About

Navigating a New Era for MBEs

Following our dedicated focus on Closing The Equity Gap in Baltimore last year, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is now poised to redefine norms in Atlanta. In the face of recent attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, it's crucial that we chart a new course forward.

Join us for the Annual Conference & Exchange as we delve into the theme of Defining New Norms. Against the backdrop of these challenges, it's more important than ever to unite corporate leaders, procurement executives, diversity professionals, and MBE owners to shape a future where diversity thrives and equity reigns.

Amidst insightful education and dynamic networking opportunities over four days, let's collaborate, innovate, and set the stage for a more inclusive and equitable tomorrow. Together, we can overcome obstacles and pave the way for lasting change.

Sponsorships

As a sponsor of the Minority Business Economic Forum, you stand at the flashpoint of an economic equity revolution. One fueled not just by public statements of support, but by an exponential acceleration toward $1 trillion in revenue, wealth, and opportunity. Toward a prosperity that is generative and transformative — for the certified minority businesses and communities gaining contracts, employment, and economic resilience, and for a world that is made far better by their contributions to it.

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President SponsorshipLearn More

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Vanguard SponsorshipLearn More

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Legacy SponsorshipLearn More

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SEE ALL SponsorshipsLearn More

2023 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange and MBDA National MED Week

A Brief Recap

General

Where is the conference being held?

The conference will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center:
285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW,
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404)223-4000

What is the agenda for the conference?

We have built an agenda at a glance and will continue to update this as additional sessions and speakers are confirmed.

How do I register my staff?

We do not currently have a group registration option. Each staff member will need to create an account and register via the registration portal.

How many people are attending the conference? We are anticipating 4,500-5,500 attendees.

Will NMSDC make the attendee list available?

After you register for the conference, you will land on a confirmation page. An attendee list, for those that opted in to be visible during registration, will be available to review/search by navigating to the Conference Attendees page from the top menu. Additionally, the conference app will be available a few weeks ahead of the conference, and attendees can interact and engage with other attendees via the app.

I've been contacted by an attendee list reseller and/or a hotel reservation company, is this legit?

NMSDC does not sell or share your attendee data with any third-party list reseller. If you are contacted by someone claiming they have the NMSDC 2024 attendee list or that they are working on behalf of the NMSDC conference hotel reservations, they are unauthorized, and please report them to marcom@nmsdc.org.

Currently, we are aware of the unauthorized use of the NMSDC name with the following list resellers and hotel reservation companies:

Aim Global Expo Groups
Attendees Guide
Attendees Info
B2B1 (using a Gmail account)
B2B Events Planner
BCB International
Check In Now: Business Housing
Conf-Data
Contacts Lists
CHE in Vegas
Data Pros Scales
Direct Leads Hub
Email on Bizz
Eon Tec
Event Delegates
Event-Hosting LLC
Event Lead Scope
Exhibition Leads Pro
Exhibitor Services, AAT
Exhibits Scales Events
Expo Emails
Expo Key
Expos-Care
Get B2B Contact Info
Get Direct Contact
Get Leads For Event
Get Unique Contact
The Globe Tech Service
Industry Bizz
Informatic (using a Gmail account)
Leads Global Hunt
Leads Insides
Leads Retrieval Pro
Lists Event Cart
MetrixFox
Pre-Events Flyer
Register Exhibition
RX Event Data
Sales Lead Provider (using a Gmail account)
Show Visitor US
SoftTech Biz
Teamintys
Techno eHub
Trade Events Explores
Trade Lead Global Hunt
The Trade Show Planners
Trade Show Lead USA
US Advanced Show Leads
VHS Travel
Vibrant Lead Care
Xpo Optin Contacts

What is the dress code for the conference?

Generally, the conference has a dress code of business casual.

What is the Cancellation Policy? Cancellation refund requests must be received in writing at least 30 days prior to the event start date, and there is a $100 cancellation processing fee. Requests for cancellation made less than 30 days prior to the event start date are not eligible for refunds. There are no refunds for no-show, late arrival, or early departure.

What is your COVID-19 protocols for the conference? The well-being of all attendees is our #1 priority. We have an updated Wellness Protocols page that we urge all attendees to review prior to arriving onsite.

Where will NMSDC hold the Annual Conference & Exchange in future years? NMSDC will be holding our Annual Conference & Exchange at the following dates and times. Please keep in mind that dates/locations are subject to change as we finalize future year planning:

2025 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
November 2-5
Miami
2026 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 18-21
San Diego
2027 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 24-27
Charlotte
2028 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 22-25
Nashville
2029 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 21-24
Las Vegas
2030 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 19-22
New Orleans
2031 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange
October 20-23
Houston

Call for Proposals

Who can submit a proposal to be considered for the NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange?

Anyone from the NMSDC network can submit a proposal for consideration. More information on the types of proposals we are looking for can be found on the Call for Proposals webpage.

What types of proposals is NMSDC accepting?

In order to define the new norms, we are looking for proposals in the following categories:

Defining Growth through Capital to Reach New Markets.
Defining Growth through. Opportunities and Contracting.
Defining Growth through Innovation in New Markets.
Defining and Leveraging Our Networks.

More information on session proposal categories can be found on the Call for Proposals webpage.

What types of sessions are available?

This year, we are soliciting for breakout sessions, power talks, and interactive engagements. If there is an incredible topic submitted, it could even make it on the conference's main stage. More information can be found on the Call for Proposals webpage.

What is the deadline for submissions?

All entries are due June 16. Proposals can be submitted through our submission portal.

Where do I submit my session propsoal?

Proposals can be submitted through our submission portal. All entries are due June 16.

When will I find out if I have been selected to speak?

The Programs team will review all proposals at the close of the call on June 16. We hope to make selections and notify speakers no later than the end of July.

If selected, will I receive any compensation for speaking?

Selected speakers will not receive compensation for speaking (honorarium, travel expenses, complimentary full registration, etc.). However, if you only plan to come for the day of your presentation, we may provide a complimentary day-pass.

Conference and Matchmaker Registration

Who can register for the conference and where do I find more information?

We invite all individuals and companies that share our passion for driving socioeconomic equity and generational wealth in communities of color to attend our Annual Conference & Exchange. You can find more information regarding registration on our Register page.

If I registered for the conference am I automatically registered for the matchmaker event?

New this year, when you register for the conference, you will be asked if you would like to participate in matchmaking. By selecting yes for that question, we will automatically register you for matchmakers and you will receive an email with a link to update your matchmaker profile after confirming your conference registration.

Is there a fee to register for the matchmaker event?

Matchmaker is complimentary with conference registration.

What are the deadlines associated with the matchmaker event?

June 21 - Registration opens.
July 1 - Matching and scheduling opens.
October 6 - Registration closes.
October 13 - Matching and scheduling closes.
October 21 - Live meetings from 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. EST.
October 23 - Live meetings from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:00-3:30 p.m. EST.

If I need technical assistance with registration, who do I contact?

For conference registration, please contact NMSDC at events@nmsdc.org Monday – Friday 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. EST.

For matchmaker portal assistance, please contact technical support at info@mybusinessmatches.com or 212-381-9633, Monday – Friday 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. CST.

If I can't make it for the entire conference, do you have day passes available?

Yes, one-day registration passes cover your attendance for all sessions and workshops on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, including on-demand recordings available post-conference. Two-day passes are available for Monday-Tuesday or Tuesday-Wednesday. The SWAG bag is not included in one-day and two-day registration passes.

For more information on registration options and pricing, please see our Register page.

Can I register just for an event at the conference?

Yes, we have event tickets available for the Welcome Reception on Sunday, the Reception on Monday, and the Awards Ceremony and Farewell Reception on Wednesday.

For more information on registration options and pricing, please see our Register page.

Exhibits & Sponsors

Can I exhibit at The Exchange if I am not NMSDC-certified?

While we value all minority-owned businesses, The Exchange is a chance for NMSDC-certified minority-owned businesses to showcase their services and connect with NMSDC corporate members. Therefore, exhibitors at the Exchange must be NMSDC-certified or an NMSDC corporate member.

Can booth personnel attend sessions?

Booth fees do not include conference registration, meal or event tickets, which are available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional quick facts are listed on the Exhibit page of the website.

What is the 30-second video shout-out option?

These are short commercials that will play during points in the conference, like when we are transitioning from one session to the next and need time to reset the stage. The specific specs for the video are the following:

Size: 1920 x 1080
Resolution: 1080p
Format: h.264 mpeg4 AVC1
File type: .mov
Frame Rate: 30 fps
Audio: 48k AAC

Where do I find more information regarding the ads that are a part of my sponsorship package?

You can find more information about the digital program ads on the Advertise page, including how to submit the ad by the September 30 deadline.

Featured Speakers

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