African American Business Summit 2007 June 21, 2007

The African American Business Summit provides solutions to the issues that confront diverse urban small businesses - from access to capital, new business acquisition, to operational excellence.

Beginning this year, the African American Business Summit has partnered with Turning Point URBAN to form African American Business Summit/Turning Point URBAN. This new collaboration with Turning Point URBAN gives the Summit the opportunity to EXPAND and include all multicultural and ethnic business professionals nationally. Nationally recognized as the "must attend” event for ALL business owners and corporate executives.

8:30 am – 8:50 am
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
Welcome Session
Special Guest: Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks

9:00 am – 10:15 am
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
“Dare 2 B Different: Standing Out in a Me-Too World”
Speaker: Gerry Foster
Moderator: Dorothy Randle, Program and Communications Manager, Los Angeles MBOC

10:30 am – 11:45 Noon
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
Urban Mayors’ Roundtable on Economic Development
Hosted by Union Bank of California

MAYORS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND:
Hon. Roosevelt Dorn, City of Inglewood
Hon. Ron Dellums, City of Oakland
Hon. Isadore Hall, City of Compton Mayor Pro Tem
…Others to be announced

Host: Carl Ballton, Sr. VP Corporate Community Development, Union Bank
Moderator: Anita Estell, Esq., Partner Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus

As “reverse” migration takes place in metropolitan areas throughout the country, cities are experiencing unprecedented economic revitalization and development of downtown and neighborhood areas. This is an opportunity to hear from Mayors or their representatives about their cities’ plans for enhancing quality of life essential to attracting and retaining businesses, residents and visitors. It is also an opportunity to learn how these Mayors are addressing their increasingly diverse electorates as they talk about how their cities are making sure minority businesses participate in such projects.

12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm
CONVENTION CENTER WEST HALL - ROOM 403A/B
“What Makes the Great – Great: Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement”
Keynote: Dennis Kimbro, Ph.D.
Special Guest: Los Angeles City Councilman Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
Host: Pat Means, President & CEO, Turning Point Urban Magazine

1:45 pm – 3:00 pm
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
Hosted by Wells Fargo
“Women Business Owners: Dispelling Myths – Exposing Truths!”

Panelists
Lavetta Willis, President/CEO, LL International (DaDa Footwear)
Mary Ann Mitchell, President & CEO, CC-OPS and Chair, National Black Business Council
Monique Hayward, President & CEO, Nouveau Connoisseurs Corporation/Sr. Marketing Mrg., Intel Corp.
Moderator: Brenda Ross-Dulan, Sr. Vice President/Market President, Wells Fargo
NOTE: Attendees at this session eligible to win a FANTASTIC prize!
This session will help women business owners successfully navigate the entrepreneuraial terrain and dissolve misconceptions that can impede their progress. Through audience interactive quizzes, Q&A and thought-provoking presentations, you will definitely come away with a better understanding of what it means to be a woman in business!

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
“Strategies for Service Businesses to Sell to Corporate Customers”

Panelists
Jerilyn Gleaves, Manager of Supplier Diversity, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Michelle Smith-Ballard, Director Procurement Equity and Supplier Diversity, AEG
Joe Alderete, Manager of Supplier Diversity, Southern California Edison
Michael Tobolski, Sr. Director Diversity Initiatives, Marriott International, Inc.
Chuck Pulliam, Diverse Business Enterprise Advisor, Sempra Energy

Moderator: Ramona Y. Wright, Assistant Professor and Director Alumni Relations, Loyola Marymount University

Leading corporations are striving to increase their supplier relationships with minority businesses, and are making strides in the dollars spent for technology and hard goods. However, over 50% of minority-owned businesses are in the “service” sector, which results in a difficult paradigm - most minority firms are competing for more limited corporate contracts. This session will provide strategies for the service oriented company - what corporations are looking for, how to position your company and where to look within the corporation for service-related contracts.

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
WELCOME RECEPTION
STAPLES Center – 1111 S. Figueroa Street (next door to Convention Center)
AMERICAN EXPRESS ARENA CLUB
Hosted by US Bank

Special Scheduled Guest: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Host: Robin Billups, Vice President Corporate Procurement/Supplier Diversity, US Bank
Mistress of Ceremonies: Wendy Gladney Brooks, President, Personal Services Plus Event Management Company

7:00 pm
STAPLES Center – 1111 S. Figueroa Street (next door to Convention Center)
GRAND RESERVE CLUB
Art and Jazz Dessert Reception: Tribute to Synthia SAINT JAMES
Art Auction / Dancing

Friday June 23, 2007
8:30 am – 8:50 am
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
OPENING SESSION

9:00 am – 10:15 am
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
“Brown, Black Red or Yellow – the Color of Business is Green!”

Moderator: Joe R. Hicks, VP Community Advocates, Inc./former Executive Director LA City Human Relations Commission

It is a fact of life that the urban marketplace is increasingly diverse. This session will provide rationale and strategies for urban entrepreneurs to look outside their regular business channels to form business collaborations and grow their companies based on common goals, not common racial backgrounds.

10:30 am – 11:45 am
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER

Congresswoman Diane Watson Presents
African American Entrepreneurs Doint Business in South Africa: The Why, Where and How to Profit from this Dynamic Financial Frontier
Host: Honorable Diane Watson
Panelists:
Julia Wilson, President & CEO, Wilson Global Communications USA; Executive Producer, Julia Wilson on the Continent
Joe Sive, Chairman, African Investment Fund, Inc.

Moderator: Dwayne Gathers, Regional Manager, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation; former Executive Director of the State of California’s Office of Trade and Investment in Johannesburg, South Africa

From forming public-private partnerships to accessing capital to finance your South African venture, this session will help you understand how to expand your business internationally through the South African connection. Successful entrepreneurs who have actually run successful Africa-based companies will lead you through new opportunities in intellectual property, information technology, broadcasting and telecommunications, and mining, oil and gas.

12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm
CONVENTION CENTER WEST HALL - ROOM 403A/B
Hosted by Nordstrom

“Passionate Leadership”
Keynote Speaker: Susan L. Taylor, Editorial Director, ESSENCE Magazine
Special Guest: Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry
Mistress of Ceremonies: Christine Devine, Anchor Fox 11 TV
Host: Amelia Letcher, Nordstrom

1:45 pm – 2:30 pm
CONVENTION CENTER THEATER
“Has the Federal Government Lived up to Its Pledge of Fostering the Growth of Minority Business?”

Panelists
Felipe Mendoza, US General Services Administration
Glen Constantino, US Small Business Administration
Moderator: Brian Hardy, Chief Operating Officer, CC-OPS
"One of our nation's greatest assets is our diversity. Investing in minority businesses only helps to increase the value of that asset," says Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. This session will review the status of Federal government minority business inclusion programs, and the outlook for improvements in the future - including discussion of upcoming Senate and House legislation that promises to improve the federal contracting process for small firms and increase oversight of federal agencies.

Please visit www.aabs2007.com for up to date and CURRENT information/registration.

Direct Office Contact: (323) 299-6000 [email protected] or
Event Management: Personal Services Plus Event Management Company - Phone: (626) 791-3847 Fax: (626) 791-4875, Email: [email protected]

Press Credentials/Interviews: Adrienne S. Lamm - Media and Public Relations, African American Business Summit 2007/Turning Point URBAN
Telephone: (323) 299-6000 ext. 107
E-mail: alamm at turningpointmagazine dot com (protected from spambots)

Official Website: http://www.aabs2007.com