8:00 am – 3:00 pm
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Exhibitor Move-In / Registration
Renasant Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
EDF Opening Business Reception
River Front Lobby
7:00 am – 4:00 pm
7:30 – 9:00 am
Amity Schuyler, SVP Workforce Development, Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Zachary Casutt, Chapter Executive, National Electrical Contractors Association
Philip Dotson, Director, Memphis-Shelby County Schools-Division of College, Career & Technical Education
Dr. Carol Ash, Southwest Tennessee Community College
Amy Shead, Southwest Tennessee Community College
11:45 am – 1:00 pm
9:15 – 9:20 am
10:30 – 11:30 am
(Concurrent)
Registration | Main Foyer (Ballroom Level)
Power Breakfast | Ballroom A
Keynote Speaker
Candace Steele Flippin, Communications
Executive, Weatherhead School of Management
Case Western Reserve University
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | Exhibit Hall Entrance
SILENT WORKSHOPS | Exhibit Hall Floor
My Business, My Brand: Branding Crash Course for Small Business Owners Bank of America Stage
Presented by:
Deidre Malone, President and CEO
The Carter Malone Group
This workshop will communicate the value and importance for small businesses to build a strong brand. The presentation will cover brand strategies and checklists for small business owners to increase visibility and market presence to reach a broader audience. This session will integrate technology and smart devices to help create a brand strategy and implementation plan.
The Future Ready Workforce
Ford BlueOval City Stage
This one-hour workshop on the Exhibit Hall floor is a must attend workshop to learn about the employment opportunities at BlueOval City and how community stakeholders are working to create a pipeline for current and future opportunities at BlueOval City, in the construction industry, in robotics and advanced manufacturing, college and technical careers. This workshop is for everyone.
Introduction: Veronica Clark, APEX Accelerator
Facilitator: Khalif Johnson, Turner Construction Company
Panelists: Ann Thompson, BlueOval Operations, Ford Motor Company
1:30 – 2:30 am
(Concurrent)
LUNCH: Networking Grab & Go Boxed Lunch / Other Concessions Available | Center Stage
Introduction: Jozelle Luster Booker, MMBC Continuum & Tennessee MBDA Business Center
Luncheon Speaker: Donald Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary, Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce
SILENT WORKSHOPS
Traits of the High Performing Leader – TED Talk Style | Bank of America Stage
This workshop is for aspiring female professionals, female business owners, and men who lead and direct females. Everyone is invited to learn the traits of high performing leaders so they can be sponsored, mentored and elevated within organizations for the benefit of the individual and their business or organization.
Introduction: Joyce Douglass, Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Presented by: Trevia Chatman Bank of America, Memphis
THE NETWORK: Resources for Startups and Small Businesses | Ford BlueOval City Stage
Memphis’ success is due, in part, to its strong small business ecosystem. This workshop is designed to provide small businesses across industry sectors an overview of the vast and varied resources available to them from “The Network.”
Introduction: Jasmine Davis, Methodist
Le Bonheur Healthcare
Panelists
La’Breda Morrow, TN Small Business Development Center
Rhonda Brown, Medical District Collaborative
Ernest Strickland, Black Business Association
Kiesha Kelsey, Epicenter
Vonesha Mitchell, Women’s Business Center South (WBEC South)
Stephanie Alexander-Parker, Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Monica Davy, SVP Chief Culture, Diversity, and Impact Officer
Lorenzol Ellis, DEI Implementation Director, ArchKey
3:45 pm
Federal & Corporate Connection Zone – Exhibit Hall Behind Center Stage | Exhibit Hall Behind Center Stage
The Corporate Connect gives Minority and Womenowned businesses the opportunity to meet with corporate discussion makers in a speed-dating format. Companies will have the opportunity to introduce their products and services and learn how to access future contract opportunities.
Prizes and Awards Announced – Best Corporate and M/WBE Booth Exhibit Hall - Center Stage
7:00 am – 4:00 pm
7:30 – 8:30 am
8:45 am – 10:00 am
Registration | Renasant Convention Center –Exhibit Hall
Continental Breakfast | Ballroom Level Lobby
Plenary Session | Ballroom B
Facilitator:
Travis M. Spencer, Ford Motor Company
Panelists:
Kel Kearns, Ford BlueOval City
Ermal Faulkner, Ford Motor Company
Tracy Church, Ford Motor Company
Chris Morgan, Walbridge
10:30 – 11:30 am
(Concurrent)
SEMINARS
Dismantling Inequities: A Deep Dive into Corporate DEI | Ballroom C
During the seminar, panelists will provide insight on enterprise-wide DEI strategies created in a corporate culture that fosters respect and shared values among the employees, stakeholders, and customers. Our hope is that attendees will learn how the implementation of enterprise-wide DEI strategies changes the culture within organizations and increases societal impact in the communities they work and serve.
Facilitator:
Travis Spencer, Head of Supplier Diversity and Warranty Recovery, Ford Motor Company
Panelists:
Amy Shelton Little, HR Director, Talent Management & Chief Diversity Officer, International Paper
Natasha Berry, Smith & Nephew
Transportation and Infrastructure: By Air, By Road, By Rail, or By River | Ballroom D
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) aka Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) signed into law in 2021 authorized $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending. The funding, expansive in its reach, is an opportunity to rebuild America’s ports, airports, rail and roads; expand access to clean drinking water; ensure that every American has access to high-speed internet; and to tackle the climate crisis and advance environmental justice. For decades Memphis, has been marketed as and has created a strong economy due its geographic location and specifically the intersection of major highways, the river, rail, and its international airport. During the seminar, panelists will discuss airport, river, roads, and rail projects underway and the opportunities these projects will provide to businesses, communities, and individuals.
Facilitator:
Joe Jackson, USDOT Mid-South Atlantic Small Business Transportation Resource Center
Michael Fulton, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
Priscilla G. Sweeney, Army Corps of Engineers
Bacarra Sanderson Mauldin, Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA)
Victor C. Tyler, P.E., Tyler Construction Engineers, P.C.
11:45 am – 1:00 pm
LUNCHEON | Ballroom A
Keynote Speaker
Bryan Wood, Data Science Executive, Bank of America
1:15 – 2:30 pm
An Opportunity of a Lifetime: Is it Unethical or Illegal? | Ballroom C
The recently announced near $25 billion of unprecedented capital investment in West Tennessee includes a substantial amount of public investment. Federal, state and local laws, ordinances, and policies may include combinations of minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprise (M/WBE/DBE) spend goals. To secure contract awards, general contractors and M/WBE/DBEs may be tempted to participate in certain contracting practices they should avoid. During the fireside chat, panelists
will provide insight on how unethical contracting practices are in fact illegal activities that put their businesses and freedom at risk. Outcome: attendees will learn and identify the risks of unethical practices and seek professional guidance before participating in an opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
Introduction: Tamara Pate, Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division
Facilitator:
T. Kevin Bruce, Esq., Bruce Law. PLLC
Panelists:
Carroll L. Andre, III, Asst. U.S. Attorney, Principal Deputy Criminal Chief, U.S. Department of Justice
David Palmer, Supervisory Special Agent, White Collar Squad, FBI, Memphis Field Office, Tony Arvin, Assistant U. S. Attorney
1:15 – 2:15 pm
M/WBE Access to Cash Seminar | Ballroom B
Cash Continuum Network Small businesses work tremendously hard to have a presence in their community and have a rich history of inextinguishable passion. However, access to capital continues to be a barrier for small business growth as the racial wealth gap continues to widen. Small businesses resiliently struggle to secure the capital and resources they need to flourish because they have been systematically precluded from receiving traditional financing. During this two-part seminar, panelists will first discuss tailored small business loan programs, eligibility requirements, financial flags and banking risks, relationship building, and best practices to receive the financing they need.
Introduction: Marianne De Augiar, International Paper
Facilitator:
Orlandus Kirby, Bank of America
Panelists:
William Carter, Regions
Steve Swain, Pinnacle
Jermaine Fletcher, First Horizon
Jamel Dagher, Paragon Bank
Cal Overman, Simmons Bank
Craig Cline, Renasant Bank
Derrick Martin, Cadence Bank
Ron Brooks, River City Capital
Sean Norris, Truist
Glenda Johnson, Communities Unlimited
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Capital Connect | Ballroom B
Bankers will be available for one-on-one meetings to share requirements and solutions necessary to address small business capital needs.
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Robert R. Church, Sr. Achievement Awards Gala | Ballroom A Food, Music, Awards & Silent Auction
