Table of Contents Program
4
Greetings from Florida’s MEDWeek Coordinator
8
Greetings from Florida’s MEDWeek Co-Chair & Master of Ceremonies
10
Access to Market – Presenters
12
Access to Contracts – Presenters
13
Access to Capital – Presenters
14
Honorees
17
Sponsorship Advertising
19
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Program 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. PLENARY SESSION Mr. Desmond Alufohai Master of Ceremonies
Opening Remarks
Ms. Joy Starkey Program Director – MBDA Export Center
Introduction of Florida’s MEDWeek Coordinator
Ms. Marie R. Gill – MEDWeek Coordinator
Welcome Remarks
Remarks by Industry Leaders & MEDWeek Partners South Florida U. S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, (USEAC)
Mr. Johnathan “Jon” Ward Executive Director
Miami-Dade Office of International Trade Consortium U.S. Department of Commerce
Mr. J. Eduardo Torres Director
Video Presentation “The Export Process Overview”
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Program 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ACCESS TO MARKETS – CARIBBEAN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Mr. Desmond Alufohai
Moderator 11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
LOUDER THAN WORDS – TIPS FROM YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRADE PARTNER U.S. Customs and International Trade Attorney – Law Offices of GrayRobinson, P.A. Mr. Peter Quinter, Esq. 11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. INTERMISSION & LUNCH BREAK 12:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ACCESS TO CONTRACTS – GOVERNMENT & COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES Moderators
Ms. Marie R. Gill and Ms. Joy Starkey
Panel #1
GSA | MBDA Federal Procurement Center | Miami-Dade Aviation
Panel #2
SAM’s Club | Duke Energy | The Walt Disney Company | PortMiami | JaxPort
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Program 2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. LOUDER THAN WORDS – VIDEO PRESENTATION 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ACCESS TO CAPITAL PANEL – DIVERSE BUSINESS FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES Ms. Gladys Keith President, FSB Agency Inc.
Moderator
Export – Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM Bank) | South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) Revolving Loan Fund | BankUnited | Ascendus SE | Opa-Locka CDC Business Fund 3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. LOUDER THAN WORDS – TIPS FROM CPA 3:10 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. 30TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE TO M. GILL & ASSOCIATES, INC. Congratulations! – A Trip Down Memory Lane Video Presentations from Partners and Public Officials
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Program 3:50 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. THE MEDWeek AWARDS COVID-19 RECOVERY Awards
Stuart Architecture Evolve Mechanical Annie Wilson Home Care Services, Inc. Mygani, LLC Urban Ambassadors
MBE of the YEAR Awards Hallusa Natural TIC Aerospace, Inc. Sandwicheries Optimum Software Solutions, Inc.
Minority Exporter of the Year Minority Service Firm of the Year Minority Hospitality Firm of the Year Minority Technology Firm of the Year MBE of the DECADE Awards Outstanding Construction Firm of the Decade Outstanding Service Firm of the Decade Outstanding Manufacturer of the Decade Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Decade
IMR Development, Corp. Janette L. Davis, CPA, LLC Champion Controls, Inc. LEASA Industries Company, Inc.
4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Guest Speaker Closing Remarks
Ms. Terri Ferguson Ms. Joy Starkey
MERRY CHRISTMAS | FELIZ NAVIDAD | JWAYE NWEL | SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
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Greetings from Florida’s MEDWeek Coordinator Dear Clients, Community Partners and Guests: On behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, our MBDA Export Center, and my awesome “Miami Dream Team” at M. Gill & Associates, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Florida’s 38th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week (MEDWeek) Business Conference. Thank you for sharing our first Virtual MEDWeek with us. The global coronavirus pandemic has created distress and interruptions in our lives. The current crisis has changed, and continues to change the business landscape as we know it. Therefore, we as small, minority and women businesses must reassess not only our short-term plans, but our longterm strategies as well. Indeed, this exercise is revealing new and important insights—because, as we know, resilience is invaluable in times of crisis--Hence, our first VIRTUAL MEDWeek—and registration is through the roof! A few months ago, our MBDA Export Center - Florida, operated by M. Gill & Associates, Inc., launched the MBDA COVID-19 Recovery Initiative and Business Center, with CARES Act funding from the MBDA, to provide relief to small and minority enterprises in Florida. We have expanded our statewide reach, and are helping hundreds of small and minority businesses in the inner cities and communities of Florida to rebound from this horrible COVID-19 pandemic. Our MBDA Export and CARES Act Centers continue to provide technical assistance and business coaching services to help in the recovery of our affected businesses, so they may generate increased financing, contracting, and greater access to domestic and global markets—and our clients are engaging fully in the exporting experience by exposing Florida’s products and services to the world. The U.S. Department of Commerce – MBDA can proudly celebrate more than a 3:1 return on its investment from the MBDA programs that M. Gill & Associates operates in Florida. 8 | Florida’s 38th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week MEDWEEK2020
I am pleased that our MBDA-funded Technical Assistance Initiatives to date, have facilitated over $5 Billion in contracts and financing to minority-owned businesses, resulting in the creation and retention of 12,800 and 5,050 U.S. jobs, respectively. These repeated accomplishments have propelled the MBDA Export Center in Miami, Florida as the NUMBER ONE PERFORMING MBDA BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM IN THE NATIONAL MBDA NETWORK. We have upheld the ideals of the MBDA for 20 of our 30-year existence—in fact, we have been the “branding authority” in support of the MBDA and its Florida programs. It is because of performances like ours, that the U.S. Department of Commerce continues to be strong--continues to recognize the value of its Centers--and continues to provide sorely needed resources to help our small/minority/women/and veteran businesses nationwide. Finally, I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation and gratitude to our sponsors, partners and to the National MBDA for the opportunity to serve and for recognizing our contributions. This is our passion, and we will continue to focus, as we have for the past 30 years, on working to grow small/minority/women/veteran-owned businesses, by engaging with local, federal, and international government agencies, domestic and international corporations, and educational institutions, to increase their support S/MBEs in the local and global economies. I look forward to your continued support and collaboration for many years to come. We stand ready always to hear from you and to provide the tools and resources you need to engage in entrepreneurial partnerships and business growth. My team and I appreciate your support. We would welcome your feedback on your first virtual MEDWeek experience with us. Please take all pandemic precautions and be safe--always.
In the spirit of excellence, Marie R. Gill
President & CEO | M. Gill Associates, Inc. Operator/Executive Director, MBDA Export Center, Florida | MEDWeek Coordinator & Publicist
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Greetings from Florida’s MEDWeek Co-Chair & Master of Ceremonies Dear Business Associates and Guests: Welcome to Florida’s 38th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference, a.k.a. MEDWeek, presented by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Export and CARES Act Business Centers – Miami, Florida and coordinated by M. Gill & Associates, Inc. This is also our first-ever virtual MEDWeek event! The COVID-19 pandemic has not only sparked unprecedented global health crises, but it has also created extraordinary global economic, trade and investment crises. Global trade has been disrupted by simultaneous supply, demand, and trade cost shocks, resulting in the sharpest and deepest trade contraction in a generation. Micro/small/ minority/women and veteran-owned businesses have been the hardest-hit by the pandemic. Additionally, small businesses usually do not possess sufficient resources, especially financial and managerial, and they are not prepared for such long-term disruptions, compared to large enterprises. This year’s conference theme is “A World of Opportunities.” We have assembled a notable and inspiring group of experts to provide relevant information, best practices, and practical tools in three key areas to help small businesses succeed during this pandemic: (a) access to capital, (b) access to contracts, and (c) access to global markets. This mirrors the “Triple A” resource initiative to which we have all grown accustomed, and as provided with great passion and expertise by the MBDA Export and CARES Act Business Centers, funded by the MBDA and Operated by M. Gill & Associates, itself a Miami, Florida-based M/WBE. I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to our event sponsors, partners, vendors, MEDWeek planning committee members, the staff and management of FIU’s Kovens Conference Center, and to our fearless leader Ms. Marie Gill and her exceptional and tireless team. I am certain that attendees will gain invaluable information and new insights from this year’s event. 10 | Florida’s 38th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week MEDWEEK2020
I look forward to returning to the “next normal” and to our in-person conference next year. Until then, please be safe – avoid closed spaces, avoid crowded spaces and avoid close contact situations. Please wear a face covering, wash your hands frequently and encourage social distancing! Respectfully,
Desmond Alufohai
U. Desmond Alufohai, CMP, CGBP Co-Chair Florida’s 38th Annual MEDWeek Conference Miami, Florida
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Access to Market – Presenters 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ACCESS TO MARKETS – CARIBBEAN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Mr. Desmond Alufohai
Moderator
Meet the Experts who can help you identify and pursue business opportunities in the Caribbean and the Americas. Grants are available to help underwrite the cost of certain trade missions and other International Trade activities; if you are New to Export, MEDWeek presents an array of resources that will help you become “Export Ready.” PRESENTING COUNTRIES Hear from Consuls General & Designated Representatives from the following countries: Barbados Jamaica St. Lucia
Suriname Haiti Dominican Republic
11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. LOUDER THAN WORDS – TIPS FROM YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRADE PARTNER U.S. Customs and International Trade Attorney Law Offices of GrayRobinson, P.A.
Mr. Peter Quinter, Esq.
FOR BIOS OF SPEAKERS - PLEASE VISIT SPEAKERS PAGE ON THE PLATFORM
“A World of Opportunities” 12 | Florida’s 38th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week MEDWEEK2020
Access to Contracts – Presenters 12:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ACCESS TO CONTRACTS – GOVERNMENT & COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES Ms. Marie R. Gill and Ms. Joy Starkey
Moderators
Supplier Diversity Presenters with Billions of Dollars in Contracts for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Panel #1 – GSA | MBDA Federal Procurement Center | Miami-Dade Aviation Ms. Chasity Ash Procurement Analyst/Lead Small Business Technical Analyst
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
MBDA Federal Procurement Center – Alexandra, VA Contracts Administration Miami-Dade Aviation Department
Mr. Tommy L. Marks Director Ms. Sylvia Novela Strategic Procurement Director
Panel #2 - SAM’s Club | Duke Energy | The Walt Disney Company | PortMiami | JaxPort Import/Export Logistics, SAM’s Club
Ms. Danielle Crawford
Supplier Diversity Manager, Duke Energy
Ms. Tonja Graham
Supplier Diversity Manager, Walt Disney World Director of Intergovernmental and Cargo Development, PortMiami Coordinator Procurement Services JaxPort
Ms. Carla McKinney Mr. Eric Olafson, Esq. Mr. Brain Williams
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Access to Contracts – Presenters 2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. LOUDER THAN WORDS – TIPS FROM CPA – VIDEO PRESENTATION FOR BIOS OF SPEAKERS - PLEASE VISIT SPEAKERS PAGE ON THE PLATFORM
“A World of Opportunities”
Access to Capital – Presenters 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ACCESS TO CAPITAL PANEL – DIVERSE BUSINESS FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES Moderator
Ms. Gladys Keith President, FSB Agency Inc. Tired of getting “No” for an answer? Hear from Lenders who are saying “Yes” to Your Domestic & Export Financing Needs.
Presenters include: Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM Bank); SFRPC Revolving Loan Fund; BankUnited; Ascendus (Formerly ACCION USA); Opa Locka CDC Business Fund EXIM Bank
Mr. Michael K. Jackson Business Development Specialist, Minority & Women Owned Business Outreach Group, Office of Small Business
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Access to Capital – Presenters Mr. Jeffrey R. Tart Senior Loan Officer
South Florida Regional Planning Council - Revolving Loan Fund
Ms. Ashaki Bronson-Marcellus Vice President/Business Relationship Manager
BankUnited Ascendus SE (Formerly ACCION)
OLCDC Business Fund 3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Ms. Fabiana Estrada Director of Lending Ms. Marcela Llinas Business Dev. Specialist
LOUDER THAN WORDS – TIPS FROM CPA - Janette L. Davis - CPA Ms. Janette L. Davis
CPA
FOR BIOS OF SPEAKERS - PLEASE VISIT SPEAKERS PAGE ON THE PLATFORM
“A World of Opportunities”
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Honorees COVID-19 RECOVERY Awards COVID-19 RECOVERY
COVID-19 RECOVERY
COVID-19 RECOVERY
Anson M. Stuart President Stuart Architecture
Reginal Clark President Evolve Mechanical
Annie Wilson Owner Annie Wilson Home Care Services, Inc.
COVID-19 RECOVERY
COVID-19 RECOVERY
Felicia Wright President Mygani, LLC
Jaesyn Mixon Owner Urban Ambassadors, LLC
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Honorees MBE of the DECADE Awards CONSTRUCTION
Keith Jennings, President IMR Development Corp.
MANUFACTUER
SERVICE
Chantal Wedderburn Janette Davis President President Champion Controls, Inc. Janette L. Davis, CPA, LLC
MBE of the YEAR Awards
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE DECADE
George Yap (Right), Chairman Andrew Yap, President LEASA Industries Company, Inc.
EXPORTER
SERVICE
HOSPITALITY
TECHNOLOGY
Fredi Solano President-Owner HALLUSA NATURAL
Silvia Gutierrez President TIC Aerospace, Inc.
Bellatriz Limongi & Antonio Rodriguez Owners Sandwicheries
Devon Carew Senior Vice President Optimum Software Solutions, Inc.
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