9:30AM – Main Exhibit Hall C Hallway: Ribbon Cutting and Welcome Ceremony – Main Stage 1

DBE Advisory Board/Planning Committee, Members of the Press, and Community Officials

9:45AM – Main Stage #1: Welcome Ceremony

Welcome and Congratulatory Remarks:

  • Doris Adesuyi, Founder, Diversity Business Exhibit
  • Pst. Chris Abhulime, RI Governor’s Office, Deputy Chief of Staff
  • Helena Foulkes, Follett Higher Education, Executive Chair
  • Gabe Amo, Candidate for Congress
  • Tomas Avila, RI Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Sec. Gregg Amore, Secretary of State
  • Collin Bailey, Hudson’s Bay, Chief Transformation Officer
  • Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, State of Rhode Island
  • Mayor Brett Smiley, City of Providence

11AM – 1PM: Legal Clinic

Sponsored By Roger Williams University School of Law

Attorneys:

  • Kas DeCarvalho
  • Luke Blackadar
  • Mary Poirier-Catala
  • Daniel Holmander
  • Saikon Gbehan Isijola
  • Michael Crane
  • Debbie Gonzalez

11AM – Stage #1: Diversity in Government Panel

Moderator: Dorca Paulino-Smalley, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, University of Rhode Island

Panelists:

  • The Honorable Luis M. Matos, Associate Justice, Rhode Island Superior Court
  • The Honorable Karen Alzate, State Representative, D-Dist.60 Pawtucket/Central Falls
  • Allan Fung, Partner, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara, LLC
  • Sean W. Holley, Administrator, Rhode Island Department of Administration Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • The Honorable James Diossa, Rhode Island General Treasurer

12PM – Stage #1 & Corral: Supplier Diversity Panel & One on One Meet Ups

Moderator: Keith Stokes, 1696 Heritage Group, Vice President

Panelists:

  • Tracey Wiley, Bally’s, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Doris De Los Santos, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Supplier Diversity Program Manager
  • Tanya Pope, Columbia University, Assistant Vice President, University Supplier Diversity
  • Edwin Alvarez, CVS Health, Senior Manager Supplier Diversity

12PM – Stage #2: Equity on Boards and Commissions

Moderator: Celia Johnston Blue, Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, President and CEO

Panelists

  • Commissioner Nurys Camargo, Cannabis Control Commission
  • Craig Dwyer, State of RI Governor’s Office, Director of Boards and Appointments
  • Dr. Karen Rucks Walker, Alliance University, Vice President of Advancement
  • Jim Vincent, NAACP, Providence Branch, Fmr. President
  • Kelly Nevins, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, CEO

2PM – Stage #1: Diversity and Access in Contracting

Moderator: Anita Bruno RI Women in the Trades, CEO

Panelists:

  • Peter DeFazio, Office of Federal Contract Compliance, Assistant District Director
  • Helder Ferreira, Pawtucket Central Falls Development, Director of Small Building Construction.
  • Dottie Silva – DEMCO, President
  • Graig Bustillo, Black Contractors Association RI, President
  • Tina Pedersen, RAMP, CEO

2PM – Stage #1 Corral: Supplier Diversity One to One Meet Ups

  • Nancy Duvall, Bally’s, Procurement Analysis & Diversity Spend Manager
  • Doris De Los Santos, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Supplier Diversity Program Manager
  • Tanya Pope, Columbia University, Assistant Vice President, University Supplier Diversity
  • Edwin Alvarez, CVS Health, Senior Manager Supplier Diversity

2PM – Stage #2: Entrepreneur Supports: Business and Nonprofit Resources

Moderator: Carmen Diaz-Jusino, Rhode Island Foundation, Strategic Initiative Officer

Panelists

  • Luke Blackadar, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Deputy Director
  • Matthew Spoehr, US Small Business Administration. Lead Economic Development Specialist
  • Olinda Urizar-Mendez, RI Commerce, Minority Business Support Manager
  • Mackenson Charles, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Chief of Membership

3PM – Stage #1: Diversity & Real Estate

Moderator: Colleen Fonseca, Builders of Color Coalition, Executive Director

Panelists

  • Fabiola Brunache, Fab Realty, Real Estate Broker
  • Rosanna Ortiz, RMO Project Resources, President
  • Sam Albert, Eleven91 Homes, Owner/Developer
  • Joe Dalomba, High Tech Construction, President

3PM – Stage #2: Equity in Cannabis

Moderator: Angela Bradway, Canna MGT, Founder & CEO

Panelists:

  • Armani White, Firehouse, Partner/Co-founder
  • Shaleen Title, Parabola Center for Law and Policy, Founder and Director
  • Commissioner Ava Concepcion, Cannabis Control Commission, Commissioner
  • Zara Salmon, CraveInfused, Founder
  • Omari Anderson, Best Dirty Lemonade, CEO

3:30PM – Stage #1 Corral: “Power Hour” Speed Networking

Facilitator: Aziza Hawthorne

This Year’s Power Players:

  • Collin Baile, Hudson’s Bay, Chief Transformation Officer
  • Adriana Dawson, Verizon, Director, Community Engagement
  • Melissa Husband, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Chief of Staff
  • Lidy Chan, MassDOT, Risk Manage
  • Lanre Ajakaiye, United Way, Chief Development Officer
  • Hilina Ajakaiye, Meet Boston, Executive Vice President
  • Ralph Tavares, Storbeck Search, Vice President, Equity and Inclusive Excellence
  • Priscilla De La Cruz, City of Providence, Director of Sustainabilty
  • Darnell Williams, MBTA/MassDOT, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for External Programs
  • Marjorie Cassion, RI Dept. of Labor & Training, Chief of Labor and Training Operations
  • Jennifer McCann, Univ. of Rhode Island, Director US Coastal Programs
  • Angela Ankoma, RI Foundation, Vice President
  • Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Economic Progress Institute, Executive Director

4PM – Stage #1: Diversity in Tech, AI & Cybersecurity

Moderator: Monsurat Ottun, Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity Advisor

Panelists

  • Riley Jones, Sector Software, Co-Founder, Forbes 30 Under 30
  • Lindsey Ramirez, Center for Women and Enterprise, Executive Director
  • Stephanie Beaute, Senior IT professional
  • Ralph Okelola, ROPLAB IT Solutions, President
  • Michael Monwuba, Microsoft, Sr. IT Manager

5PM – Stage #1 Corral: Happy Hour

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and Drinks. Cash Bar for Adult Beverages

Lt. Governor’s “Back to School, Back to Business!” Youth Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

10:30AM – Check-In

11AM – Stage #3 How We Made It Panel

Moderator: Juan Catala

Panelists

  • Kobi Dennis, YMCA, COO
  • Dawan Robinson, Life of Hoops, Founder & Owner
  • Georgina Sarpong, C & M Renovations, Owner
  • Michael Washington, Central High School, Head Coach
  • Menlee Mansue, Columbia University, Director

12:30PM – Stage #3 Student Workshop

Facilitators:

  • Sterling Clinton-Spellman, Incred-a-Bowl Food Company, Co-Owner
  • Ahyieh Mansue, Providence Public Schools, Inclusion Teacher

1:15PM – Stage #3 Youth & Young Adult Panel

Moderator: Erlin Rogel, Lt. Governor’s Office, Senior Advisor

Panelists

  • Isaiah Olayinka, Student Athlete
  • Zainabou Thiam, Student Entrepreneur
  • Anthony Wilds, Student Entrepreneur
  • Corey Jones, Dept. Labor & Training, Chief Program Development
  • Councilman Miguel Sanchez, Providence City Council

2PM – Stage #3 Student Workshop

Facilitators:

  • Sterling Clinton-Spellman, Incred-a-Bowl Food Company, Co-Owner
  • Ahyieh Mansue, Providence Public Schools, Inclusion Teacher

2PM – Stage #3 Closing

SWAG BAG, Giveaway, Group Pics