CALL TO ORDER

8:45-8:50 am
Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access & Opportunity

WELCOMING REMARKS

8:50-8:55 am
The Honorable Timothy Murray, Lieutenant Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

PANEL#1 - THE MASSACHUSETTS SUPPLIER DIVERSITY OFFICE

9:00-9:30 am
 Moderator
Jonilee Rossi, President/CEO, CQ Personnel, Inc.

  • Reggie Nunnally, Executive Director, MA Supplier Diversity Office
  • Ellen Bickelman, State Purchasing Agent, Operational Services Division

Panel members will discuss the creation, role and responsibilities of the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office and how the new Office will serve minority and women business enterprises

PANEL#2A - ACCESS TO FEDERAL AND STATE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

9:40-10:30 am

Moderator
Reggie Nunnally, Executive Director, MA Supplier Diversity Office

  • Gladymar Parziale, Staff Member, MA Supplier Diversity Office
  • David Polatin, Lead Business Development Specialist, Small Business Administration
  • John Lozada, Director of Civil Rights, MA Department of Transportation
  • Richelle Waterman, Training Coordinator, Operational Services Division

Panel members will discuss procurement opportunities with federal, state and quasi-public agencies and how to access them.

PANEL#2B - ACCESS TO FEDERAL AND STATE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

10:40-11:30 am
 Moderator
Jacqui Cruz Conrad, Founder, delaCruz Communications

  • Tina Brooks, Undersecretary, Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Stephen Edmonds, Procurement Specialist, Procurement Technical Assistance Center
  • Bernard Brown, Director of Compliance, MassHousing
  • Michael Jefferson, Diversity Manager, Metropolitan District Commission (Hartford, CT)

Panel members will discuss procurement opportunities with federal, state and quasi-public agencies and how to access them

PANEL#3 - ACCESS TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ADVOCACY

11:40 am - 12:30 pm
Moderator

  • Bruce Bolling, Executive Director, MA Alliance for Small Contractors
  • Milton Benjamin, President/CEO, Initiative for a New Economy
  • Carrie Johnson, Representative, Center for Women and Enterprise
  • Dr. Fred McKinney, President, Greater New England Minority Supplier Developmental Council
  • Nader Acevedo, President, Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce
  • Karl Nurse, Chairman, MA Black Business Alliance

Panel members will discuss programs that have successfully served minority and women businesses with capacity building, contract, certification and other business development needs

LUNCH

12:45-1:30 pm
Keynote Speaker

  • Michael Hunter, Undersecretary, Department of Business Development

PANEL #4 - ACCESS TO CAPITAL, SURETY AND GUARANTY PRODUCTS

1:45-2:45 pm
Moderator

  • Kelly Chunn, Principal, Kelly Chunn and Associates
  • Ronald L. Walker, President, Next Street Financial
  • Andres Lopez, President, MA Community Development Finance Corporation
  • Nancy Gibeau, Business Development Officer, BDC Capital
  • Robert Nelson, District Director, Small Business Administration

Panel members will discuss private and quasi-public sector avenues to support access to capital, access to surety and access to technical assistance


PANEL #5 - BEYOND CERTIFICATION / SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

2:55-3:40 pm
 Moderator
Derek Brooks, President/CEO, Inside Cable

  • Andre Porter, Executive Director, Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Steven Brown, Senior Business Advisor, MA Small Business Development Center

Panel members will focus on small business programs that are available to minority-owned and women-owned firms irrespective of their certification status.

TOWN HALL MEETING

3:50-4:50 pm
 Moderator

Karl Nurse, President, Karl Nurse Communications

The Town Hall Meeting is designed to provide conference participants an opportunity to dialogue on issues of importance

WRAP UP

Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity


Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Summit
 Increasing Access and Opportunity for Minority and Women Business Growth