Certified LGBTBEs interested in doing business with pharmaceutical companies will have a chance to learn about the life sciences industry at the Diversity Alliance for Science Life Sciences Diversity Conference in May.
Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc.—a non-profit organization dedicated to developing, supporting and mentoring LGBT-, woman-, minority-, veteran/disabled- and HubZone-owned life sciences businesses—will be hosting its third annual networking conference and EXPO event May 18-19 at the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel in New Jersey.
The conference will serve as a forum for corporations to collaborate on best practices in the inclusion of diverse businesses in clinical trials and scientific research. Additionally, the conference will feature panel discussions on the changing demographics of the U.S. population, the impact of science on the current economy, and developing strategies to effectively mentor diverse suppliers.
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) will be represented at the conference by Victoria Fulkerson, director of supplier diversity and corporate relations at the NGLCC. She will serve as a panelist for a workshop on certification return on investment or ROI. The workshop will feature representatives from leading certifying organizations, who will discuss the importance of certification and how businesses can effectively leverage their certifications to improve their ability to compete for business in the life sciences industry.
"We are hopeful that having the NGLCC represented at this conference will encourage more certified LGBTBEs to go after business with corporations in the life sciences industry," Fulkerson said. "And for those businesses that are still considering certification, we hope that the conference will inspire them to go forward with their certification so that they can have more opportunities to take advantage of the great business opportunities the life sciences industry can offer them."
Attendees can participate in one of two "tracks" at the conference—the corporate track or the supplier track—which will dictate the focus of the workshops they attend.
Several NGLCC corporate partners will not only be in attendance at the conference, but are also sponsors of the conference, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Pfizer.
In addition to the conference networking events, panels and workshops, there will be an EXPO event that will include an interactive tradeshow where attending corporations can meet leading diverse suppliers that are providing products and services to the life sciences industry.
Visit the conference page to learn more about the Life Sciences Diversity conference, or register for the conference here.
