A Salute to Women
by Tanisha Coleman, MBA - Associate Marketing Director of Sonshine Communications
Women mean business! We have what it takes for entrepreneurial fitness. We turn our passions into profitable ventures; We then turn around and inspire others by serving as mentors. Women always leave an indelible footprint. We continuously focus on female empowerment. Simply put, women are da’ bomb! We can educate, create and innovate all while juggling work and the duties of a Mom. So, women, let’s rise up and continue to make history. Let’s not let our individual achievements remain a mystery. We must continue to work together for a successful win-win … Women, we mean business and on each other, we can always depend.
Table of Contents Greetings from Florida’s Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee
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Greeting Letter from Nakita Chambers - MBDA
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Greetings from the WMBI Founder & Host
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What Women’s History Month Means to Marie
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Program
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Profile of Honorees
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About M. Gill & Associates
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About M. Gill* Her Foundation
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Greetings from the WMBI Founder & Host
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International (WMBI) Conference. I am truly honored and grateful to have been empowered with this vision to develop, grow, and empower minority businesswomen to achieve success, and to have watched it grow from strength to strength over the years. Even as I pen this letter, over 600 entrepreneurs have already registered for this event, affirming that our WMBI empowerment movement is strong and timeless. I am indebted to our wonderful team of staff, consultants, vendors and volunteers for contributing their ideas, skills and time to bring this event to fruition. I owe a debt of gratitude to the City of Lauderdale Lakes—our very first host—for sharing our vision to focus on the development and growth of women entrepreneurs. We are grateful to the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the City of Miami that have championed this initiative with us from the very beginning. Special thanks to our very committed corporate partners and our subject matter experts who have joined us to discuss the status of women, and to share their insights and strategies in addressing disparities, challenges and opportunities faced particularly by businesswomen of color in various industries. Thanks for this great collaboration. Your contributions have, once again, made it possible for hundreds of entrepreneurs, career professionals, and students to benefit from your knowledge, and expertise.
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Greetings from the WMBI Founder & Host
Congratulations to our Distinguished Trailblazing Women Honorees—women who have positively touched the lives of women, globally; and women who have accomplished significant “Firsts” as they engaged in “Bullish” pursuits of equality, inclusion, growth, excellence, and recognition for businesswomen of color. Eleven years ago, when I engaged our MBDA’s Technical Assistance Programs to focus on minority businesswomen as a core segment in our company’s outreach strategy, I had no idea that, today we would be at the top of our game, and deeply entrenched in a strategy that has gained international support—a strategy that continues to uplift the marginalized, and propel the driven, by being “Bullish on Minority Bu$ine$$women.” Thank you for sharing and propagating the vision. Try not to be thwarted by this COVID-19 pandemic. As resilient women of color we must remember this: The world will be a better place if we remember to do what we can, with what we have, wherever we are...right now! And sure, let’s have fun doing it, too! Respectfully,
Marie R. Gill Marie R. Gill – Founder & CEO | M. Gill & Associates. Inc. Founder | Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International & BOMB Magazine Benefactor | M. Gill Her Foundation
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What Women’s History Month Means to Marie
March is Women’s History Month. Like the rest of the world, this is a time when I reflect more deeply on how much women have contributed to society and our advancements on behalf of humanity. Women’s History Month is also a time to appreciate the women in your life who impacted you on a personal level. Women have done so much in the business realm that it would be impossible to list all the achievements. According to the sba.gov website, in America in 2016, average woman-owned firm generated $1.3 million in annual sales and employed eight (8) workers. That’s employing about 9.4 million workers in America and generating $1.5 trillion in annual receipts. Five years later those numbers have climbed more than 10%. The contribution women have made to the economy is indisputable. Our celebration should not just be confined to one month. At M. Gill & Associates, we celebrate and uplift women year-round. 8 | B.O.M.B. MAGAZINE | 11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International Conference
What Women’s History Month Means to Marie Not only do we honor those who have paved the way for many others to excel, but we provide services and support to businesswomen, to help in the achievement of their business goals, year-round. As the founder and CEO of M. Gill & Associates, I know how hard it is to start and grow your own business. I know what it’s like and how it feels to fall flat when an idea or a task does not materialize. And I know how it feels to pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again--and succeed even greater than before! I believe in women and know with a level playing field we can achieve anything. Which is why M. Gill & Associates is not only woman-owned, but women-led as well. My team comprises some of the hardest working women I know and we always get the job done! My women-led team has achieved some of the highest levels of performance, making our Export Center the Number One performing Center in the MBDA’s network of funded Centers for program year 2019-2020. Through our strong work ethics and high achievements, we have greatly impacted the economy by focusing on the growth of small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Over the past five years our Miami MBDA Export Center which is operated by M. Gill & Associates has served over 2,000 clients, created over 3,000 jobs and facilitated more than $1 Billion in contracts and financing for our clients. I know women are capable of anything in an equitable environment. That is why we strive to ensure that minority businesswomen have the resources they need to be successful. To take it a step further, that is why I created the M. Gill *Her Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting and propelling women entrepreneurs to be the greatest they can be. Yes, during Women’s History Month – and always, we’re dedicated to being “Bullish on Minority Bu$ine$$women!” B.O.M.B. MAGAZINE | 11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International Conference | 9
Program
11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International Conference “Bullish On Minority Bu$ine$$women” (BOMB) JW Marriott Hotel 1109 Brickell Avenue | Miami, Florida 33131 Friday, March 26, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM In-person & Virtual Conference 1:15 PM • •
DJ plays Music Arrival of Guests
1:30 PM •
On-line registration goes live
2:00 PM Mr. Desmond Alufohai – Event Planning Consultant • • •
Blessing - Fr. Horace D. Ward, Rector, Holy Family Episcopal Church, Miami Gardens, FL Welcome Remarks Introduction of Conference Emcee (Sophia Nicholson)
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Program Ms. Sophia Nicholson – Conference Emcee • • •
Remarks Acknowledgements Introduction of Program Director & M. Gill’s Executive Liaison
Ms. Joy Starkey • •
Remarks Introduction of Ms. Marie Gill
Ms. Marie R. Gill • •
Welcome Remarks Overview of WMBI & M. Gill Her Foundation
Emcee – Sophia Nicholson • • •
Acknowledgement of VIPs in attendance Acknowledgement of Sponsors Introduces Video Presentations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, U. S. House of Representatives Honorable Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, U.S. House of Representatives Honorable Laurel M. Lee, Florida’s Secretary of State Honorable Francis Suarez, Mayor, City of Miami Honorable Danielle Higgins, Miami-Dade County Commissioner (D8)
2:30 PM Fireside Chat – Ladder Obstacles & Disparities: “How Fragile is the Glass Ceiling?” Facilitator: Ms. Joy Starkey •
Ms. Alika Kumar, Executive Director Phoenix Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center Phoenix, Arizona
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Ms. Monica Skoko Rodgriguez, Program Director Miami-Dade Commission for Women B.O.M.B. MAGAZINE | 11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International Conference | 11
Program 3:00 PM Emcee Introduces Video of Gladys West •
Special Video Presentation – “Women Impacting Women & the World” Ms. Gladys West – “The 87-year-old Black Woman behind GPS Technology”
3:10 PM Emcee introduces Ms. Teddie Laing, Moderator for Panel Discussion TOPIC: Challenges and Disparities for Women in Targeted Industries Moderator - Ms. Teddie Laing Chairperson, School of Global Business, Miami-Dade College, North Campus Panelists: 1. Women in Transportation/Aviation Ms. Loretta McNeir, Chairperson, Advisory Board Florida Memorial University’s Aviation Department 2. Impact of the African Diaspora Women in International Trade Ms. Abigail Ellary, Director, Enterprise Florida - Southern Africa 3. Women in Construction Ms. Christine Franklin, P.E., Founder & President, Cherokee Enterprises, Inc. 4:10 – 5:30 PM Emcee invites Marie Gill back on stage: • •
Official Launch of M. Gill * Her Foundation & B.O.M.B Magazine Awards Presentation
AWARD PRESENTATIONS (1) 38th Annual MEDWeek & COVID-19 Recovery Honorees 12 | B.O.M.B. MAGAZINE | 11th Annual Women Mean Bu$ine$$ International Conference
Program AWARD PRESENTATIONS (2) WMBI – Trailblazing Women 1. Presenting the Inaugural “2021 Global Women Empowerment Award” Honoree Her Excellency Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone Presenting the ‘Trailblazing Women (Significant Firsts) Awards Honoree 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization Hon. Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor, Miami-Dade County Malou Harrison, PhD., Executive Vice President & Provost, Miami-Dade College Hon. Hazelle P. Rogers, Mayor, City of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Ms. Althea A. Harris, U.S. Small Business Administration Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks Ms. Marie Gill & Ms. Joy Starkey
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Emcee Introduces Final Goodwill Video Presentations Followed by Reception Goodwill Video Messages & Remarks Hon. Roderick Oliver Mair – Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami Hon. Susan Harper – Consulate General of Canada in Miami Hon. Tassa Jean – Consulate General of St. Lucia in Miami Mrs. Aina Omo-Ojeonu (Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (Nigeria) 5. Ms. Florence Sugut (Kenya) 6. Ms. Sarah Amofah (Ghana) 7. Mrs. Kaleba Ngoie-Kasongo (Democratic Republic of Congo) 8. Rabia El Alama (AMCHAM, Morocco) 9. Blessing Irabor (OWIT Nigeria) 10. Dr. Mariama Jaiteh (The Gambia, West Africa) 1. 2. 3. 4.
M. Gill *HER Women’s Empowerment Cocktail Reception Foyer, JW Marriott Brickell Hotel
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Profile of Honorees
2021 Global Women’s Empowerment Award Honoree:
Her Excellency Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio
Her Excellency Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio is the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone. She is motivated by pan- Africanist ideals and she is a strong believer in women empowerment as key to sustainable development. A native of Sierra Leone, she pursued her passion for women empowerment as First Lady by staging a peaceful protest against gender-based violence. It was a historic march and for the first time in history, First Ladies from different African Countries came together in unity and joined the peaceful protest march on the streets of Freetown in December 2018. This was the beginning of her very powerful campaign themed “Hands Off Our Girls”. Her Excellency, started her education at the Ansarul Islamic School in Kono, where she did her primary education and part of her Secondary schooling. She later joined the Saint Joseph convent in Freetown (Capital City) for her GCSE studies. Sierra Leone’s illustrious first lady has garnered success through hard-work over the years in the entertainment industry in which she was an actress, Script Writer, executive producer and a multi award winning face of the Nollywood industry. Among her barrage of prominent features in cinema is the ‘Mirror Boy’, which she played the lead character and the movie ‘Battered’ which concept is based on Gender Based Violence and which was written and produced by her.
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Profile of Honorees
WMBI 2021 Trailblazing Women Awards Honoree:
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the office. In addition, she is a global finance expert, economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Currently, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since its creation in 2000, Gavi has immunized 760 million children globally and saved thirteen million lives. She is regarded as an effective consensus builder and an honest broker enjoying the trust and confidence of governments and other stakeholders. Previously, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions. She distinguished herself by carrying out major reforms which improved the effectiveness of these two Ministries and the functioning of the government machinery. She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the No. 2 position of Managing Director, Operations. As a development economist and Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala steered her country through various reforms ranging from macroeconomic to trade, financial and real sector issues.
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Profile of Honorees
WMBI 2021 Trailblazing Women Awards Honoree:
Hon. Daniella Levine Cava
The Honorable Daniella Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County’s first-ever woman Mayor in November 2020. She entered the Mayor’s office following a nearly 40-year career as a relentless advocate for South Florida families in public service and elected leadership. As Miami-Dade County’s Mayor, she oversees a metropolitan government with more than 28,000 employees serving nearly 3 million residents, managing an annual budget of approximately $9 billion. A social worker, lawyer, and community activist, she was first elected in 2014, and re-elected in August 2018, to serve as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 8. As Commissioner, she invested in Miami-Dade small businesses and expanded economic opportunity, protected the environment and our water, increased the County police force for underserved areas, advocated for an expanded, reliable public transportation system, worked to create affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods, and helped make local government more accountable and transparent. Mayor Levine Cava came to elected office after having served as an advocate for South Florida families for over 30 years. She served special needs children and immigrants at Legal Services of Greater Miami, and then represented children in the child welfare system as Associate and Legal Director for the Guardian Ad Litem Program.
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Profile of Honorees
WMBI 2021 Trailblazing Women Awards Honoree:
Dr. Malou Harrison
Dr. Malou Harrison is Provost of Miami Dade College. As Chief Academic Officer of one of America’s largest multidistrict colleges, she leads the development and execution of the academic and student affairs priorities of the institution. MDC’s Business Affairs, IT, Human Resources and Facilities are also part of her portfolio of leadership. With 35 years of transformative leadership experiences championing the cause of underserved students in public higher education, Harrison has led the creation of high impact initiatives which have advanced equity and student success. An accomplished thought leader in student affairs and former Dean, Harrison’s groundbreaking work in building partnerships brought national endeavors like Single Stop, Year Up and Educate Tomorrow to MDC, where today these partner programs effect significant positive outcomes. Harrison’s creative expertise in developing precollege programs has given rise to novel immersion and dual enrollment programs. A prolific writer, Harrison is the author of a 2018 Chapter, “Community Colleges: Fertile Ground for Black Male Student Success in the book-Engaging African American Males in Community College (Contemporary perspectives on Access, Equity and Achievement); she also authored a 2019 Chapter, “Toward Equity: The Immigrant Experience at Miami Dade College” in the book-Working Toward an Equitable and Prosperous Future For All: How Community Colleges and Immigrants Are Changing America. Harrison is also co-author of the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Student Services Dialogues: Community College Case Studies to Consider; and the Association of American College and Universities’ (AAC&U) Peer Review: Models for Student Success: Developing a Community College Student Roadmap. Harrison has been at the helm of resource development that has garnered millions of dollars from a combination of private and public funders like the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education to support Trio, Title V and Title III programs as well as numerous educational and undergraduate science research programs aimed at advancing equity and minority student attainment. Her foresight in authorizing prison education as a strategic imperative, where she lay the foundation for the comprehensive faculty-led, collaborative work with correctional institutes in Florida; MDC’s recent designation as a Second Chance Pell Experimental Site has not only contributed to the national agenda on mitigating recidivism but it has also opened the door of educational opportunity to the incarcerated.
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Profile of Honorees
WMBI 2021 Trailblazing Women Awards Honoree:
Ms. Althea A. Harris
Ms. Althea A. Harris is the Supervisory, Outreach & Marketing Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Harris has been helping businesses for over 25 years since she started her federal career in 1993 at the U.S. Department of Commerce under the late Secretary Ronald H. Brown. There, she traveled worldwide in support of small and medium-sized exporters. She then helped small business owners compete for federal contracts while at the U.S. General Services Administration. Having held several positions within the SBA office in Miami since 1999, Harris now leads a marketing & outreach team serving six of the District’s 24-county territory and advocates on behalf of the over half-million small business owners in those counties. She is also the Faith & Community-Based Initiative Coordinator. A graduate of Howard University and the University of Miami School of Law, Harris is also active in her community currently serving as a Board Member for Miami Youth for Christ and on the Missions Committee of Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables. She has also shared her time and talent with the Board of the Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida and as a member of the Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee, ensuring the responsible, ethical, and professional conduct of South Florida’s attorneys. A Washington, D.C. native, Harris shares her life and love with her husband Robert N. Harris, a successful commercial litigation and labor and employment litigation attorney in Miami and their four wonderful children.
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Profile of Honorees
WMBI 2021 Trailblazing Women Awards Honoree:
Hon. Mayor Hazelle P. Rogers
The Honorable Mayor Hazelle P. Rogers was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the oldest of three children. She migrated to the U.S. in 1969 to join her mother in New York and subsequently relocated to Florida in 1982. Having spent over 20 years of her life in public service, she began her political career in 1996, when she was elected to office in Lauderdale Lakes, where she served for 12 years, making her the first person from the English-speaking Caribbean American community elected to office in the southeastern U. S. She also served as president of the Broward League of Cities in 2004. Mayor Rogers, then commissioner, was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008, making her the first Jamaican and second person from the English-speaking Caribbean to be elected to the House; she was reelected subsequently. She first served as a Democratic Deputy Whip from 2010-2012, and again for 2012-2016. Representative Rogers has served as the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee since 2012. She has been the recipient of numerous community awards. Among them, the 2000 YMCA Volunteer Award; 2000 Lauderdale Lakes Democratic Club Leadership Award; and T. J Reddick Bar Presidential Award; 2001, Induction into the Broward County’s Women Hall of Fame, 2005 Blue Cross Blue Shield Orange Bowl Thurgood Marshall Award; 2006 Success Magazine People’s Choice Award; 2008, JM Family Enterprise African-American Achievers Nominee, 2009 Caribbean American Democratic Club Democracy Award and the Democratic Women’s Club of Northeast Broward Exceptional Freshman Year Award; 2011 Broward Black Elected Leadership and Commitment Award; 2012 Jamaica Diaspora Honors Award and ICABA’s 100 most Accomplished Caribbean Americans in South Florida; 2014 Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, City College; 2015 Harmony Development Center Outstanding Achievement Award. Mayor Hazelle Rogers is committed to supporting the United Negro College Fund through a Family and Friend Scholarship established in her honor at Florida Memorial University. She is a Real Estate Industry Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix.
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About M. Gill & Associates, Inc.
M. Gill & Associates, Inc. is a specialty consulting firm that develops, administers and manages strategic growth and economic development initiatives for small, minority and women businesses, government agencies, corporations, and educational institutions that operate in the local and global economies. M. Gill & Associates, Inc., operates the MBDA Export Center – Florida, and is a CARES Act Grantee that is helping in the COVID-19 Recovery process for small and minority firms throughout the state. The MBDA Export Center is committed to doing its part to showcase and empower minority owned enterprises to continue along a positive path. Every day, the organization works to encourage entrepreneurial dreams and endeavors, helping business owners craft out a niche to grow and thrive in their chosen industry. The MBDA Export Center – Florida is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency that provides business development services to help minority business enterprises create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand into new and global markets. Headquartered in the heart of the City of Miami since it was established in 1990, M. Gill & Associates, Inc. has grown to become recognized as an accomplished leader among MBEs and women-owned businesses throughout Florida, the Southeastern U.S. region, Canada, and in many islands of the Caribbean. The company’s geographic target has expanded throughout the entire State of Florida, with strategic partnerships throughout the U.S., the Caribbean and the Americas. M Gill has assembled a team of multilingual consultants, as employees, independent contractors, and resource providers, with knowledge, experience, and certifications in various consulting disciplines, adding to the company’s growth economically and geographically. The company’s award-winning efforts have helped to foster economic alliances between corporations and small/minority businesses, and between government and small/minority businesses, facilitating more than $5.2 billion in contractual opportunities and financing for small, minority, and women-owned firms, resulting in the creation and retention of more than 18,000 jobs throughout the State of Florida, and in other states throughout the U.S.
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About M. Gill* Her Foundation
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