sessions
- 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM ETAnnual Meeting
- 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM ETMBEIC – All-MBE Meeting
- 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM ETCDC – All-Corporate Member Meeting
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM ETAIG Meeting
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM ETMBEIC – Industry Group Meeting
- 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM ETHR Track 1: Employee Wellbeing and Mental HealthCovid 19 has brought upon many challenges for businesses and employers. While working from home may be the new normal, there may be unintended consequences from this shift in doing business. This session focuses on employee mental health and wellbeing related to working from home. Dr. Michael Kobernick and Cindy Bjorkquist, mental health and wellbeing experts from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, will be on for a live session to discuss strategies businesses should focus on to improve their employee’s mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic.
Dr. Michael Kobernick
Senior Medical Director of Health Plan Business
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM ETHR Track 2: COVID Vaccinations: To Mandate or Not?
Mandatory vaccinations are generally permissible, but subject to significant limitations and exceptions. Requiring vaccination in the workplace raises a host of legal, regulatory, and practical considerations, particularly by the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). Learn about your ability to mandate vaccines and what course of action you may be required to undertake.
- 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM ETHR Track 3: Flexibility, The Shift from Location to Time
Working from home has become the new normal. Instead of commuting to the office everyday, employees have now gained more time during their workday. As a result of this, many employers have instituted flexible policies for their employees. This session will explore some of these flexible policies being implemented to accommodate employees working from home. Additionally, as employers start to bring people back into the office, when will that happen and what will that look like after working remotely for over a year.
- 8:15 AM to 9:15 AM ET333 Years to Parity! The Case for Changing Supplier Diversity as We Know it
Passionate about minority supplier development? Committed to making a difference? Resolute in making your seat at the table count? Firm in your belief that all communities deserve strong economies?
All of the above are admirable ideologies, but that is all they are if they aren’t combined with substantive, results-driven actions. Such actions must be tracked and reported for transparent accountability to ensure progress is made.
MMSDC recently commissioned research to determine how long it will take to achieve economic equity in communities of color based on the current growth of U.S. MBEs. The data is sobering, but, with your commitment, we believe we can reduce the amount of time it will take.
How? Join this session to see the countdown clock and learn powerful, actionable steps you can take to reduce the time. Together, we can accelerate success and improve the economy for all communities.
- 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM ETKEYNOTE: Exclusive Access: If Economic Equity is part of the dream, how do we close the gap?
A conversation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s daughter, human rights activist, Rev. Dr. Bernice King on her father’s legacy and how his dream truly encompasses economic inclusion and opportunity for all. Dr. King is often revered but few fully appreciate how attuned he was to the power of economic opportunity. You don’t want to miss this powerful discussion with his daughter who carries on her parents’ legacy as CEO of The King Center.
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM ETCorporate Supplier Diversity: What Great Really Looks Like
A Reducing 333 Years to Parity: Real Talk and Real Results session featuring national corporations with cutting-edge supplier diversity processes, action-oriented top-down commitment and most importantly, tangible and measurable results. Whether you are just starting your supplier diversity program and desire to create sound processes for more than company marketing and awards, or you oversee an existing program that needs to reach next-level impact, this session is for you.
- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM ETMBE Track: Tomorrow's Strategy for Building A Sustainable Business Today
American companies are reshoring and near-shoring to the United States. After decades of sending jobs overseas, employment is being shifted back to Indian Nations and U.S. Territories. Discover how your business can benefit through tax incentives and other financial benefits when you reshore on Tribal lands and the Caribbean. Communities are competing to attract firms, and many have found that financial and nonfinancial incentives are tools that can provide a competitive edge. As a PRIME Supplier or Corporate Executive find out what your options are and the financial benefits that can help you become a vital part of the economic ecosystem.
Tamara Maxwell
Vice President, Minority and Women Owned Business and Multiplier Outreach Division
Office of Small Business at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank)
- 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM ETMinority Women's Track: Applying Basketball Court Principles to WIN in Business
With over 20+ years being around the game of basketball – as a collegiate player, a professional player, and a coach – the sport has taught Chasity Melvin everything needed to exceed on the court, in life, and in business. In this session, you will learn:
- Teamwork- Learn how to work together to know his or her role on the team
- Communication – Learn how to communicate with your teammates on defense and offense
- Character – Learn how to overcome tough moments, failures, and low production
- Vision – Learn the importance of having a vision and building a culture is to a team
These are just a few of the things that the sport of basketball has taught Chasity please join us to learn how you can apply basketball principles and protocol to win in business.
- 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM ETMBE Track: Demystifying Supply Chain Financing: Reverse Factoring
Supply chain finance is a process used to promote healthy cash flow for small and minority owned businesses who win contracts with large corporations who generally have payment terms that are not convenient for smaller businesses. By definition, Supply chain finance (SCF) refers to the techniques and practices used by banks and other financial institutions to manage the capital invested into the supply chain and reduce risk for the parties involved.
The intention of this session is to demonstrate how Supply Chain Financing benefits the ordering party (customer), the supplier, and the factor.
We invite all procurement executives, supplier diversity professional, Minority Businesses and Corporations to come hear TradeIX Managing Director & subject matter expert Dan Juliano demystify this banking process.
- 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM ETOne MMSDC: The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion; Not Just a Passing Fad
ONE MMSDC, the committee focused on the unification of the business community of Michigan presents a session on; Diversity & Inclusion, Not Just a Passing Fad. This session is designed to discuss: Why the corporations are engaging; How they are engaging; and the opportunities to work with MBEs. The Corporations want you to know that they are committed to fostering an inclusive climate in the business they conduct with minority owned businesses
- 2:45 PM to 4:45 PM ETDEI Exclusive: Chief Diversity Officer Forum
A Reducing 333 Years to Parity: Real Talk and Real Results session. After the U.S. economy declined in Spring 2020, the DEI&B industry experienced an astonishing 123% increase in job postings between May and September.Companies are truly making historic moves to meet the moment.To support this effort and help drive meaningful change, we have created a special forum for MMSDC corporate members or certified MBE employees bearing organizational DEIB credentials.
The focus is on equipping, supporting and empowering those with total oversight for all diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives.Our national line-up of subject matter experts will consult a Real Talk, Real Results session designed to assist you as you and your company leverage diversity to drive business results.
With the plethora of expert knowledge present during this session, you have an opportunity to submit questions/scenarios in advance for the panel to address directly
- 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM ETUSMCA Cooperation to Increase Trade and Investment Opportunities
Thank you for planning to attend the USMCA Cooperation to Increase Trade & Investment Opportunities. By attending session, you will learn how to connect with like minded businesses to create international teaming agreements, arrange on demand B2B’s, create partnerships, export transactions or establish operations abroad.
- 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM ETPerfecting your Pitch: Dealmaker Final Rounds
- 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM ETMinority Women’s Mastermind: Magnify 2020-2021 Graduation & 2021-2022 Cohort
- 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM ETAhoy Michigan! Department of the Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Overview
The Department of the Navy (DON) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide the opportunity for domestic small businesses and start-ups to deliver innovative solutions to meet Naval needs through Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D). This competitive awards-based program advances innovative solutions through a three-phase program aiming to commercialize/transition technology to the Force/Fleet
- 9:45 AM to 10:00 AM ETRibbon Cutting Ceremony
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM ETCPO Meeting (Invite Only)
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM ETBOE Exchange
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ETPlug and Play by AmplifyD (Invite Only)
- 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM ETWine Down Networking Reception
Conference attendees are invited to join us in celebrating 40 years of MMPC with a festive, virtual Wine Down Networking Cocktail hour at the conclusion of the conference on May 6th 4:15pm – 5:30pm (EST). The hour will be filled with piped-in tunes from a live virtual DJ, live mocktail/cocktail demonstrations (including our very own 40th MMPC signature cocktail!) with a talented mixologist, and opportunities to socialize, network, or connect with colleagues in a celebratory environment.
Moscow Mule Box
- One 200ml Tito’s Vodka
- One bottle Ginger Beer
- One Squeeze Lime
Perfect Margarita Box
- One 200ml bottle of Hornita Plata Tequila
- One 10oz bottle of Zing Zang Margarita Mix
- One Squeeze Lime
DEADLINE IS APRIL 19, 2021
We are excited to announce that MBEs now have the option to pre-schedule appointments to meet directly with buyers attending various corporate booths during the Business Opportunity Exchange Day. Please note that only one appointment per commodity with each Corporate Member and that duplicate appointments will be deleted. Appointment availability is limited, so be sure to book your appointment today!
Conference attendees are invited to join us in celebrating 40 years of MMPC with a festive, virtual Wine Down Networking Cocktail hour at the conclusion of the conference on May 6th 4:15pm – 5:30pm (EST).
The hour will be filled with piped-in tunes from a live virtual DJ, live mocktail/cocktail demonstrations (including our very own 40th MMPC signature cocktail!) with a talented mixologist, and opportunities to socialize, network, or connect with colleagues in a celebratory environment.
Moscow Mule Box
- One 200ml Tito's Vodka
- One bottle Ginger Beer
- One Squeeze Lime
The Perfect Margarita Box
- One 200ml bottle of Hornita Plata Tequila
- One 10oz bottle of Zing Zang Margarita Mix
- One Squeeze Lime
Be sure to order your Cocktail Kit today so that you can follow along the mixology demonstration.
DEADLINE IS APRIL 19, 2021
Are you interested in mocktail options? No worries! Mocktail recipe cards are coming soon...