Minority Business RoundTable | Washington, D.C.

Detailed Agenda

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.

» View Award Winners