led to soup-to-nuts solutions for point of sale, delivery, and more.
Register and join the discussion of how to:
- Coordinate and implement major changes in product and service delivery
- Control costs and strengthen business connections during disruption.
- Endure and emerge from tumult taking care of business and taking care of yourself.
Panelists:
Kavy Lenon
Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity
Herman Miller
Michael Davenport
President
Jireh Metal
Dennis Bhaskaran
President
Apex Spring
Diversity Wins: Lessons in Contracting and Inclusion from Local-level Transportation Procurement
Date: September 16, 2020
Time: 2:00-2:30pm
Are you a small or disadvantaged business fighting for state or local government contracts? Are you seeking more diversity and inclusion in contracting opportunities and suppliers? Get practical advice from three supplier diversity directors representing large metropolitan transportation systems and infrastructure. Hear how requirements for US Department of Transportation (DOT) funds spurs agencies to reach suppliers nationwide for local-level contracts, assists emerging small businesses through training, removes barriers to participation, and generates recognition for those who exceed diversity goals.
Register and learn how to:
- Bid and win DOT (Federal Highway, Aviation, or Transit Administration) contracts
- Get a foot in the door, and then expand to more states.
- Advocate for top-down support by citing regulations and knowing your market
Panelists: Maurice Bridges, Director, Business & Supplier Diversity, Office of Diversity & Federal Compliance at VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, Texas, Michael Bryant, Director Civil Rights Division at Texas Department of Transportation, and Raymond Christy, Airport Senior Planner/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator at Salt Lake City Department of Airports
Panelists:
Maurice Bridges
Director, Business & Supplier Diversity, Office of Diversity & Federal Compliance
VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, Texas
Michael Bryant
Director Civil Rights Division at Texas Department of Transportation, and Raymond Christy, Airport Senior Planner/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator
Salt Lake City Department of Airports
Straight Talk: Planning, Positioning, and Pitching Your Business
Date: September 17, 2020
Time: 3:00-3:30pm
Discover 5 winning approaches to pitching your business to practically any buyer. Learn how to leverage a “think global, act local” approach – especially when selling outside your state. Join for a no-holds-barred talk on supplier diversity and ditching ineffective appeals to the curb.
Register and learn how to:
- Better position yourself and your offering as a win-win with buyers.
- Recruit supplier diversity professionals to your “growth team.”
- Satisfy “buy local” desires through a regional or national niche-marketing approach.
Speaker:
Kendra Burris-Austin
Director of Supplier Diversity
Centene Corporation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will dominate sourcing in the next 5 years.
Date: September 17, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:00 pm
Are You Ready?
Connect the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to how your business is sized up and filtered in - or out - in a digital instant through the expanded roles of bots and algorithms. Learn how to get through round 1 - without taking it personally or losing personal connection. Added bonus, learn how to grow digital capacity and micro-businesses around the world.
Register and learn how to:
- Position your business to impress any AI system and move to round 2
- Work with, not against, a rapidly changing digital landscape
- Connect instantly with people to maintain that personal touch
Speaker:
Fernando Hernandez
Supplier Diversity & Sustainability Director
Microsoft (and former MBE)