With the NGLCC National Business and Leadership Conference just under a week away, we're offering you a preview into the programs and speakers that you won't want to miss during this spectacular three-day event.
Karen Mills, administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will open the conference by speaking at the opening breakfast on Thursday morning. An important member of the Obama administration, it will be a unique opportunity to hear from Administrator Mills about the importance of the LGBT business community in moving our nation's economy forward in these uncertain economic times.
The Women's Business Initiative Luncheon on Thursday afternoon will include a roundtable panel of successful out and allied women leaders—including Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy; Amanda Simpson, Senior Technical Adviser, U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security; Catherine Pino of D&P Creative Strategies; and Stacy Smithers of Wells Fargo Bank Florida. They will share personal stories about what it takes to succeed in the competitive world and how they shattered the lavender glass ceiling to become leaders in their respective industries.
Also scheduled for Thursday afternoon is the session on International Trade – The U.S. Commercial Service and You, which will explore the resources available to businesses that want to expand their reach globally.
In a series of panel discussions that are part of the From Contacts to Contracts – Doing Business with Corporate America sessions, participants will hear from supplier diversity professionals from Mattel, Aetna, Southwest Airlines, Wyndham Worldwide, Merck, Hewlett-Packard, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts about their corporations' needs and how LGBTBEs can fit into their supply chains.
Certified LGBTBEs who applied for the NGLCC Mentorship Program should make sure to attend the NGLCC Mentorship Program Kick-off event on Friday morning.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, join us in the Presidential Ballroom where the 2010 NGLCC Rising Star Affiliate Chamber will be recognized and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will deliver the Champion of Enterprise Keynote.
A Friday afternoon roundtable discussion on the NGLCC Communities of Color Business Initiative (CCBI) will focus on the experiences of business owners and professionals of color in the LGBT marketplace and how the LGBT business community can help break down barriers to empower diverse businesses.
On Saturday afternoon, join LGBT and allied entrepreneurs to develop new business relationships and strengthen existing ones at the exclusive B2B networking reception for certified LGBTBEs.
For a full listing of the programs and events scheduled for next week's National Business and Leadership Conference, visit the conference page here.
