PRESIDENT & CEO
VDART INC

VDart is a leading global digital talent management, solution, and product companies with offices in the US, Canada, UK, and India. Sidd is purpose-driven, highly accomplished business leader & EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year, 2017. In the last decade, Sidd has scaled several companies to new heights with his focus on casting a powerful vision and being tirelessly focused on people.

U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

Pete Buttigieg currently serves as the 19th Secretary of Transportation. Prior to joining the Administration, Secretary Buttigieg served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Known as “Mayor Pete,” he worked across the aisle to transform South Bend’s future and improve people’s everyday lives. He’s a graduate of Harvard University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.

CO-CEO
ARIEL ALTERNATIVES

Les will lead the Project Black team. He is an executive with over 40 years of expertise in investment banking, commercial banking, and financial advisory services. Les is the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Hamilton Lane, one of the largest global investment managers providing private markets solutions with over $500 billion in assets under management and supervision.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Ms. Castillo is a changemaker in the fields of public policy and law. She has served in leadership positions in three administrations under Presidents Biden, Obama, and Clinton. Her professional career spans two decades, focusing on creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for all Americans. Prior to joining EDA, she was the CEO of YWCA USA, where she championed delivering critical social, educational, and economic development services.

HEAD OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
AMAZON

Ian is the founder of Ruth Strategies and was the youngest elected member of the Michigan State Senate. As minority vice chair of the Transportation Committee and member of the Economic Development & International Investment, Energy & Technology, and Banking & Financial Services Committees. He aims to infuse diverse ideas to better assist organizations and municipalities in problem-solving. This is achieved through enhanced communications, process, improvement and technology introduction.

ACTING NATIONAL DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Acting National Director, Miguel Estién, was appointed by President Biden to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to lead the growth of minority-owned enterprises. Estien is expanding the Agency to serve rural America, establish regional offices, and advance parity for minority-owned businesses. He started his career with GE in their industrial business division.

ADMINISTRATOR
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Isabella Casillas Guzman serves as the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses and innovative startups. She has made supporting small businesses her life’s work. She spent her early career in the private sector as a founder, advisor, and consultant. As a public, Ms. Guzman has served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at the SBA, and as Small Business Advocate for the state of California.

PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Austan previously served as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and a member of President Obama’s cabinet. His research has earned him recognition as a Fulbright Scholar and an Alfred P. Sloan fellow. In prior years he was named one of the 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, and one of the six “Gurus of the Future” by the Financial Times.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
PROCUREMENT, ALLSTATE INSURANCE

Cheryl manages Allstate’s $12B 3rd party spend portfolio to deliver value, mitigate risk, foster innovation, and develop high-performing individuals and teams. She also oversees Allstate’s Business Inclusion and Supply Chain Sustainability programs where her focus is on increasing economic equity. Cheryl was named as one of the Most Powerful Black Women in Corporate America (2018 & 2019), and one of the Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America (2017).

PRESIDENT, HIGHTOWER EV SOLUTIONS, LLC

Established in 1984, Hightowers Petroleum provides energy throughout the US and the world. In 2021 Stephen started Hightower EV Solutions, a Managed Service Provider with end-to-end turnkey services to position the companies to excel in the new energy markets. He has met the challenges of access, acceptance, finance and performance to become Americas premier African American Energy provider.

CO-CEO & PRESIDENT
ARIEL INVESTMENTS

As Co-CEO, Mellody is responsible for management, strategic planning, and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management. Her leadership has also been invaluable to corporate boardrooms across the nation. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation. She is also a director of JPMorgan Chase. In 2015, Time Magazine named her one of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world.

PRESIDENT AND CEO
NATIONAL CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIAN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

NCAIED provides and facilitates high-quality development and support services to privately held native-owned businesses, tribal enterprises, and individuals. Previously, Chris was a Senior Executive Service Appointee and Associate Administrator at the U.S. SBA; Associate Program Manager at the Treasury Department; and Associate Director at Sequoyah Fund.

CHAIRMAN & CEO
MAGIC JOHNSON ENTERPRISES

MJE is an investment conglomerate that provides high-quality products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities.

For the last two decades, Johnson has consistently turned heads with his unprecedented partnerships. He is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure and technology.

FOUNDING DIRECTOR
NOWAK METRO FINANCE LAB

Previously he served as inaugural Centennial Scholar at Brookings Institution and as vice president and director of Brooking’s Metropolitan Policy Program. He served as chief of staff to the secretary of Housing and Urban Development and is coauthor of The Metropolitan Revolution and The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism.

FOUNDER & CEO
DUNAMIS CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERS, LLC

Natalie has 15 years of experience in green technology. Under her direction, Dunamis grew into a multi-million-dollar company w/over 150 employees throughout Mich. The portfolio includes LED Lighting, Electric Vehicle Charger mfg., and energy efficiency solutions. Dunamis Charge is the 1st African American woman-owned electric vehicle charger manufacturer in the world.

PRESIDENT
JAMES H. LOWRY & ASSOCIATES

James is a sought-after speaker, strategic advisor and nationally recognized supplier diversity expert. He was the first African American consultant for McKinsey in 1968 and first African American senior partner Boston Consulting Group. His new book, Change Agent: A Life Dedicated to Creating Wealth for Minorities, demonstrates the power of iconic mentors and offers solutions to the ever-widening wealth gap that plagues black and brown communities today.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LATINOS AND SOCIETY PROGRAM
ASPEN INSTITUTE

Domenika joined the Institute in 2020. Over the course of two decades in leadership roles, she has overseen strategic planning, policy advocacy, and public affairs campaigns for nonprofits and corporations, increasing donor and stakeholder support and raising millions of dollars for organizational endowments. She skillfully facilitates internal and external relationships for maximum social impact, prioritizes mentoring, and empowering the next generation of leaders.

FOUNDER
ARGENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

Betty is an influential executive and strategic entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience driving transformation and growth for global technology and telecommunications companies and startups. She is recognized as an award-winning, supply chain and sustainability industry expert and an advocate of women and minority owned businesses. Betty brings governance experience through her advisory leadership with several nonprofit boards.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
MasTec

Mr. Mas transformed the company from a telecommunications contractor into the most diversified specialty contractor in North America by expanding into clean energy, pipeline construction, high voltage transmission, and wireless infrastructure construction. Revenue in 2021 exceeded $8 Billion. MasTec has more than 25,000 team members in 375 locations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In 2020 Forbes magazine named MasTec to its list of World’s Best Employers.

CEO AND PRESIDENT
NMSDC

Having been tapped to lead NMSDC into its next half-century, Ying McGuire is not holding back, ushering in an era of equity with the audacious goal of $1T in annual certified MBE revenue and its momentum-building event, the inaugural Minority Business Economic Forum. Recognized as “America’s Top Diversity Advocate,” she has led high-impact global initiatives as a Fortune 500 executive.

CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB

Farryn’s team is responsible for managing 3rd party spend of $12B, Supplier Relationship & Risk Management, Travel & Fleet operations. She leads a diverse team of over 425 colleagues globally and manages several large external partnerships. Farryn is active in the procurement field, and passionate about D&I. She serves on the executive committee for WBENC and NMSDC, and on the board of Howard University Supply Chain Program.

CHIEF ECONOMIST, US
MASTERCARD ECONOMICS INSTITUTE

Michelle is responsible for driving macroeconomic thought leadership for customers, Mastercard, and public policy in the U.S. She earned a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) and a master’s degree, both in economics, at Boston University. Michelle is a member of the Economics Club of New York and is a frequent commentator on news media outlets, including CNBC and Bloomberg TV, and is often cited in print and online media.

PRESIDENT AND CEO
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

Marc Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League. He served as Mayor of New Orleans, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and was a Louisiana State Senator. He is a leading voice on the national stage in the battle for jobs, education, housing and voting rights equity. Marc is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, and the University of Pennsylvania.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
THE BALANCE
SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR

Kristin Myers is an award-winning journalist, producer, and Editor in Chief of The Balance. She was formerly the host of Yahoo Finance Live, and one of the creators and hosts of “A Time for Change,” a weekly program that explores race, diversity, and inclusion in the world of business, finance, and politics. Kristin also helped launch Al Jazeera America, and was part of field teams covering the riots in Ferguson, and the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

PRESIDENT
LIGHTSPEEDEDU, INC.

LightSpeedEdu specializes in eLearning, multimedia video development, and motion graphics. Prior to joining the firm, Carlton spent 18 years in communications, marketing, and training & development with Merck and Co. He subsequently served as Director of US Marketing for Cardiovascular Products at Bayer where he led a $130M product portfolio. He is Chairman of NMSDC’s National MBE Input Committee for the 2021-2024 term.

CHAIRMAN AND CEO
BCT PARTNERS

Dr. Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, technologist, speaker, author, media personality, and expert in diversity, equity & inclusion. As the visionary leader of BCT Partners, its mission is to harness the power of diversity, insights, and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity, and create lasting change.

GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

After taking the oath of office, Governor Pritzker immediately began working with Democrats and Republicans to accomplish one of the most ambitious and consequential legislative agendas in state history. He passed a balanced budget with a bipartisan majority, making historic investments in education and human services, while restoring fiscal stability to Illinois. Before becoming governor, Pritzker founded 1871, the non-profit small business incubator in Chicago that has helped entrepreneurs create more than 11,000 jobs and more than 1,000 new companies.

HEAD OF COMMUNITY IMPACT, MANAGING DIRECTOR
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.

Alice Rodriguez has 35 years of extensive banking experience with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors. Currently, she is the head of JPMorgan Chase’s Community Impact organization where she manages and executes the firm’s $30 billion racial equity commitment to close the racial wealth gap. Her lifelong commitment to minority-driven causes has earned her numerous board appointments and accolades, including her current role as Chairwoman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

CHAIRMAN AND CO-CEO
ARIEL INVESTMENTS

John Rogers is the Chairman and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, the global value-based asset management firm he founded in 1983 and is the first African American-owned asset management firm in American history. John is committed to elevating the conversation around minority businesses and the importance of creating multigenerational wealth for Black and Brown communities.

CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER
WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY

World Wide Technology is a market-leading systems integrator and supply chain solutions provider. It is the largest Black-owned company in the United States. Launched in 1990, WWT currently operates in 20 facilities throughout the world. The company employs more than 7,000 people and generates more than $13 billion in annual revenue. Steward emphasizes the role of strong cultural values, as well as the importance of strong collaboration between employees and departments. WWT is a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.

SENIOR PARTNER AND LEADER
THE MCKINSEY INSTITUTE

Shelley is a leader within McKinsey’s Private Equity & Principal Investors Practice, where he serves a range of clients on marketing and sales topics. In addition to his client work, Shelley leads McKinsey’s research on Black economic mobility in the United States. He has published numerous articles and is a speaker on the topic. Shelley is also on the board of directors of the National Black MBA Association.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
BILLION DOLLAR ROUNDTABLE

Shelley is the managing partner at Bottom Line Advisory, a supply chain and procurement consultancy. He retired as the Chief Procurement Officer of DuPont. Shelley was elected chairman of the Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc., a top-level advocacy organization that promotes corporate supplier diversity excellence and advances best practices through its member companies.

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO
CHARGER HELP, INC.

ChargerHelp is an APP that enables on-demand repair of electric vehicle charging stations. Prior to starting ChargerHelp, Kameale was the Director of Programs at EV Connect, an electric vehicle charge station network provider. She structured and led teams to execute electric vehicle infrastructure projects and programs. Kameale believes that an equitable green economy can be achieved through impactful workforce development and realignment.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PRESIDENT
NATIONAL ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Chiling Tong has extensive experience in economic and business development, with a focus on growing minority-owned small businesses. Her career spans the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. She is the President and CEO of the National Asian & Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship. Previously, Tong served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Trade Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

CASTING DIRECTOR & CAST CONSULTANT
THE SECOND CITY
EQUITY HONORS EMCEE

Claudia is the director and cast consultant. For over 20 years, she has worked in several capacities at The Second City. Claudia is an alumna of the Touring Company and the Chicago Mainstage and works as an actress and facilitator for Second City Works, the Business-to-Business arm of The Second City. Claudia is also an accomplished actress who can be seen on TV, film, and on stages across the country.

ASSOCIATE PARTNER
MCKINSEY & COMPANY

Ken is a leader within McKinsey’s Procurement & Product Development Practice, with broad operations expertise and a focus on clients across the advanced industries sectors. He partners with aerospace, automotive and other industrial companies to enable global operations transformations and create value. He co-leads McKinsey’s Supplier Diversity Service Line.