Moving forward … faster.
You, your business and the National MBE Input Committee.

Opportunity Accelerator 2024 Program

Sunday, October 20, 2024 - 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern
Pre-registration check-in begins at 11:30 AM

Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Centennial Ballroom 2-3
265 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia

WELCOME

  • Carlton L. Oneal, National MBE Input Committee Chair and President, LightSpeedEdu

  • Kala Gibson, NMSDC Board Chairman and EVP and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, Fifth Third Bank

  • Ying McGuire, CEO and President, National Minority Supplier Development Council

KEYNOTE

Dr. Randal Pinkett
Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO, BCT Partners

Don't Miss This Moment: Diversity Must Triumph Over "Reversity"

We are at a historical crossroads between diversity progress and “reversity” or organized efforts to dismantle supplier diversity and programs like those offered by NMSDC. What is the role for MBEs and their allies to safeguard past progress and ensure future growth? The moment to do something is now and this message is both a call to unity and a call to action for the entire supplier diversity community.

Accelerate Your Business: A Financial Power Panel

Financial trailblazers reveal the game-changing tactics that empower small and minority businesses to thrive. From unlocking funding opportunities to mastering the art of financial resilience, this discussion delves into what it takes to succeed. Hear firsthand from those who have navigated the complexities of today’s financial landscape. This is your chance to gain the knowledge and confidence to propel your company forward and take control of your financial future.

  • Sahra Halpern, President and CEO, Business Consortium Fund

  • Phylicia Hill, CEO and Managing Director, H5 Strategic Alliances

  • Nannette Ray, President and CEO, TNR Advisors & Management Consultants, Moderator

When the Earth Moves: Steering Your Company Through Leadership Transitions

Change is an undeniable reality for all businesses. Are you prepared for when it strikes at the helm of your organization? Whether it entails the rise of a new leader in a family-owned enterprise, the company’s sale, an acquisition, or the unexpected departure of a business partner, it can have a profound impact on your operations, culture, and the stability and future of your company. Learn from those who’ve been there so you can prepare now.

SBA Update - News MBEs Can Use

Speaker: Larry Stubblefield, Deputy Associate Administrator, Small Business Administration.

HotOpps

This high-energy and always-popular session is an MBE favorite. You’ll experience rapid-fire opportunities from buying organizations committed to supplier diversity that are looking for MBEs now. This year, those organizations will include The Walt Disney Company, DuPont, Northern Trust, ARCO Design/Build Companies, CVS Health, Amazon, Gilbane Building Company, Barton Malow, and The Weitz Company.

  • Monette Knapik, Executive Director, Enterprise Supplier Program, CVS Health

  • Rosi Hasan, Sr. VP, Head of Procurement Strategy & Sustainability, Northern Trust

  • Hebrew Dixon, Director of Supplier Diversity, ARCO Design/Build Companies

  • Maria Prince, ESG Leader, Global Procurement, DuPont

  • Carla Toles McKinney, Manager, Supplier Diversity, The Walt Disney Company

  • Devon Whittier, Sr. Program Manager, Supplier Diversity & Inclusion, Amazon

  • Dannis Mitchell, Sr. Director, Community Engagement, Barton Malow

  • Harold Clay, Economic Inclusion Senior Specialist, Gilbane Building Company

  • Shekinah Fountain, Sr. DEI Associate, The Weitz Company