Agenda

Step into a world of purposeful connections at Putting With a Purpose—an extraordinary event designed to elevate your networking game to new heights. This connect activity will also give you the chance to engage with individuals who share your passion for making a difference. As you participate, you'll forge valuable connections while simultaneously contributing to the betterment of society.

A portion of the sponsorship proceeds from this event will directly support four reputable charities in the Seattle area. These organizations are dedicated to a range of vital causes, from providing essential resources like food and hygiene products to extending financial aid to those in need.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Plus Room is proudly sponsored by: Knock Inc., LSI, SDI, Softpath, V2SOFT, and VDart.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Room is proudly sponsored by: Alaska Airlines, Discover, Exxon, and Lenovo.

Dress Code: Business casual. All attendees are welcome. 

Starting at 4:45 p.m. and running through 10:00 p.m., continuous transportation begins from the Sheraton Grand Seattle and Fairmont Olympic Seattle to the Museum of Pop Culture and back, every 30-45 minutes.

Forum Kickoff and Welcome Address
Brief remarks to welcome Forum attendees and set the stage for the day.
Speaker(s): 
Ying McGuire, president and CEO, NMSDC
Firoz Lalji, chairman & CEO, Zones, LLC.
Bruce Harrell, mayor, Seattle

Navigating the Economic Horizon: Insights and Projections
In a world of an ever-shifting economic landscape, this segment provides a crucial platform for understanding future financial and economic trends from distinguished economic experts, who will analyze current data to predict upcoming economic shifts encompassing a wide range of topics, including monetary policy, fiscal strategies, economic resilience and opportunities in the years ahead. Attendees will learn how to leverage economic forecasts in business planning and what fiscal policies can help create a more equitable business environment.
Moderator: 
Rhett Buttle, Founder, CEO, Public Private Strategies
Speaker(s): 
Joseph Seydl, senior markets economist, J. P. Morgan Private Bank 

NextNOW: New Energy. What is on the Horizon for MBEs?
An in-depth analysis of the evolving energy sector, outlining future trajectories and highlighting strategies for minority business enterprises (MBEs) to capitalize on emerging trends and opportunities.
Moderator: 
Kevin Simmons, partner - power, utilities, & renewable sector leader, Deloitte
Speaker(s): 
Ralph Cleveland, president and CEO, American Association of Blacks in Energy
Natalie King, founder and CEO, Dunamis Charge, Inc.
Stanley Porter, vice chair, global energy, resources, & industrials leader, Deloitte 

NextNOW: AI-Driven Futures Transforming Workforce and Business
Join industry leaders for a pivotal discussion on AI’s role in reshaping business. Learn how AI drives innovation and growth, particularly for underserved businesses, and its impact on workforce dynamics, business models, and operational efficiency.
Moderator: 
Patricia Miller, director of profitable and responsible buying, Accenture
Speaker(s): 
Saad Ayub, chief digital and innovation officer, Zones, LLC.
Sal Companieh, chief digital and information officer, Cushman & Wakefield

Government Investments: Capitalizing on Government Investments for Future Growth (CHIPS)
Exploring Innovative Government Funding Pathways - dive into a comprehensive session that demystifies the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act.
Learn strategic approaches to accessing new government funds and understand how these government measures can support your business growth and technological advancement.
Moderator: 
Ying McGuire, CEO and president, NMSDC 
Speaker(s):
Frank Sanders, corporate vice president, global supply chain, Intel Corporation

Capital Talk: Breaking Barriers - Capital Solutions and Investment Strategies for Pioneering Wealth Creation
In this engaging fireside chat featuring Joe Bae, co-CEO of KKR, we will discover how KKR harnesses diversity as a strategic advantage, exploring its transformative power in driving innovation and competitiveness. Gain insights into the pivotal role capital plays in fostering wealth creation within communities of color and explore ecosystem solutions aimed at facilitating seamless connections between capital and the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) ecosystem.
Moderator:
Norman Chen, CEO, The Asian American Foundation 
Speaker(s):
Joseph Bae, co-CEO, KKR

Advancing Economic Equity
An insightful discussion featuring esteemed c-suite leaders as they share their perspectives on advancing economic equity. In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the pursuit of economic equity has become more crucial than ever. This panel brings together leaders from diverse sectors to explore innovative strategies, challenges, and opportunities in promoting MBEs and economic inclusivity.  
Moderator:
James Lowry, CEO, JHLA
Speaker(s):
Jim Connell, head of global supplier services and chief procurement officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Heather Ostis, chief procurement officer, Starbucks
Celeste Warren, vice president, global diversity & inclusion center of excellence, Merck

Presented by Zones

Innovating at Scale: Driving Secure Transformation in the AI and Cloud Era

This is a closed session, by invitation only.

Putting With a Purpose

Step into a world of purposeful connections at Putting With a Purpose—an extraordinary event designed to elevate your networking game to new heights. This connect activity will also give you the chance to engage with individuals who share your passion for making a difference. As you participate, you'll forge valuable connections while simultaneously contributing to the betterment of society.

A portion of the sponsorship proceeds from this event will directly support four reputable charities in the Seattle area. These organizations are dedicated to a range of vital causes, from providing essential resources like food and hygiene products to extending financial aid to those in need.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Plus Room is proudly sponsored by: Knock Inc., LSI, SDI, Softpath, V2SOFT, and VDart.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Room is proudly sponsored by: Alaska Airlines, Discover, Exxon, and Lenovo.

Join us for an exclusive Starbucks tasting event, featuring special guests Heather Ostis, Chief Procurement Officer, and Chéla Gage, Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity. Dive into the world of coffee with these accomplished leaders as they guide you through a formal coffee tasting of a select Starbucks blend. Don't miss this enriching coffee journey.

Sponsored by Barclays

This Connect features sessions on the NMSDC Capital Manager’s Program's evolution, strategies for leveraging the Growth Initiative while maintaining minority certification, and highlights innovative capital activities such as the $50 million Barclays Black Formation Investment fund managed by Zeal Capital. Additionally, the session allows corporations to present sourcing challenges and capital providers to highlight their capabilities, fostering collaboration and relationship-building within the ecosystem.

Speaker(s): 
Harvey Butler, Barclays
Mark Harrison, Totem Consulting
Nasir Qadree, Zeal Capital Partners
Aran Rudrakumar, Barclays
Stefanie Thomas, Zeal Capital Partners
Kurt Trevan, Nclude Capital

Dress Code: Cocktail or business professional attire.

Starting at 5:45 p.m. and running through 9:45 p.m., continuous transportation begins from the Sheraton Grand Seattle and Fairmont Olympic Seattle to the Fremont Studios, every 30-45 minutes.

Opening Remarks.
Kala Gibson, NMSDC Board Chair and EVP chief corporate responsibility officer, Fifth Third Bank

NextNOW: New Energy At the Crossroad - Petroleum, Transportation, and New Energy
A strategic session exploring the synergy between petroleum, transportation, and new energy advancements, with a focus on identifying growth opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises amid the shift to sustainability.
Moderator: 
Katie Mehnert, founder and CEO, ALLY Energy
Speaker(s): 
Donald Cravins Jr., head of government affairs and outreach, Williams
Tanya Skilton, executive director global purchasing and supply chain - strategy, innovation & customer care, General Motors
Maru Suarez Williams, ESG Manager for Supply Chain Management, Chevron
Ryan Spies, managing director, sustainability, Alaska Airlines

Ensuring Costs of Debt are Fair and Equitable 
Capital is the lifeblood of business. A small difference in interest rates can compound to a large number. Recent research by Professor William D. Bradford, Emeritus Dean, UW Foster School of Business confirms what many observers have long suspected: Entrepreneurs of color are charged higher interest rates and have different collateral requirements to secure financing. In this session, Professor Bradford will share the key findings from his research and will engage in a lively dialogue about the implications of this research for regulators and financial institutions.
Moderator:
Jaime Mendez, owner, Se Habla Media
Speaker(s):
William Bradford, emeritus dean, University of Washington, Foster School of Business

NextNOW: AI and Racial Equity
This segment will engage with top thought leaders to examine AI's pivotal role in fostering racial economic equity. The conversation will tackle how AI can either perpetuate or dismantle systemic racial biases paving the way for a more equitable future.
Moderator:
Ruth Umoh, leadership editor, Fortune
Speaker(s):
Erin Abrahamson, chief of staff, The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
Merisa Heu-Weller, general manager, Microsoft
Sulay Sandy, partner, QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey
John Yang, president & executive director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC

The Future of 5G and Telecommunications to Close the Digital Divide
An exploration of 5G's role in advancing global telecommunications, its application across industries, and its capacity to enable smarter, more connected, and equitable societies.
Moderator:
Mona Lee Locke, Emmy-award-winning journalist and former First Lady of Washington State
Speaker(s):
Nestor Cano, executive vice president, transformation & chief information and digital officer, T-Mobile

The Future of Diverse Business: Headwinds, Opportunities & The Pathway Forward
The management of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in both the public and private sectors is experiencing significant disruption. Leaders across all sectors, concerned with fostering a more prosperous economy, must navigate this landscape carefully. Moreover, the recent court decisions, along with ensuing challenges in the private sector, adds additional layers of complexity. This panel discussion will focus on the future of diverse businesses, explore potential solutions to these challenges, and provide insights from national leaders on how to strategically address both the obstacles and significant opportunities that lie ahead.
Moderator:
Ruth Umoh, leadership editor, Fortune
Speaker(s):
Jessica Fulton, vice president of policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Ying McGuire, president and CEO, NMSDC
Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Eric Morrissette, acting undersecretary, Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce

Infrastructure Progress Report- Tracking Infrastructure Investment Impacts
An expert panel will review the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focusing on MBE engagement and opportunities for long-term economic growth.
Moderator:
Mike Fong, director, Washington State Department of Commerce
Speaker(s):
Sam Cho, commissioner, Port of Seattle
Roger Millar, secretary of transportation, WSDOT
Joan M. Mooney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget (PMB), U.S. Department of the Interior
Lynne Robinson, mayor, City of Bellevue

Government Investments: Capitalizing on Government Investments for Future Growth (Inflation Reduction Act)
In this discussion, speakers will dive into a comprehensive session that demystifies the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Learn strategic approaches to accessing new government funds and understand how these government measures can support your business growth and technological advancement.
Moderator:
Frank Hodge, dean, University of Washington Foster School of Business
Speaker(s):
Laurel Blatchford, chief implementation officer, IRA, United States Department of Treasury

Building the Next Billion Dollar MBEs
Strategies for diversification and growth - a strategic approach to scaling minority businesses into billion-dollar entities by harnessing smart diversification strategies for sustainable expansion.
Moderator:
Janice Bryant Howroyd,  founder and CEO, ActOne Group
Speaker(s):
Ben Carson Jr., co-founder and partner, FVLCRUM
Richard Glenn, executive vice-president (retired), Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
William Wang,  founder and CEO, VIZIO

Closing Remarks.
Ying McGuire, president and CEO, NMSDC

Putting With a Purpose

Step into a world of purposeful connections at Putting With a Purpose—an extraordinary event designed to elevate your networking game to new heights. This connect activity will also give you the chance to engage with individuals who share your passion for making a difference. As you participate, you'll forge valuable connections while simultaneously contributing to the betterment of society.

A portion of the sponsorship proceeds from this event will directly support four reputable charities in the Seattle area. These organizations are dedicated to a range of vital causes, from providing essential resources like food and hygiene products to extending financial aid to those in need.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Plus Room is proudly sponsored by: Knock Inc., LSI, SDI, Softpath, V2SOFT, and VDart.

The Putting With a Purpose Corporate Room is proudly sponsored by: Alaska Airlines, Discover, Exxon, and Lenovo.