Agenda at a Glance

Opening Remarks
NMSDC CEO and President Ying McGuire commences this historic and important 50th Anniversary Conference & Exchange with her vision for how the next 50 years will unfold. Reflecting on the organization’s growth and impact over the past 50 years, she will also focus on setting a vision for how NMSDC will disrupt to achieve the $1 trillion goal, expand reach across geographic and organizational boundaries, and ensure that all NMSDC members are poised to meet the opportunities and challenges of the future.
Speaker(s):
Ying McGuire, CEO and president, NMSDC

Celebrating the NMSDC Story: Letters from Presidents
In this keynote address, attendees will take a trip in time to see how the disruption all started. Past NMSDC Presidents will share how they disrupted the MBE ecosystem during their terms, and the inspiration behind their work, and reflect on how NMSDC has evolved to becoming the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest group of communities of color while also focusing on the organization’s 50 years of tremendous growth, milestones, and success.
Speaker(s):
Louis Green, president, Supplier Success
Harriet Michel, president & CEO, HR Michel, LLC
Adrienne Trimble, vice president, chief diversity officer, Sysco
Joset Wright-Lacy, CEO & founder, Waypoint Strategies

Foresight: A New Vision for a New Future
In this keynote address, Don Cravins, Jr., under secretary of commerce for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce will deliver his thoughts on the future of MBDA and the vital role it plays in expanding economic growth and equity to all communities. Drawing from his work with the National Urban League and his years of experience driving small business development, Cravins will share unique insights on how to pivot from the strategies of the past to find new ways to achieve the goals of the future. Attendees will be introduced to the new challenges facing MBEs and the unprecedented strategies that are being created to address them. Join us as we look ahead to learn how we position MBEs of all sizes to grow and succeed.
Speaker(s):
Donald R. Cravins, Jr., under secretary of commerce for minority business development, MBDA

The Future of NMSDC
The path forward for NMSDC in our next 50 years starts here. This wide-ranging conversation will focus on what is working now to drive growth and opportunities for MBEs, what the organization can do better, and the potential implications of policy changes, societal shifts, and even international events on today’s business owners. This session will illustrate the power of collaboration from all sides of the NMSDC ecosystem as we move toward achieving the $1 trillion goal. Attendees will enjoy robust dialogue on how to redesign strategy and tactics to drive change, and how to help MBEs pivot into emerging fields to become early adopters. Most importantly, this dynamic panel will address the opportunities that come with the unprecedented government spending, and explore critical questions such as: what hangs in the balance for MBEs if we do not move the needle? How much longer will it take to close the racial wealth gap? You do not want to miss this enlightening conversation.
Moderator:
Alvin-o Williams, president and CEO, SRMSDC

Speaker(s):
Ying McGuire, CEO and president, NMSDC
Carlton Oneal, president, LighSpeedEdu, Inc.
Guy Schweppe, senior vice president, technology & software procurement, Dell

Live Case Study: Kicking the Door Open in Nontraditional Lines of Business
Join Mass Mutual General Counsel, Mike O’Connor as he presents a case study from a legal perspective on how to break through barriers and gain access to non-traditional lines of business.
Speaker(s):
Mike O'Connor, general counsel, Mass Mutual

In the past two years, the federal government has invested a once-in-a-generation amount of funding into the nation's critical infrastructure to remain competitive in the global economy. The CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act is bringing over $6.8T into the American economy to drive economic development.  Come listen to how the federal government and local MBEs are both finding innovative practices to grow new living wage jobs and wealth creation in local underserved communities.
Moderator:
Susan Jin Davis, social impact officer, Al Roker Enterprises

Speaker(s):
Alejandra Castillo, asst. secretary of commerce for economic development, Dept of Commerce
Mark Wilson, CEO, Chime Solutions

The acceleration of Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies has opened up new wealth creation opportunities for MBEs to be part of the global digital transformation. Come participate in this thought leadership conversation with some of the country's top Blockchain & Cryptocurrency diversity leaders who are trailblazing new initiatives for minority communities to be represented and integrated into this emerging technology.
Speaker(s):
Michael Blake, CEO, Atlas Strategy
Cleve Mesidor, executive director, The Blockchain Foundation 
Olayinka Odeniran, founder, Black Women In Blockchain
Sinclair Skinner, founder, Black Blockchain Summit

Welcome Remarks

Let’s Talk Generational Wealth in Communities of Color
Join us for a fireside chat with Gia Peppers, an award-winning on-air talent, entertainment journalist, content creator, and podcaster who is known for her nationally syndicated podcast, "More Than That with Gia Peppers.“ This award-winning series is redefining how wealth is being created in media by investing in a 100% minority-owned supply chain. In this discussion, Gia will be joined by TIAA's chief product and business development officer, Colbert Narcisse, and Wells Fargo's head of operations for Wealth & Investment Management, Nyron Latif for an authentic conversation aimed to inspire people and brands. Inspiration aimed at increasing investment in minority-owned businesses and creating multigenerational wealth and ROI (Return on Inclusion) for companies and individuals.
Moderator:
Gia Peppers, award-winning journalist & television host, NBC's "Today Show"

Speaker(s):
Nyron Latif, head of operations for wealth & investment management (WIM), Wells Fargo
Colbert Narcisse, chief product and business development officer, TIAA

The 50-Year Plan: Building Multigenerational Pipelines for Minority-owned Suppliers
Opening doors to ensure that MBEs become true partners with corporations as Tier1 suppliers is critical to creating an inclusive economy that ensures the US global economic standing will be an even greater priority for the next 50 years. In this session you will hear from MBEs and corporations as they share anecdotes on how MBEs can be true Tier 1 partners and how together they can break barriers to market entry to drive job creation, stability in local economies, and generate multigenerational wealth in communities of color.
Speaker(s):
Berto Guerra, CEO and founder, AVANZAR, Inc.
Chris Nielsen, executive VP of product support and chief quality officer, Toyota Motor North America
Rosa Santana, CEO and founder, Forma

How The SBA Administrator Disrupted the Government's Status Quo
Administrator Guzman shares her journey as the leader of the SBA and the bold moves that have been made to disrupt the government's status quo
Speaker(s):
Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator, Small Business Administration

They Have Billions; You Have the Juice; Contracting with the Federal Government in 2023
Hear from Associate Administrators of the SBA, Bibi Hidalgo and Mark Madrid, on how to sell to the largest supplier in the world, the Federal Government. And learn about SBA resources available in your growth and scaling journey.
Speaker(s):
Bibi Hidalgo, associate administrator for government contracting & business development, Small Business Administration
Mark Madrid, associate administrator for the office of entrepreneurial development (OED), Small Business Administration 

Billion-dollar MBEs I: Stories from the NMSDC 50th Anniversary Steering Committee
In this session, attendees will hear from members of the steering committee as they share their journeys of how they disrupted their respective industries to become some of the largest MBEs in the nation. From humble beginnings to what's next, attendees will enjoy deep conversations on how MBEs can use disruptive strategies in order to successfully scale and become titans of industry.
Speaker(s):
Ying McGuire, CEO and president, NMSDC
Dave Steward, chairman and founder, World Wide Technology (WWT)

The State of Race in America and the Impact on Minority Business
Join Former New Orleans Mayor and current National President of the Urban League, Marc Morial and MSNBC / NBC News journalist Richard Lui for a fireside chat to share their insights on the state of American race relations today, the role of minority entrepreneurs in society and the impact of race on minority businesses.
Moderator:
Richard Lui, American journalist and news anchor, MSNBC/NBC News

Speaker(s):
Marc Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League

Impacting Global Disruption: Government Partnerships to Increase MBE Growth with Legendary Sports Icon Isiah Thomas
The recent global pandemic and supply chain shortages brought forth several significant concerns that affected our global economy. In order to disrupt the status-quo and change the way we respond to supply chain shortages, minority businesses must be a part of the equation and solution. This session will focus on the relationship government services can provide to MBEs and aid in their growth while providing solutions.
Moderator:
Ron Busby, president & CEO, U.S. Black Chambers

Speaker(s):
Tamara Maxwell, senior vice president, Export-Import Bank of the United States
Isiah Thomas, CEO, Isiah International
Vinai Thummalapally, ambassador and deputy director and COO,USTDA (ret.)

Fireside Chat with Apple VP of Procurement Dan Rosckes
In this exclusive and robust fireside chat, Dan Rosckes will share how he has leveraged power and influence, developed smart strategies, and provided socially conscious leadership to disrupt the status quo in supplier diversity.
Speaker(s):
Walter Freeman, director, global procurement, Apple
Dan Rosckes, vice president of procurement, Apple

Billion-dollar MBEs II: Stories from the NMSDC 50th Anniversary Steering Committee
In this session, attendees will hear from members of the steering committee as they share their journeys of how they disrupted their respective industries to become some of the largest MBEs in the nation. From humble beginnings to what's next, attendees will enjoy deep conversations on how MBEs can use disruptive strategies in order to successfully scale and become titans of industry.
Moderator:
Ying McGuire, CEO and president, NMSDC

Speaker(s):
Janice Bryant-Howroyd, founder and CEO, The Act One Group
Jose Mas, CEO, MasTec
Twila True, founder and CEO, True Family Enterprises

How the Business Consortium Fund Invests in Human Capital
Join Business Consortium Fund CEO Sahra Halpern, as she provides an in-depth overview of BCF and discusses the fund’s success in investing in human capital.
Speaker(s):
Sahra Halpern, CEO, Business Consortium Fund

Growth is King: Critical Considerations for Every MBE to Become a Mega Success by Leveraging Private Equity
Growth is often identified as a common objective for businesses of all sizes. Startups need growth to prove their business model, large businesses need growth to provide a return for their investors. This panel will explore three key strategies to achieve growth 1) Venture Capital, 2) Mergers and Acquisitions and 3) the benefits of working with private equity investors.
Moderator:
Bob Greene, CEO, NAIC

Speaker(s):
Leslie Brun, chairman and CEO, Ariel Alternatives
Monika Mantilla, managing partner, Altura Capital
Tarrus Richardson, CEO, IMB Partners