Elevate: 2023 Program Booklet & Annual Report

ELEVATE BOC23

2023 Program Booklet & Annual Report

Title Sponsors:

MISSION AND CORE ELEMENTS

Carolinas-Virginia MSDC (CVMSDC or Council) is a membership organization consisting of major corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and universities that operate within North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. It promotes and facilitates the development of business relationships between its members and certified Minority-owned Business Enter-prises (MBEs). The Council works to expand business opportunities for MBEs in an effort to build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development.

CVMSDC/NMSDC is comprised of approximately 1500+ corporate partners. CVMSDC serves approximately 500+ Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). CVMSDC is a private, non-profit organization categorized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3). It is funded by membership dues, certification fees, and proceeds from program activities. In addition, funds are also received from the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Advocacy Certification

CVMSDC promotes supplier diversity and advocates on behalf of its certified MBEs by providing unique access channels to opportunities that expose their capabilities and strengths to prospective buyers and procurement specialists.

At the core of CVMSDC’s operations is certification of MBEs. This certification is widely accepted by national corporations and is a model used by various national government agencies, as well. CVMSDC continues to grow its portfolio of qualified MBEs.

Development Connection

CVMSDC has a two-pronged approach to develop and meet the needs of its stakeholders. For corporations, CVMSDC cultivates and maintains a highly qualified portfolio of MBEs. It also serves as a key advisor to many of these same corporations and their supplier diversity programs. For MBEs, CVMSDC helps build capacity, so they are more competitive and better positioned to do business with corporate members.

MISSION

CVMSDC Connects Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Corporations to drive economic Economic Growth.

CVMSDC serves as a bridge builder between its corporate partners and certified MBEs. MBEs that commit to being fully engaged in the networking process, established by the Council, can leverage the value derived through these networking opportunities, as well as the many business development opportunities present in the form of RFPs / RFQs, strategic partnerships, expansive resources, and contracts.

VISION VALUES

Economic Parity.

CVMSDC is the leading growth engine for ethnic minority business owners.

BOC23 SPONSORS

2023 ANNUAL CORPORATE SPONSORS

2023 EDUCATION & IN-KIND SPONSORS

TITLE SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSOR

BOC23 SPONSORS

2023 SILVER SPONSORS

2023 BRONZE SPONSORS

2023 BOC PATRON SPONSORS

2023 BOC VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR

2023 BOC IN-KIND SPONSORS

FROM CVMSDC’S

BOARD CHAIR WELCOME

Greetings and Welcome to BOC23!

It is with great pleasure that we extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. We are delighted to have you join us at this signature event and invite you to fully participate as we collectively “Elevate” at the annual CVMSDC Business Opportunity Conference (BOC23) – a place where industry professionals and business leaders come together to share their knowledge, experiences, and expertise.

Together, we will embark on a journey of learning, networking, relationship-building, and supplier development opportunities that will undoubtedly shape the future of our MBEs and corporations.

First, thank you to our title sponsors Altria and Ferguson for making the commitment to support BOC23. We appreciate your ongoing dedication to the work of supplier development. Our team has worked tirelessly to create an event that encourages collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and personal growth. We believe that by coming together, we can leverage our collective strengths to drive positive change and create a more diverse, inclusive, and prosperous business community.

Throughout the conference, we encourage each of you to take advantage of the various opportunities to connect with fellow attendees, engage in meaningful conversations, and forge new business relationships. The connections you make here have the potential to become the foundation for future collaborations and business partnerships.

Once again, welcome to CVMSDC’s 2023 Business Opportunity Conference. Thank you for being a part of this exciting event … we look forward to providing a powerful and impactful conference experience.

Debra White, SONOCO CVMSDC Board Chair

FROM CVMSDC’S

PRESIDENT WELCOME & CEO

Welcome to BOC23!

This year, our theme for BOC23 is ELEVATE. Throughout the conference, we encourage you to Elevate Your Thinking, Elevate Your Mindset, and Elevate the Possibilities to expand your network and grow your business.

On behalf of the entire CVMSDC team and planning committee, I want to say how much we appreciate your support and participation. Your presence at this event demonstrates your commitment to professional development, economic growth, and the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the marketplace. Together, we can achieve greatness, and we are confident that BOC23 can be a catalyst for transformative change.

As we gather together in Richmond, Virginia, it is vitally important that we also reflect on the economic, social, and racial justice realities within our society. This year’s annual Business Opportunity Conference occurs in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against Affirmative Action – a decision that seeks to undermine the work and efforts of so many to advance equity and opportunity in higher education and ultimately … in our careers, professions, and businesses. Consequently, our work is more crucial than ever to advance the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Minority Business Enterprises.

This judicial ruling – along with countless other actions taken to dismantle our progress – reinforces the importance of remaining vigilant to secure our collective place at the table. It is a reminder that we must be intentional in every aspect of our work to support inclusion and to ensure access for those who have been systematically excluded from equal opportunities for advancement.

Once again, we welcome you to our CVMSDC 2023 Annual Business Opportunity Conference. It is our sincere hope that you expand your network and secure additional business development opportunities during your time at BOC23. Thank you for your commitment to the Council and for joining us this year.

Dominique Milton CVMSDC President & CEO

FROM THE

MBEIC CHAIR WELCOME

Dear Corporate Partners and Fellow MBEs:

Welcome to the Annual CVMSDC Business Opportunity Conference (BOC23)! It is truly an honor to have you join us at this premier event of brilliant minds and dedicated leaders who have come together to share their knowledge and experiences. Today, we continue on the journey of learning, networking, building relationships, and creating opportunities that will undoubtedly shape the future of our businesses and corporations. We are excited that you are here, and our promise is to add value to each of you.

CVMSDC's Business Opportunity Conference is an event designed to foster growth, collaboration, and empowerment within the diverse business community. It is a platform where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and connections are made. As we gather for BOC23, we salute the immense talent within our MBE community, and we are committed to unlocking its fullest potential.

Also, I want to say thank you for the support from our sponsors and MBEs whose commitment and dedication to the Council are paramount for our continued success. This year's conference promises to be an exceptional experience that will allow MBEs and corporations to Elevate their businesses and supplier development priorities.

We have planned an engaging program featuring distinguished speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. You will have the chance to gain insights from industry leaders, share best practices, and explore insightful trends and technologies that are shaping the business landscape.

Once again, welcome to CVMSDC’s annual BOC23. We hope that you discover information and inspiration for success during our time together in Richmond, Virginia.

Ronald Harvey

Ronald l. Harvey MBEIC Chair & MLP Ring Chair

FROM NMSDC’S

PRESIDENT WELCOME

Hello everyone,

Greetings from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). I want to welcome you all to the 2023 Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) Business Opportunity Conference! This conference, and events like it, are key to providing our minority business enterprises (MBEs) the support and connections they need to accelerate their growth and help achieve our shared goal of $1 trillion in annual revenue for NMSDC-certified MBEs.

Thank you to the title sponsors, Altria and Ferguson, for their generous support. In addition, NMSDC is grateful to everyone else who has contributed to the success of this year’s event including the other sponsors, board members, volunteers, and of course, the entire CVMSDC team. As many of you know, CVMSDC and NMSDC both celebrated important milestones last year: our 45-year and 50-year anniversaries. One of the big themes we stressed during those anniversaries was that while we have accomplished a great deal – over $316.2 billion in annual revenue for NMSDC-certified MBEs – we still have a long way to go. Furthermore, what got us here will not be enough to achieve our vision of ending the racial wealth gap.

That is why the theme of this year’s CVMSDC Business Opportunity Conference, ELEVATE, is so important. We not only need to think innovatively about what we can do to further our shared goal of accelerating MBE growth, but we must also take concrete steps to activate that growth. Whether it is encouraging increased MBE spending commitments from our corporate members or developing solutions to the barriers so many MBEs face when it comes to accessing capital, we must step up our efforts if we are going to build the diverse and equitable economy needed for the next 50 years. I challenge you all to be intentional in your work to elevate minority business owners so that they can achieve their American dreams. If you are a corporate member, take decisive action to incorporate MBEs into every level of your business’s spending, broadening supplier diversity through business diversity. If you are an MBE, besides building those ever-important relationships with our corporate members, connect with your fellow MBEs and find ways to support one another’s growth through strategic partnerships and by doing business with one another.

Each and every one of us has the capacity to create great and positive change in the world. As you are engaging in the conference, I encourage you all to begin thinking about how you can recognize that potential and create a future where everyone has the opportunity to build the long-lasting, generational wealth that embodies this country’s true potential. You are the next wave of change and together we can create a just and equitable economy for all.

Best regards,

Ying McGuire CEO and President of NMSDC

OFFICIAL WELCOME

from the BOC Committee Co-Chairs

Dear CVMSDC Partners,

Welcome to the annual 2023 Business Opportunity Conference (BOC23)! We are very excited about our theme for this year’s event: Elevate. The BOC23 will provide the tools and resources to launch ethnically diverse businesses into orbit and Elevate new and experienced Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Corporate Partners to new heights in knowledge, performance, and bottom-line results.

We carefully selected Elevate as our theme because the CVMSDC is focused on inspiring and propelling our MBEs and Corporate Partners to effectively compete in today’s marketplace. BOC23 will offer leadership talks, informative seminars, and experiential learning that will transform your company and transform you as a leader. The BOC will challenge old paradigms and help you break through barriers. We encourage you to take every opportunity to connect with corporations and other MBEs because building and strengthening relationships have the potential of elevating your business to the next level.

We realize the importance of young, diverse entrepreneurs to our economy and want to create opportunities to help them grow and thrive. The BOC23 Student Pitch Competition is where young entrepreneurs have an opportunity to develop their skill sets and be inspired by past winners. As an added bonus, monetary prizes have been doubled and also include coaching with a corporate partner!

Thank you to the CVMSDC team, BOC23 title sponsors, and volunteers for their leadership and commitment to the economic growth of MBEs and delivering an enriched experience for each of you during the BOC 23 Elevate event. We look forward to connecting with each of you and creating this opportunity to Elevate your business.

Yours in Diversity,

Lisa Blake

Andrea Horn

James Johnson Cathy Williams

Lisa Blake Andrea Horn James Johnson C hy Williams

Lisa Blake

Andrea Horn

James Johnson

Cathy Williams

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE BOARD 2023

Debra White Board Chair

SONOCO

RING CHAIRS 2023

Jonathan Wilkins

1st Vice Chair Presidio

James Hamlin

Metrolina (NC)

American Tire Distributors

Andrea Horn

Piedmont

SAS

Cathy Williams

2nd Vice Chair

Ferguson

S. Dallas Simmons

Treasurer

Dominion Energy

Andrea Horn

Secretary

SAS

Jeffrey L. Smith

Virginia City of VA Beach Economic Development

Derrick Jackson

Triad (NC)

RJ Reynolds

Jerry Knighton Jr. Upstate (SC)

Clemson University

Ronald L. Harvey

MBEIC Chair Chair

GCS Consulting, LLC

James W. Johnson

MLP (SC)

Savanna River

Nuclear Solutions

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MBEIC CHAIRS 2023 AT-LARGE 2023

Anton Gunn

MLP RING (SC)

937 Strategy Group

Carlo White

Foothills (SC) White Holdings Trucking, LLC

Troy Roberts

Piedmont (NC) Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc.

Alex Moore

Triad/Piedmont (NC)

Stratagon Dallas Dance Virginia (VA)

DDANCE Group Derrick Davis

Metrolina (NC)

Informatic Concepts

Brown Wells Fargo

Matteo Di Michele, JD MBA Bank of America

Lisa Blake Altria Client Service LLC

Karen Bacon Hubbell Incorporated

James (Jay) Johnson Savanna River Nuclear Solutions

Wendell

Greg Laskey Toyota

Michelle Clatterbuck Sentara Healthcare

Lissa Miller Truist

Chiquitha Lloyd Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Christina Sabine Lidl BMW

Dallas Simmons Dominion Energy TJ Lewis Ally Bank

9:00am - 6:00pm

9:30am - 11:30am

9:30am - 1:00pm

9:45am - 10:45am

11:00am - 12:00pm

12:00pm - 6:30pm.

12:15pm - 2:15pm

REGISTRATION

OPTIONAL TOURS

BOARD MEETING

PRE-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING

POST-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING

REFUEL LOUNGE

WORKSHOP 1

Elevating Your Pitch - Hands-on workshop for MBEs

DAY ONE

2:30pm - 4:00pm

WORKSHOP 2

Elevating Your Engagement - How Corporations & MBEs Can Effectively Work Together

5:00pm - 6:30pm

CORPORATE ONLY RECEPTION

Marriott Hotel

6:30pm - 8:30pm

8:30pm - 10:30pm

AWARDS RECEPTION WITH SILENT AUCTION

AFTER-PARTY

7:30am - 4:30pm

7:30am - 12:00pm

7:30am - 9:15am

8:15am - 9:15am

REFUEL LOUNGE

REGISTRATION

BREAKFAST & NETWORKING

WORKSHOP 3

Opening Panel - “Elevating Our Minds” - The Importance of Our Work

9:30am - 11:15am

WORKSHOP 4 - CORPORATIONS ONLY

Supplier Diversity: Increasing Your Influence As A Department of One

Measuring Impact with Data & Tier-Two Spend

WORKSHOP 5 - MBEs ONLY

Using AI & E-Commerce to Elevate Your Business

DAY TWO

11:30am - 1:00pm

1:15pm - 3:15pm 1:15pm - 3:15pm

Understanding the Importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

LUNCHEON W/ KEYNOTE SPEAKER DEVON HENRY

Elevating Our Business

MATCHMAKING

Elevating Our Opportunities

WORKSHOP 6

A Resource Lounge

• Elevating Your Capability Statement 1:1 Scheduled Reviews

• Business Consortium Group (BCG) Micro Lending

• VA MBDA

• NC DOA / NC MBDA

• Virginia Asset Management

• Supplier IO

3:30pm - 4:30pm

WORKSHOP 7

Elevating the Future of Our Work with Pitch Competition Winners

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

BOC23 WORKSHOPS 01 02 03

Elevating Your Pitch Hands-on Workshop for MBEs

Chala Dincoy Capital One

Allison Kube Capital One

Elevating Your Engagement How Corporations & MBEs Can Effectively Work Together

Ron Harvey MBE Global Core Strategies

Vanessa Vaughn Matthews MBE Asfallis

Shaunne Thomas Guilford County

Dallas Dance MBE DDance Group

TJ Lewis Ally

Opening Panel

Elevating Our Minds - The Importance of Our Work

Debra White Sonoco

Billy Gifford Altria CEO & President

Pat Foster City of Richmond, Moses Foster

Michel Zajur President & CEO

Hispanic Chamber

My Lan Tran

CEO Virginia Asian Chamber

04 05 06

Supplier Diversity

Increasing Your Influence As A Department of One (Corporations Only)

Lisa Blake Altria

Michelle Clatterbuck Sentara

Using AI & E Commerce to Elevate Your Business (MBEs Only)

Anton Gunn 937 Strategy Group

Alex Moore Stratagon

Stephen Belyea Altria

A Resource Center Mulitple Resource Topics

Dona Storey

David Storey

Sahra Halpren BCF (NMSDC)

04

05

07

Measuring Impact with Data & Tier Two Spend

Shirley Tang

Tessa Husein

Understanding the Importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

Blake O’Brien

Dominion Energy

Kimberlee Pepple Altria

Dominique Milton CVMSDC

Elevating the Future of Our Work with Pitch Competition Winners

Caden Harris

Evan Lee

Dominique Milton