MEDWeek 40th Year 2022 Program Booklet (Single Page)

Greetings

Marie R. Gill

Founder & CEO | M. Gill & Associates, Inc. Operator/Executive Director

MBDA

Programs

To All MEDWeek Participants:

– Florida, PR, USVI

Welcome to Florida’s 40th MEDWeek Conference. I am honored and truly thankful to be able to host this important event that so many have worked so hard to build for the past 40 years.

It is a recurring dream come true as each year we seek to be better than the last in serving and supporting minority businesses throughout the State of Florida, across the U.S. and the Territories. We applaud those government agencies, and alternative resources whose financing and supplier diversity initiatives are not just empty promises, but real opportunities that have supported the growth of minority businesses throughout the U.S. and its Territories, and especially during times of crisis in recent years.

In keeping with the true spirit of MEDWeek, Florida’s 40th has much to celebrate. The MBDA Act was signed into Law by the Biden Administration, making the MBDA a fully codified agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For the first time ever, the MBDA has an Under Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Donald Cravins, Jr., who is dedicated to taking the MBDA to higher levels. Considering that minority businesses add a whopping $6 Trillion to the U.S. economy, it stands to reason that the MBDA officially has a seat at the “action” table in Washington, to ensure more opportunities are made avail able to MBEs.

Continuing the celebration—and in no small measure—the MBDA Programs operated by M. Gill & Associates have delivered excellence, achieving the highest performance ratings for our work in service to MBEs. I congratulate our awesome team and the resource partners that support our work locally. Responding to the current national trends, this year’s MEDWeek will focus on Financial Investments, Infrastructure, and other Federal and International Business Opportunities available to propel small and minority businesses to even greater heights. Please make the most of these opportunities.

To our 40th Anniversary Sponsors, Host Committee, and other Supporters, thanks for stepping up to make this year’s MEDWeek an enormously memorable one. I thank the MBDA for continuing to support the work of M. Gill & Associates by making grant funding available for us to continue expanding the mission and serving MBEs.

Congratulations to the 40 MEDWeek Legacy Honorees who have contributed to our success as clients, advocates, strategic partners and community volunteers. We owe a debt of gratitude to those small, minority, women and veteran business owners who brave the odds each year to create, sustain, and grow successful enterprises. You are the backbone of the economy; you are the true reason we celebrate MEDWeek. Thank you!

Have a successful and productive engagement at Florida’s 40th MEDWeek – and – as always, have fun everyone!

R. Gill

Marie

from the MEDWeek Coordinator & Host

Greetings

Dear Business Associates:

from the MEDWeek

Co-Chair

It gives me great pleasure to welcome each of you to Florida’s 40th Annual Minor ity Enterprise Development Week (MEDWeek), presented by the MBDA Programs in Florida, Operated by M. Gill & Associates, Inc.

The global Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on many small businesses, forcing hundreds of thousands of them to shut down. Many business owners are still exhausted and acutely feeling the impact on their mental well-being and their ability to maintain worklife balance because of navigating pandemic-related disruptions and fluctuating mandates across the country for nearly two years.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), was signed into law by Presi dent Biden in November 2021. The Act provides a historic investment of $550 billion in new funds for large infrastructure projects, supply chains, broadband, and drinking water. As small businesses recover from labor constraints and business losses due to Covid-19, and with potential mass spending in physical infrastructure coming in the years ahead, an array of small businesses is poised to benefit from upcoming projects and contracts.

The 40th Annual MEDWeek is designed to help small, minority, women and veteran-owned firms succeed in the local and global markets, by providing cutting-edge information and resources, as well as domestic and international business match maker meetings and networking opportunities. MEDWeek offers a unique opportunity for small, minority, women, and veteran businesses to hone their management and branding skills, and gain greater access to capital, contracts, and global markets.

Participants will gain valuable insights and first-hand information about opportunities from the Infrastructure & Jobs Act, Access to Capital, Access to Contracts, and Teaming and Connecting for Procurement Opportunities.

Thank you for joining us on this special Ruby Anniversary of one of Florida’s longest running trade event.

Sincerely,

U. Desmond Alufohai

Desmond Alufohai, CMP, CGBP Co-Chair

40th Annual MEDWeek Conference Miami, Florida

Congratulations

& Welcome MBDA’s Under Secretary of Commerce

Goodwill Message

Local & Intl Officials (Grenada)

Goodwill Message

Local & Intl Officials (Trinidad and Tobago)

Ms. Joanne Brooks Consul General Republic of Trinidad & Tobago in Miami

Goodwill Message

Greetings to the MEDWeek 2022 Participants.

As Canada’s Consul General to Florida, I welcome you to the 40th annual MEDWeek Business Matchmaker Conference. On this important milestone, I would also like to extend my congratulations to the organizers of this conference for four decades of support to minority businesses. You have established a leading platform that continues to add a dynamic component to the economy, while impacting the lives of those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to reap the benefits that commerce and trade confer.

It is my honour to be associated with such an important event, which underpins the values and efforts also imbued and promoted by the Government of Canada. Canada recognizes the significant impact of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving economies, as well as the substantial value of minority and under represented businesses, in fueling innovation and efficiency, creating robust supply chains and expanding new markets. We have formalized our support to SMEs and under represented groups in the new USMCA, and in supplier diversity programs at all levels of government.

As we emerge from the devastating effects of the pandemic on supply chains, it is now more important than ever to rely on the security and stability of our allies, and to promote the inclusion and develop the capacity of all under represented segments of society in commerce and trade. We are proud to support collaboration between Canada and Florida in a number of supplier diversity conferences and events in Florida as the Government of Canada does throughout the U.S. and we will continue to expand our involvement in this area, because trade works best when everyone benefits.

My sincere wishes for a successful and fruitful conference to all delegates and organizers!

Sincerely,

Susan Harper

Susan Harper

Consul General of Canada for Florida, Puerto Rico, USVI Miami, Florida

Goodwill Message from Susan Harper, Consul General of Canada in Miami

Local & Intl Officials (Canada)

Goodwill Message

Local & Intl Officials (Saint Lucia)

Goodwill Message

Local & Intl Officials (Bahamas)