Dariela Rivas
Dariela Rivas
General Manager, Fogo de Chão
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Edmund Addai
Edmund Addai
Owner, Stack House
Edmund Addai, CEO of Stack House, is a leader in promoting diversity in business. Awarded the 2024 SBA Rhode Island Young Entrepreneur of the Year and 2023 RIBBA Isaac Rice Entrepreneur of the Year, Edmund's commitment to inclusive practices and innovative strategies makes him an insightful voice on diversity in the business world as a featured panelist.
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Martha Perez Barton
Martha Perez Barton
Director of Incubation, Hope & Main
Martha Perez-Barton is the Director of Incubation at Hope & Main where she works with new and onboarding member businesses to assist them to launch and scale through the early stages of start-up. Her previous roles include: Business Assistance Advisor for RI Commerce Corp, Director of Operations and Programs for RIHCC (Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce)
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Julius Kolawole
Julius Kolawole
Director & Cofounder, African Alliance of Rhode Island
Julius Kolawole is the Director and Cofounder of the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI). He is responsible for the operation of AARI's core programs: Food, Art, Culture, and Health. He established an urban community garden for AARI in 2009 and currently runs six urban gardens in South Providence. For the past eight years, Julius has led the AARI Urban gardening program, specializing in growing, selling and making value-added products from African vegetables grown in South Providence. Since 2012, he has led eight of the growers to selling their produce at Armory Farmers Market in West-End of Providence and Winter Farmers Market in Pawtucket. In 2015, he implemented a very successful “grow your own food” initiative for community residents and value-added products such as carrot/apple jam and relish made from garden eggs. He advocates and promotes community vitality by engaging different cultures at the farmer's market, cooking demonstration, Food as Medicine, in addition to African oral food stories and proverbs.
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Briana Azier
Briana Azier
Owner & Head Treat Maker, Bri's Sweet Treats
Briana Azier, MBA is the proud Owner and Head Treat Maker at Bri’s Sweet Treats. Bri’s Sweet Treats is the #1 Chocolate and candy shop in Central Mass and it is located in the Worcester Public Market on 160 Green St, Worcester. Bri started her business in her home kitchen and is a business born and raised out of the ashes of the pandemic!
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Patrice Jean-Philippe
Patrice Jean-Philippe
Owner, P.Bon Bakery, LLC
P. Bon Bakery LLC, a small business that specializes in artisanal cakes founded by owner Patrice Jean-Philippe. Patrice's passion for baking was ignited after watching the Great British Bake Show during the COVID-19 pandemic. She then decided to take her baking skills to the next level by creating her own business.
P. Bon Bakery offers custom-made cakes in three delicious flavors: Haitian Vanilla, a recipe passed down from her mother, chocolate, and carrot cake. Each cake is made to order using Patrice's special buttercream recipe that gives each cake a unique flavor and texture. In addition to her busy work schedule, Patrice is also a devoted wife and mother of three amazing boys. She balances her family life with her love of baking, and often involves her children in the baking process as a fun activity they can all enjoy together. We believe that every event should be special and memorable, and we would love to help you create a cake that is both beautiful and delicious. We invite you to follow our journey and be the first to know about our new flavors and designs, be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Saturday, September 7th, 12:00PM - 12:50PM | Diverse Flavors, Inclusive Business: How Diversity is Shaping the Future of the Food and Beverage Industry
Angelyne Cooper-Bailey
Angelyne Cooper-Bailey
Executive Counsel, Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training
In January of 2021, by a unanimous vote of the Cranston City Council, Angelyne E. Cooper became the first attorney of color nominated and appointed to serve as a judge on the Cranston Municipal Court. Currently, she serves as Executive Counsel for the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. She also teaches at Roger Williams University School of Law as an adjunct professor. Her prior legal experience includes prison litigation monitoring to ensure that incarcerated individuals with mental health illness received constitutionally adequate mental health care and providing advice and counsel on a wide range of legal issues as an attorney for Rhode Island Legal Services and the City of Providence. She also served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. She earned her J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law, cum laude, and served as President of the Black Law Students Association and a member of the Multi-Cultural Law Students Association. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Utica College of Syracuse University. In 2023, she was appointed by Speaker Shekarchi to serve on the Cannabis Advisory Board. Since 2014 she has served as a Commissioner for the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Center for Justice, Genesis Center, and the Rhode Island Urban Debate League.
Friday, September 6th, 2:30PM - 4:00PM | "Power Hour" Speed Networking
Linda Gandel
Linda Gandel
VP of Global Procurement, Bally's
With over 30 years’ experience in both the purchasing and hospitality industries, Linda currently oversees Global Procurement for all entities under Bally's Corporation, which include 16 US based Casinos & Resorts and multiple International & North American iGaming & EGaming companies. In previous roles with Scout Hotels and Sonesta Collection Hotels, Linda has been involved in both CapEx & OpEx spend management that included the renovations & operations of historic hotels on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket & Cape Cod, a new build resort village in Belize, the conversion of 21 hotels in 4 months and the launch of a new brand of extended stay hotels involving the full renovations of 16 hotels concurrently over one year.
At Bally’s Linda’s more recent work is focused on Diversity Spend, ESG initiatives, leveraging opportunities, global policy development and execution, as well as, building a proper Global Center of Excellence Procurement Department.
Friday, September 6th, 12:30PM - 1:30PM | Supplier Diversity Segment
Alejandro Tirado
Alejandro Tirado
Director of Purchasing, City of Providence
Friday, September 6th, 12:30PM - 1:30PM | Supplier Diversity Segment
Shameem Awan
Shameem Awan
Sr. Assistant Vice President, Amica Insurance
Shameem Awan is the Talent Management and DE&I Sr. Assistant Vice President in the Human Resources Department of Amica Insurance Company, Lincoln, RI. Shameem has 28 years of experience in claims handling, supervision and management with Amica. She previously worked in the Claims Executive Department for 11 years and worked as an adjuster, assistant training instructor and held a variety of supervisory and managerial positions. Additionally, Shameem worked in Amica offices in Wellesley, MA, Seattle, WA, Indianapolis, IN, Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX. Shameem’s current responsibilities in Human Resources include companywide oversight of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Talent Acquisition and Talent Management