Agenda 2023

David Longoria

Program Officer
LISC Phoenix

David Longoria is a Program Officer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix and the Arizona Partnership for Healthy Communities. In this role, he is responsible for the economic development efforts of the local LISC office through building capacity for local, BIPOC, minority, and women entrepreneurs; and coordinating and managing Transit-Oriented and Community Development efforts for underserved and disadvantaged areas along key business corridors throughout Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.

David is a lifelong, native Arizonan with a background in Grassroots Organizing and Neighborhood Revitalization; and before joining LISC served for 20 years in the public sector at the County, City, and Federal government levels throughout the State.

Ryan Winkle

Executive Director
Retail, Arts, Innovation, & Livability Community Development Corporation (RAIL CDC)

Ryan Winkle has been putting people first in community organizing and economic development work for 11 years. He currently works as the Executive Director of RAIL CDC and is responsible for growing the grassroots organization into a community asset providing services and place-based support to small businesses and neighborhoods across the valley. He moves past engagement to empowerment with an emphasis on community resilience through comprehensive Antidisplacement and wealth building in underrepresented places. Ryan is involved in many community and cultural activities, is nonprofit AF, and drags his kids with him everywhere he goes.

#DoItForTheNeighborhood

Alisa S. Joseph

Director of Programs
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)

Ms. Joseph has a proven record of accomplishment in leadership, strategic planning, grant writing, marketing communications and program design strategies and implementation. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge in financial products including those providing access to capital, supply chain management, diversity initiatives, multicultural marketing, and management. She has leveraged her expertise to help for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations achieve their goals and objectives to scale for growth, stability, and wealth, creating initiativesthat connect and leverage government contracting opportunities, certification, operations management, financing, and communications.

She currently serves as the Director of Programs for the US Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), leading with counsel, guidance, andmanagement expertise indesigning and implementing programs for Black and minority businesses to help them scale and grow. Her work has enabled USBC to serve thousands of Black businesses with digital/virtual programs and support Black chambers in the past two years. Ms. Joseph launched specialized programs like the USBC credit card, emerging loan/grant programs and financial education programs. She manages key relationships with corporate partners like American Express, Google, Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, Truist, Wells Fargo and government agencies including the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (OSDBU) divisions in federal government agencies.

Ms. Joseph is a graduate of Fordham University with a B.S. degree in Psychology and received her M.S. degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and has served on nonprofit boards

Elmy Bermejo

Regional Admisnistrator
U.S. Small Business Administration

As Region IX Administrator, Elmy Bermejo will oversee SBA programs, offices, and operations in the SBA’s Pacific region, serving Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Ms. Bermejo has a passion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and organizations attain their goals. She has been a senior government official with more than 25 years of experience at the executive level and has established a successful record of collaboration with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, disaster relief, and small business. Ms. Bermejo recently served as the Northern California Director for External Affairs for Governor Gavin Newsom; before that, she served as a Senior Adviser and Outreach Director for Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis of California, the first woman ever elected to this position. Ms. Bermejo also served in President Barack Obama’s administration at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Regional Representative to the Secretary and as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. She serves on the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, The Women’s Foundation of CA, and as an Advisory member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Public Good.

Saul Ramos

District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration

Saul Ramos,  Nevada SBA District Director has held several leadership positions during his 20-year federal career. He joined SBA in 2017 and was the first to complete a Los Angeles Federal Executive Board (FEB) professional development rotation program, as an International Development Specialist. He has represented SBA in various positions, including Deputy District Director, Senior Area Manager, and oversight of Economic and Business Development team. In his role as District Director, he provides leadership and oversight of SBA’s programs and services to improve the viability of startup businesses, the growth of existing businesses, and the economic climate of Nevada.

Saul leads a passionate, talented and experience Nevada SBA team focused on putting customers – the nation’s small businesses – first. He directs the Nevada District team in implementing an efficient and effective strategy that strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem and helps small business owners access capital, comprehensive technical assistance, and government contracting opportunities. Saul is also responsible for SBA resource partners oversight, which include Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentors, Women’s Business Center, and the Veterans Business Outreach Center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked closely with the Nevada District team and partners to provide capital and technical assistance programs to the hardest-hit and underserved small businesses. This was a monumental task that helped small businesses survive and preserved the jobs and livelihoods of millions in Nevada.

Susan Au Allen

National President & CEO
USPAACC

Edkedsha (KeeKee) Mathis

Supplier Sustainability & Diversity Senior Leader
Trane Technologies

KeeKee joined Trane Technologies in April 2021, before joining Trane Technologies, she worked in the automotive industry for thirteen years at Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. where she was the Supplier Diversity Manager. Her accolades include an array of awards, acknowledgements, and nationwide recognitions including but not limited to 2017 and 2022 Corporation of the Year and Corporate Representative of the Year for (TSMSDC) TriState Minority Supplier Development Council and 2022 USPAACC Corporation of the Year. She has been recognized for many years as one of the Top 30 Diversity Professionals and Women Leading Diversity on a national level as a leader in the Supplier Diversity community. She has held many board seats and has chaired many boards across the nation. She is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, Urban League’s Inclusion by Design, YALP, and is a part of the current cohort of Leadership Tennessee. KeeKee brings more has more than 26+ years within purchasing which includes supporting as a regional buyer, service buyer, supply chain support, key user for all the purchasing systems and continuous improvement such as (TPM) Total Planned Maintenance, QCDSM, and Lean Management. She is committed to mentor diverse suppliers but also to build strategic “partnerships” and “alliances” with diverse suppliers. Now, also leading supplier sustainability within her organization her role is the integration of social, ethical, and environmental performance factors into the process of selecting suppliers. The goal is to build strong, long term relationships with suppliers as we “Boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world.”

KeeKee holds has a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from University of Phoenix, Chattanooga, TN.

Roger Cheng

Senior Supplier Diversity Sourcing Manager
AT&T

Roger Cheng recently joined AT&T as a Sr. Supplier Diversity Sourcing Manager. Prior to AT&T, Roger spent the previous 14+ years with M/WBEs in the technology space leading business development through Supplier Diversity.

Roger, also known as “The Voice,” has served as emcee or VOG for a number of organizations across the country. In 2017, Roger was recognized as the #Hes4Shes Champion at the WBENC National Conference.

Sundari Pai

Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)

Sundari Pai Luts is the Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity at Bristol Myers Squibb and supports the development, expansion and execution of the corporate wide global supplier diversity strategy, program, policies and procedures working with internal and external business partners to ensure alignment with BMS's Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy. Sundari's efforts across BMS enterprise also include collaborating with, People Business & Resource Group (PBRG), D&I, corporate affairs and government affairs. She is strong proponent of diversity and inclusion and currently is the community co-lead for Disability Advancement Workforce Network (DAWN) PBRG promoting disability inclusion in the workplace and community. Her previous role included leading all strategic communications as well as Power2Impact community outreach program for supplier diversity. Sundari brings a unique perspective, working previously for diverse businesses and now at Bristol Myers Squibb within the Strategic Sourcing & Procurement organization for the last 4 years.

Sundari has over 16 years of experience in supplier diversity and strategic communications in both commercial and government sectors. She has previously worked in leadership positions for woman and minority business entrepreneurs where she managed their supplier diversity programs and led strategic communications and marketing strategies. Sundari has a passion for supplier diversity and cultivates this passion through her active engagement with various Minority Business Councils, State Offices, Chambers of Commerce and other institutions, like Disability:IN, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) where she is a currently a member of WBENC’s NextGEN Advisory board. She is also past board of directors' member of US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) NorthEast chapter and has also worked on various committees at the NY&NJ Minority Supplier Development Council (The Council). Sundari is also a mentor, coach and advocate to many small & diverse businesses, and community partners playing a strategic role in growth of many of them. She was recently named 2021 Top 25 Diversity Change Leader by DiversityPlus publication.

Sundari has a Master’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Maine and a Bachelor’s degree in Print and Media Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, India. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young children.

Alan Gartrell

Vice President of Procurement
Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Alan has over 20+ years of experience in Purchasing & Warehousing Management in the Entertainment & Hospitality Industry. Alan joined Caesars Entertainment in June 2011 and is currently the Vice President of Procurement responsible for overseeing Regional Procurement, Warehousing, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability for all Caesars’ properties. Prior to this role, Alan has held multiple Regional Director positions throughout the country most recently the Senior Director of the Western Region. Before coming to Caesars, Alan spent 4 years as the Purchasing Manager at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, NC and 10 years as the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager at Six Flags America in Maryland.

Axel Adams

Manager - Supplier Diversity and Inclusion
Delta Air Lines

Axel D. Adams is employed with Delta Air Lines as a Manager in Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion where he and his colleagues are responsible for ensuring diverse businesses have an opportunity to secure contracts for business with Delta. Prior to Delta, he had a brief stint as National Director of African American Outreach with 2020 Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer’s Campaign. His overall responsibility keeping the campaign focused on AA voters, issues, concerns and what is most important to them.

Axel’s most noted employment was noted with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) where the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. is the Founder and President. Axel served in a many roles such as the Chief Operations Officer in the Chicago Headquarters managing all operations/departments of the organization. staff, finance, education, trade bureau, press, finding, national and regional conventions, and cooperate relationships, emerging markets, and regional offices to name a few. He also held the positions of Bureau Chief, and National Youth Director.

Prior to RPC, Axel was with Westinghouse Savannah River Company as a supervisor in the Nuclear Materials Processing Division. During his employment there, he was the first African American to receive the Community Service Award.

Axel is a recipient of many awards/honors such as the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama; The Georgia Assembly passed House Bill 1984 for his dedication to the betterment of the citizens of the State of Georgia; South Carolina Senate recognized Axel Adams and passed Resolution 1118 for his significant contributions and outstanding achievements in the fields of politics, business, and community outreach. He is the author of “The Journey”, a book detailing his life experiences in politics, community service, and social activism. He is President of the Axel Adams Foundation (www.axeladamsfoundation.com), which is committed to making long-term improvements in education, health and wellness, and combating socioeconomic issues in the Central Savannah River Area. Axel has the honor of being the first African American elected to serve on City Council in New Ellenton South Carolina at the early age of 22 years old, serving two-four-year elected terms on city council. And he was Acting-Mayor and Police commissioner for three years, and the first African American to serve in this capacity as well.

He has a master’s in business administration, and bachelor’s degree in business management. Axel says that God is first and foremost in his life.

Dipali Hunjan

Director, Indirect Sourcing
Edwards Lifesciences

Dwayne Norris

Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager
Enterprise Holdings

Dwayne Norris has worked for Enterprise Holdings for the past 17 years. During his time he has served on the North American DE&I Team for Enterprise Holdings for two years from 2018-2020 and the Southeast Region DE&I Team for Enterprise Holdings two years from 2020-2022. He managed daily rental operations as an Area Manager with Enterprise in Orlando FL, including the Orlando International Airport (Largest car rental facility in the world). He is an Alumni of the University of Florida where he earned a BA in History w/ concentration on General Business. He was also a student athlete, playing football at the University of Florida from 2001-2004 (Defensive Tackle). Dwayne was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.

Erin Timmerman

Director, Global Supplier Diversity
GSK

Debra Quade

Supplier Diversity Manager
Kellogg's

Debra Quade is the Supplier Diversity Manager at Kellogg Company. Prior to joining Kellogg, she served as Supplier Diversity Specialist at Toyota Boshoku America in Erlanger, Kentucky and Magna Donnelly in Holland, Michigan.

Debra serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in addition to leading a MiDiCo module for supplier inclusion and opportunity. She represents Kellogg Company on the National Minority Supplier Development Council Working Group, and the Corporate Advisory Council for the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in addition to participating on the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Programs Committee, the Food Marketing Institute Group Supplier Diversity Committee, WEConnect International Agricultural Industry Group and the Food & Beverage Industry Group.

Itu Otu

Head, Global Supplier Diversity
Logitech

Jackie LaJoie

Supplier Diversity Manager
Ingersoll Rand

Dennis Thurston

Supplier Diversity Manager
Southern California Edison

Dennis J. Thurston, a 36-year employee of Southern California Edison (SCE), beginning in August of 1987 serving in his current capacity as a Supplier Diversity Program Manager for 25 years assisting small and diverse businesses understand the Company’s general procurement practices and procedures.

Prior to SCE, Mr. Thurston worked at Consolidated Edison in New York bringing 12 years of experience with him.

In 2021, Dennis received the 2021 Corporate Advocate of the Year Award from the Southern California Minority Development Council.

In 2018, Dennis received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California for outstanding work within the Native American business community and tribal leaders.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, Santa Ana District Office selected Dennis as the 2017 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for his devotion to the success and advancement of Veterans in business in his professional capacity at SCE and his personal life.

During the 2017 Inaugural Veterans In Business (VIB) Network National Conference, Dennis Thurston received the Above & Beyond Bravo Zulu Award recognizing Veteran Business Advocates that go Above & Beyond to help the Veteran business community grow and succeed.

In 2016 Dennis was nominated for the State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) given by the Department of General Services.

In recognition of his contributions as a role model of Edison International’s values and guiding behaviors of integrity, continuous growth and improvement, excellence, respect, and teamwork, Dennis was awarded the Chairman’s Award, now the Edison Award in 2009. Edison selects only 40 employees out of over 15,000 for the first of the prestigious award.

Mr. Thurston still volunteers for many community activities geared toward mentorship and guidance of small and diverse businesses in the areas of career, jobs, and starting businesses.

For the past 27 years, served as an off-ice official for the National Hockey League (NHL) assigned to the Anaheim Ducks and Dennis represented the NHL at the first ever game played outside North America in Japan, Helsinki, and Berlin.

Trung Tieu

Supplier Diversity Global Procurement Manager
PepsiCo

In his role as a Supplier Diversity Manager at PepsiCo, Trung drives economic inclusion by increasing the development and utilization of diverse-owned business enterprises (DivBEs) within PepsiCo. Trung began his career at PepsiCo in the Quaker Foods & Snacks division where he monitored innovation launches and designed product development processes.

Trung currently serves as Chair of the NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) Procurement Council. He has previously served as Co-Chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Advisory Council and as the Co-Chair of the Chicago chapter of EQUAL (PepsiCo’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group) and on the boards of the LGBT Community Center of Milwaukee and as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Windy City Performing Arts.

Trung continues to be actively engaged with PepsiCo’s employee resource groups across all diverse populations with special attention to the LGBTQ and Asian groups. In 2021 he moderated panel focused on intersectional Asian American-LGBTQ owned businesses and “Courage Conversations” for PepsiCo associates around the #StopAsianHate.

He is a two-time recipient of PepsiCo’s prestigious Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award (2008 and 2013) for his leadership within the LGBT community and collaborative and innovative work with other companies’ LGBT groups.

Trung holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where his research focused on “coming out” and identity construction. Trung is also a proud graduate of the UCLA Anderson School of Business LGBT Leadership Institute.

Joyce Christanio

Senior Program Manager, Supplier Diversity
T-Mobile

Accomplished leader with over 20 year's experience managing Supplier Diversity, Contract Negotiations and leading cross-functional teams of an organization to achieve cost savings. Write policy language, programs and processes to advance a corporation's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals. Joyce recently developed T-Mobile’s workforce development program - NextTech Diversity to nationally fund training and job placement for women and men of color to become network technicians and network equipment drivers.

Author of "Dressing Classy Doesn't Change" which provides women an overview of the do's and don'ts of proper workplace attire. Information that Corporate America doesn’t share with women is included in this book. One Reader Commented: The author has hit the "nail on the head" as she mixes humor, personal experiences and concrete advice regarding proper attire for women in any setting and at any income level. Women buy this fun and easy to read book for you and all the young girls you know. Men buy it for all the women in your life. It is a keepsake.

Pafoua Xiong

Procurement Supplier Diversity Specialist
U.S. Bank

Pafoua Xiong joined the Supplier Diversity team at U.S. Bank in 2021 as the Procurement Supplier Diversity Specialist, where her work is focused on enhancing the Supplier Diversity program by actively working to grow relationships with diverse-owned businesses and partners. Shortly after joining the Bank, Pafoua became a board member for the Asian Heritage Business Resource Group (BRG).

Pafoua founded her way into this industry after working as a Merchandiser Assistant at The Scoular Company managing the inventory of pet food ingredients. She later moved on to support the non-retail side of supply chain at Target for 3 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota where she majored in Journalism and Communication Studies.

Outside of the office, you can find her hiking around state parks with her Pitbull, listening to supernatural podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Wendell G. Brown

Supplier Diversity Program Manager
Wells Fargo

Sherry Singh

Senior Director, Supplier Diversity Sourcing
Walmart

As of January 2023, Sherry leads the strategy and team responsible for building an inclusive supply chain at Walmart that is reflective of Walmart’s customer base. She is tasked with helping to grow Walmart’s direct and indirect spend with certified diverse owned businesses. Her team works as business partners to help build diverse supplier connections, drive internal engagement, and support external stakeholder collaborations all in service of helping to level the playing field for diverse owned businesses to grow with Walmart.

Prior to taking on this role Sherry was Director, Sustainability Walmart.Org from October 2016 where she led several commitments and programs. Sherry began her Walmart career in 2012 at Massmart in South Africa, where she was responsible for accelerating Massmart’s flagship supplier development program with a focus on diverse suppliers, women owned suppliers and small and medium-sized businesses. Prior to Walmart, Sherry had a career in international development, international trade, and management consulting. Sherry holds an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford where she was a Rhodes Scholar and a BA (Hons) Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she was a Ronald H. Brown Foundation for Commercial Diplomacy fellow.

Kyungsoo Dan Kim

Director, U.S. Commercial Service Illinois
U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration

Kyungsoo “Dan” Kim currently serves as the Director overseeing the State of Illinois for the U.S. Commercial Service. He joined the US Commercial Service in October 2015 as a Trade Specialist after working for the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Since then, he has worked on nation-wide projects such as Hannover Messe, 232/301 tariffs, and most recently he served as the Global Asia Team Leader.

His has grown relationships with those from various communities, working with the Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities to raise the awareness of the Global Diversity Export Initiative and EO 13985 and 14031. He has been a speaker and panelist at conferences highlighting the resources of the US Commercial Service and outreach to underrepresented and underserved groups.

He has considerable hands-on knowledge dealing with the challenges of exporting and has leveraged his enthusiasm and technical skills to increase the impact of the US Commercial Service to deliver to clients. In addition to his leadership of the Global Asia Team and now the US Commercial Service Illinois, he has been a leading force in the Commerce Department’s largest annual trade mission, Trade Winds, which in 2023 focused on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region of Asia including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Singapore

Jonathan Brady

Business Development Specialist
Export - Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

Jonathan Brady is a Business Development Specialist with the Minority and Women-Owned Business (MWOB) Outreach Group at the Export- Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). Based in Washington, DC, his business development role with the MWOB Outreach Group is to serve as the primary liaison for Hispanic business organizations and Veteran business organizations at the national, state, and local levels.

Jonathan possesses a strong background in international relations and economics from having worked for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the U.S. Treasury Department (International Banking Office), and ten years with the Ohio Department of Development’s International Trade Division.

Before joining EXIM, Jonathan worked at ExportDC, a division of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Promoted to Program Manager in 2015, his primary responsibilities consisted of administering business support grants for DC-based exporters, organizing trade missions, providing export counseling services, conducting international business seminars, and coordinating special projects with the foreign embassies located in the District of Columbia.

Jonathan holds a B.A. and Master of Financial Economics (MFE) from Ohio University, and is a 2009 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, with a Master of International Public Policy (MIPP).

Ming Chen

President
MSL GLOBAL EXPRESS

Ming is passionate about delivering exceptional service to clients while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within her team. Her ability to inspire and motivate others has led to the development of high-performing teams that consistently exceed expectations.

Ming's journey in the logistics industry commenced immediately after completing her bachelor's degree in Finance from SUNY-Plattsburgh in 2008. Equipped with a solid foundation in financial principles, she embarked on her career with a steadfast determination to excel in the world of logistics. Recognizing the importance of specialization and continuous education, Ming pursued a master's degree in Accounting from St. John's University, further augmenting her knowledge and skill set.

Ming has navigated the intricacies of the logistics landscape, adapting to evolving industry trends and regulations especially during the pandemic. Her leadership capabilities and strategic vision have proven invaluable in streamlining operations, optimizing supply chains, and ensuring seamless coordination between various stakeholders.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ming remains an avid learner, constantly seeking opportunities to expand her knowledge and stay at the forefront of industry advancements.

Frances Selema

Global Asia Team Leader
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service

Frances Selema is the Global Asia Team Leader with the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service based in Central North Carolina. The Global Asia Team is represented by Trade Specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service's field offices throughout the country and headquarters unit in DC, and spans 18 U.S. Commercial Service countries and 5 U.S. State Department Partner Posts throughout the region. As the Global Asia Team Leader, Frances’ responsibilities include promoting Asia as an export destination for U.S. businesses, delivering value-added programming and coordinated market information that helps U.S. companies succeed throughout the region, and ensuring the Asian-American business community has access to the tools and resources to succeed globally.

In addition to serving as the Global Asia Team Leader, Frances dually serves as a Senior International Trade Specialist in her local area, providing one-on-one counseling and guidance to North Carolina businesses to successfully export around the world. Having worked in this capacity for over 17 years, Frances has a wealth of experience in helping companies build a global strategy, executing international trade programs, and developing meaningful partnerships and relationships. Although she works with companies across several industry sectors in North Carolina, Frances specializes in the Energy, Environmental, and Clean Tech industries, and is also currently serving as the Civil Nuclear Deputy for the Global Energy Team within the U.S. Commercial Service.

Frances received her Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Auburn University and a Master of International Studies from North Carolina State University. Frances resides with her husband and three young children in Raleigh and has a passion for living an active lifestyle and exploring the outdoors.

Albert Wei

President
Vizion Logistics, LLC

Albert Wei, President of Vizion Logistics, LLC, founded and established Vizion Logistics in March 2003 with his brother, Benjamin Wei. With over 40 years of combined experience, Albert and Ben decided to create a boutique logistics company; its objectives mainly to provide exceptional service to its clients and create a team of professionals who will have direct influence over the company’s bottom line.

Albert has worked and lived worked in Los Angeles, New York, Thailand and Hong Kong. Prior to logistics Albert had worked for HSBC as an executive in commercial and retail banking.

Albert had served on the Board of Directors for USPAACC New York Chapter while he lived in New York.

Albert was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States in 1969. He and his wife Diana has 2 adult children and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Susan Au Allen

National President & CEO
USPAACC

Pamela Prince-Eason

President & CEO
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Pamela Prince-Eason is the President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a role she assumed in 2011. She was previously Vice President of Worldwide Procurement for Pfizer Inc. and held various leadership positions at Texas Instruments, GSE Systems and Warner Lambert, as well as co-owner of RMR Associates.

Pamela is a member of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan federal advisory council who advises the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Pamela’s dedication to women’s business leadership is illustrated in her many professional and personal roles advancing women’s excellence and opportunity. She serves on women’s advisory committees of several corporations including the CVS Health Executive Learning Series, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, and Walmart’s Women Owned Business Advisory Council.

Pamela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from East Tennessee State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland with a Master of Administrative Science in International Business and Finance. In 2008, she was among the first to receive ISM’s Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) designation, in 2010 was named a Power Women by NYMoves, and in 2012 she received the AIDC WBE Hall of Fame “Executive Leadership” award. In 2013 and 2017, she was named a top leader in Supplier Diversity by WE-USA Magazine and selected by the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) as the 2014 Woman of Achievement. Most recently she was inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame in March 2018 and was recognized as Alumna of the Year at East Tennessee State University in May 2018.

She and husband John have three children and six grandchildren. Favorite family activities include tennis, basketball, and snowboarding.

Brian Horn

Chief Operating Officer
Disability:IN

Brian Horn is Chief Operating Officer at Disability:IN, the leading global nonprofit organization for advancing business disability inclusion and equality. Brian leads the organization’s operations, corporate relations, annual conference, ESG policy engagement, government affairs and other efforts.

Prior to joining Disability:IN, Brian was Legislative Assistant at the Council on Foundations. Working on the public policy and legal affairs team, he represented the Council on Capitol Hill and with executive branch departments and assisted Council members in planning and executing their policy advocacy strategies. Previously, he worked at GYMR Public Relations advising clients on strategic communications, media relations and social media. He began his career working on congressional campaigns, and in the office of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.

Brian serves on the advisory council of the NextGen Chamber of Commerce and previously served on the board of directors of the Capital Pride Alliance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and American studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Justin Nelson

Co-Founder & President
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Justin Nelson is the Co-Founder & President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community and the largest LGBT economic advocacy and business development organization in the world.

In addition to over 50 LGBT affiliate chambers in the United States representing America's 1.4 million LGBT business owners, NGLCC leads economic development opportunities at over 20 international affiliates. NGLCC is responsible for major victories for the LGBT business community, among them the first-in-the-nation inclusion of LGBT suppliers in statewide contracting opportunities with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Justin regularly advises senior leaders at the White House, in Congress, and corporations throughout the world to build business opportunities through commitments to LGBT-inclusive supplier diversity programs. He is a sought-after speaker at conferences and meetings around the globe promoting the business case for LGBT inclusion and creating equity for the LGBT business community.

Justin and Team NGLCC are also responsible for the creation of the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), advocating the business interests of a diverse range of people, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, ethnic minority, disability, and women-owned business communities, representing a total of over $9 trillion in annual consumer spending power and significant contributions to the marketplace and workplace.

For his efforts in establishing the NGLCC, Justin was named to OUT Magazine's Top 100 Greatest Gay Success Stories. Justin was also named to the 25 Leading Men of 2006 list by Instinct Magazine, SmartCEO Magazine's 2012 Top 20 Leaders We Admire, and the 2012 Global LGBT Power 100 from the Guardian Newspaper in Great Britain. In 2010 Justin received the Outstanding Collaborative Partner Award from the U.S. Business Leadership Network for his partnership work on disability issues and is the recipient of the 2014 Vanguard Award from the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to launching the NGLCC, Justin was the Director of Federal Affairs and External Relations for the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Washington, DC. During his tenure, the organization was named one of the top 100 lobbying organizations in Washington, DC by Forbes Magazine. Prior to lobbying Congress and the White House, Justin spent five years as an aide in the United States Senate. He has served as a past volunteer coordinator for the Wyoming Special Olympics, a Capitol Hill Chair for the March of Dimes Walk America and on the advisory board for the First Wyoming Race for the Cure. Justin holds a BA in political science from the University of Wyoming.

Ying McGuire

President & CEO
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

Ying McGuire is the Vice President of International Operations and Business Development at Technology Integration Group (TIG), a premier minority owned IT products, solutions and services provider based in San Diego, California with 24 offices in US, China, and a global partner network. In this role, she oversees TIG’s existing international operations and expansion of global business.

She also leads TIG’s corporate business development and supplier diversity initiative. Prior to TIG, Ying was the Global Supplier Diversity Officer at Dell Inc. She was responsible for driving three billion dollar procurement spend with diverse suppliers and she was a leading voice in the supplier diversity industry. Ying holds a variety of community leadership role. She serves on an advisory board of the International Trade Center, a United Nation agency based in Switzerland, and is currently a board member of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce.

She also served as the board chair of the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council in Texas, a global committee member of the Woman Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), an International Committee member of the National Minority Supplier Development council (NMSDC), and a board member of the Billion Dollar Round Table.

DiversityBusiness.com named Ying as an “America’s Top Diversity Advocate”. Minority Business USA recognized Ying as one of its “Best of The Decade”. DiversityPlus Magazine named Ying as a “Champion of Diversity”.

Dick Miller

President
National Veteran Business Development Council

Matthew Pavelek

President & CEO
National Veteran-Owned Business Associations (NAVOBA)

Saul Ramos

District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration

Saul Ramos,  Nevada SBA District Director has held several leadership positions during his 20-year federal career. He joined SBA in 2017 and was the first to complete a Los Angeles Federal Executive Board (FEB) professional development rotation program, as an International Development Specialist. He has represented SBA in various positions, including Deputy District Director, Senior Area Manager, and oversight of Economic and Business Development team. In his role as District Director, he provides leadership and oversight of SBA’s programs and services to improve the viability of startup businesses, the growth of existing businesses, and the economic climate of Nevada.

Saul leads a passionate, talented and experience Nevada SBA team focused on putting customers – the nation’s small businesses – first. He directs the Nevada District team in implementing an efficient and effective strategy that strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem and helps small business owners access capital, comprehensive technical assistance, and government contracting opportunities. Saul is also responsible for SBA resource partners oversight, which include Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentors, Women’s Business Center, and the Veterans Business Outreach Center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked closely with the Nevada District team and partners to provide capital and technical assistance programs to the hardest-hit and underserved small businesses. This was a monumental task that helped small businesses survive and preserved the jobs and livelihoods of millions in Nevada.

Ronald Busby Jr.

Head of Product, ByBlack Platform
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)

Ron Busby Jr. is one of the cofounders of ByBlack. He leads the product team’s efforts around new features and external partnerships. Currently based in California, his primary focus is as a liaison between the engineering team and various business owners and corporate partners. He is an alumnus of Columbia University and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi.

Elizabeth Vazquez

CEO & Co-Founder
WEConnect International

Chuck White

Vice President of Procurement, Nationwide
Chair, CPO Forum & CPO Council

Charles White leads the Procurement group at Nationwide covering all source to pay functions, corporate travel, supplier diversity and risk management. Charles has over two decades of experience in diverse sectors including, financial services, high tech, and consumer electronics manufacturing. He has covered a wide range of direct and indirect categories while working for some of the largest companies in the Technology and Financial Services. He recently joined Nationwide in December 2018 from Charles Schwab and prior to that was with Fidelity, Deutsche Bank and Microsoft. He is a US Navy Veteran and former aircraft carrier based jet pilot. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Ellen Valencia

Assistant Vice President Logistics
AT&T

Alan Gartrell

Vice President of Procurement
Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Alan has over 20+ years of experience in Purchasing & Warehousing Management in the Entertainment & Hospitality Industry. Alan joined Caesars Entertainment in June 2011 and is currently the Vice President of Procurement responsible for overseeing Regional Procurement, Warehousing, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability for all Caesars’ properties. Prior to this role, Alan has held multiple Regional Director positions throughout the country most recently the Senior Director of the Western Region. Before coming to Caesars, Alan spent 4 years as the Purchasing Manager at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, NC and 10 years as the Purchasing and Warehouse Manager at Six Flags America in Maryland.

Bruce Mizokami

VP, Indirect Sourcing
Edwards Lifesciences

James Czarnecki

SVP & Chief Procurement Officer
MGM Resorts International

Karla S. Jackson

Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer & Assistant Administrator for the Office of Procurement
NASA

Purvee Kondal

Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Indirect Procurement, & Supplier Diversity
Sephora 

Dan Edwards

Vice President, Direct Procurement
Trane Technologies

Dan Edwads has been the Vice President of Direct Procurement since August 2022. He joined Trane Technologies (Formerly Ingersoll Rand) in 2002 and has over 15 years experience in strategic sourcing and category management.

Prior to joining Trane Technologies, Dan worked with FreeMarkets and Authur Andersen LLP, both located in Pittsburgh, PA. Dan holds an NMBA from Indiana University, as well as a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon. University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Tom Lutz

Senior Vice President Enterprise Procurement Partners
U.S. Bank

Tom Lutz joined U.S. Bancorp as Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer in April 2008. He has been responsible for strategic sourcing, acquisitions, and supplier diversity. Since joining U.S. Bancorp 15 years ago, Tom has focused on delivering significantly greater value across the enterprise through more effective internal alignment, risk management, improved vendor relationships, strategic talent management, and a shareholder-centric view of operating costs and business practices.

Tom has thirty eight years of experience in the areas of procurement, supply chain management, and information systems. Tom serves as board member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council effective. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Tom spent twenty years with General Mills in a variety of roles, and three years with Pulte Homes as national vice president of procurement. Tom currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Bethlehem College & Seminary.

Tom is a native of Minnesota, and received a bachelor’s degree in business and systems analysis from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Tom and his wife Heather have six children and three grandchildren.

Barbara Kubicki-Hicks

Chief Procurement Officer
Wells Fargo

Barbara Kubicki-Hicks is a seasoned executive with over 25 years’ experience in supply chain management and global procurement operations in the financial services industry. She is the chief procurement officer at Well Fargo, responsible for leading Supply Chain Management, which is comprised of strategic sourcing, procure-to-pay, supplier diversity, and

third-party risk management functions. Her team executes end-to-end supply chain activities and third-party initiatives that align with business priorities and leads strategic, enterprise-wide programs with focus on third- party expense optimization.

Previously, Barb was a senior procurement executive at Bank of America responsible for end-to-end procurement, associated risk management and third party program adherence for all eight lines of business, and led a procurement transformation initiative to simplify the end-to-end third- party process, reduce connections, restructure roles to gain economies of scale, and replace current technology solutions.

Barb serves on the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee as board chairperson. During her 10- year tenure on the WBENC Board of Directors, she was also Corporate Membership and Revenue Generation Committee chairperson, co- chairperson of the Strategic Planning Resources Committee, and active member of the Marketing Committee.

Over the course of her career, Barb has held a variety of supply chain management, procurement, and technology roles with a proven track record for developing procurement professionals, delivering consistent results by balancing business needs, risk and value, as well as leading business transformation enabled by technology.

Dan Sieu

Chairman
William & Stephanie Foundation

The founder of William Stephanie Foundation, Mr. Daniel Sieu, comes from a long history of service to the community. Mr. Sieu’s work with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) began back during the civil unrest in Los Angeles when he assisted approximately 300+ SBA Disaster Loan applicants in submitting applications for physical and economic damages for their businesses. Out of these 300+ applicants, 95% of the business owners were either Korean, Chinese or Thai in ethnicity.

Immediately following, Mr. Sieu traveled to Florida to assist businesses owners throughout the state to apply for SBA disaster relief for damages caused by Hurricane Andrew. Since the pandemic, Mr. Sieu has also arranged personal protective equipment (PPE) donations to exceeding several thousand dollars to homeless shelters, Indigenous communities, ASEAN communities, and the African American community served by the First AME Church of Los Angeles. The PPE donated to the ASEAN communities have been used in their local communities as well as shipped back to hospitals in their homeland.

Dhiraj Chhabra

CEO
BuzzClan

Dhiraj (DJ) Chhabra serves as the CEO of BuzzClan, a rapidly growing privately held company in the US, with a passion for leading and building the next big thing in technology. I specialize in helping Boards and C-suites understand transformation journeys, including Digital Transformation, and have a clear point of view on leveraging AI, ML, and other digital technologies to reimagine business models.

With over 20 years of experience building innovative IT and real estate companies, I have a strong background in Enterprise Architecture, Account Management, and Delivery Management at pioneering IT companies. I excel at identifying and investing in next-generation technologies and encouraging internal entrepreneurship to keep organizations at the forefront of innovation. My expertise includes Cloud Infrastructure Managed Services, Application Management, Professional Services, Process Re-engineering, Solutions Selling, Private/Public Cloud, IT Budgeting, Cost Benefit Analysis, IT Strategy & Transformation, New Products & Services Concept-to-launch, People and Change Management, Project/Program Management, Driving Operational Excellence, Technology Innovation, and AI/ML. With a focus on delivering innovative solutions that drive financial and operational results, I lead BuzzClan in developing and delivering end-to-end scalable IT services and business solutions that accelerate innovation and achieve business results for clients across the board. I have a strong track record of working in diversified cultures across the globe and look forward to continuing to lead BuzzClan to new heights of success.

Maria Elena Duron

Professional Trainer
Google

Maria is a speaker for the Grow with Google partner program. She helps businesses profitably harness their personal brand, content, and referral marketing. Her wide range of clients includes hotels, restaurants, inventors, authors, and web series creators.

Maria is a guest lecturer at the University of Texas SBDC, editor-in-chief of the award winning Personal Branding Blog, and a contributing columnist for publications like Business Insider, American Business Journal, Fox Business, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur, The Huffington Post, and The Young Entrepreneurs Council. Maria was awarded the Texas Governor’s Excellence in Small Business Award and is the founder of #brandchat, a recognized online chat focused on marketing and branding. She earned her B.B.A. in marketing from Texas Tech University and graduate work at Cornell University, University of California in Davis, and University of Phoenix.

Sudha Mathew

Co-Founder and Part-Owner
TalTeam

Co-Founder and Part-Owner at TalTeam, Inc., Sudha Mathew is an experienced, IT executive and leader in strategy execution, customer engagement and operations improvement. She draws on years of leadership and management experience to apply practical technologies and/or mix of technologies to meet changing business needs. Sudha’s initiatives in knowledge management, performance measurement and team building have propelled TalTeam’s growth by 260% as an industry leading systems integrator and technology solutions provider. Her continued commitment to workforce development and opportunity mapping has sustained a vibrant company culture. One major focus for Sudha has been to develop a diverse corporate culture centered on equitable corporate practices. She is a life-long learner and keeps up with emerging technologies, exciting new applications, and new technology products by constantly upgrading her skills.

Lester Romero

Vice President - Regional Business Relationship Banking
Wells Fargo

Lester Romero now serves as the Business Growth Strategy Senior Manager for Wells Fargo. In his role, he is directly responsible for managing small business banking managers and bankers who support business customers with revenue between $100m - $5mm.

In his previous roles, he functioned as the Small Business Leader for NV/UT since 2012. He also led a team of seven payroll representatives and partnered with retail and business banking for the Wells Fargo Business Payroll Service in Nevada, Southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Romero has been with the bank for more than 27 years, starting as a Teller, then as a Personal Banker before becoming a Business Specialist and a Branch Manager. He has also worked as a Sales Development Consultant in Las Vegas where he was responsible for creating business partner relationships.

Romero has resided in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada for more than 44 year

Lester Romero

Vice President - Regional Business Relationship Banking
Wells Fargo

Lester Romero now serves as the Business Growth Strategy Senior Manager for Wells Fargo. In his role, he is directly responsible for managing small business banking managers and bankers who support business customers with revenue between $100m - $5mm.

In his previous roles, he functioned as the Small Business Leader for NV/UT since 2012. He also led a team of seven payroll representatives and partnered with retail and business banking for the Wells Fargo Business Payroll Service in Nevada, Southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Romero has been with the bank for more than 27 years, starting as a Teller, then as a Personal Banker before becoming a Business Specialist and a Branch Manager. He has also worked as a Sales Development Consultant in Las Vegas where he was responsible for creating business partner relationships.

Romero has resided in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada for more than 44 year

Donald Cravins Jr.

Under Secretary of Commerce
Minority Business Development

Mr. Donald “Don” R. Cravins, Jr. serves as the first Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development where he leads the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in its service of the nation’s 9.7 million minority business enterprises. After more than 52 years in existence, in 2021 President Biden signed the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 expanding and making permanent MBDA as the United States’ newest federal agency. Under Secretary Cravins was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on August 4, 2022.

Mr. Cravins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center, where he served on the Law Review and the Moot Court Board. In 2004, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and in 2006 elected to the Louisiana State Senate. While in the Louisiana Legislature, he represented hundreds of businesses —many were minority-owned, and many located in rural communities. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Mr. Cravins served as a voice and champion for business owners, assisting with navigating the challenges related to recovery and rebuilding.

In January 2009, Mr. Cravins left the Louisiana Legislature to serve as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where he played a vital role in the successful passage of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. In January 2013, he became the Chief of Staff to United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana. At that time, he was the only African American Chief of Staff in the United States Senate.

Since leaving the United States Senate in 2015, Mr. Cravins has served in key executive positions for some of America’s largest non-profit and for-profit corporations, including the National Urban League where he most recently served as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As one of the Nation’s preeminent Civil Rights Organizations, Mr. Cravins led the National Urban League’s entrepreneurial initiatives and spearheaded its corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.

In addition to serving as Under Secretary, Mr. Cravins is a United States Army Major in the District of Columbia Army National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. His awards and military decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He is also a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a Life Member of The Rocks, Inc., and a member of the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County.

His honors include induction into the Southern University Law School Hall of Fame in 2018, recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus of Louisiana State University in 2015, and in 2020 he was named Advocate of the Year by the National Bar Association.

Under Secretary Cravins and his wife, Yvette Puckett Cravins, Esq., have three children and reside in Maryland.

Ann Anjali Ramakumaran

Founder & CEO
Ampcus, Inc.

Anjali Ann Ramakumaran, Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc. (Ampcus), is a technology savvy entrepreneur with more than 15 years of contribution towards the design, development and delivery of leading edge Technology Solutions and Human Capital Management across the globe. Under her leadership she has cultivated Ampcus into a fast growing Consulting and Professional Services firm. For eight consecutive years (2009-2016), she has been recognized as a top Asian American owned business by the USPAACC. In addition, for the past seven consecutive years (2010-2016), she has been honored as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned Businesses in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization. Under Ann’s leadership, Ampcus has made the Inc. 500/5000 list and has been recognized as a Top Diversity Business for the past 7 years (2010-2016). Ann was also awarded Women in Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by WIT and most recently received the Chairman’s Award for Inspirational Leadership from the CRMSDC. Ampcus has also received the Global Growth Award from Astra Women’s Business Alliance, Supplier of the Year Award from the GMSDC and the Top Asian American Business Award from the USPAACC-SE.

Ann works closely with her Advisory Board, whose advice/input on strategy and direction helps her drive the company to attain its vision of being one of the largest and most successful high performing Professional Services companies globally. She has been actively involved in executing a consultative methodology to define, qualify and quantify Ampcus’ target clients, determine their strategic IT and business objectives and from this developed solutions which proactively address their current and evolving demands and needs.

Ann serves on the CRMSDC Board of Directors, WPEO Leadership Committee and the USPAACC Scholarship Committee. She has been a speaker at numerous National and Local Procurement and Diversity Conferences. In addition, Ann has mentored several women and minority start up’s in an effort to help them grow their business. Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business and Commercial Management from India and has completed Executive Management from the Robins School of Business, University of Richmond Virginia and an Advanced Management from the Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University Illinois.

Erika Moritsugu (Invited)

Deputy Assistant to President Biden & Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison
The White House

Erika L. Moritsugu was appointed by President Joe Biden in April 2021 to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and AA and NHPI Senior Liaison. With a distinguished career in the federal government and non-profit advocacy, she has spent her professional and personal life fighting for social justice and the empowerment of communities and individuals.

At the White House, Erika supports the Administration on a wide array of the President’s priorities and engages with AA and NHPI communities and leaders on important issues such as advancing safety, justice, inclusion, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through a whole-of-government approach to racial justice.

Her past government service includes serving as the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the leadership of Secretary Julián Castro in the Obama Administration and was the first-ever Senate Deputy Legislative Director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

On Capitol Hill, she was a senior representative of Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawai’i, and at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee under Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

In the non-profit sector, Erika led two teams the National Partnership for Women & Families for economic justice and congressional relations advancing workforce and health policies focused through a gender equity and race equity lens. Erika has also led the Government Relations, Advocacy and Community Engagement team at the Anti-Defamation League, a leading anti-hate organization.

Pamela Prince-Eason

President & CEO
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Pamela Prince-Eason is the President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a role she assumed in 2011. She was previously Vice President of Worldwide Procurement for Pfizer Inc. and held various leadership positions at Texas Instruments, GSE Systems and Warner Lambert, as well as co-owner of RMR Associates.

Pamela is a member of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan federal advisory council who advises the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Pamela’s dedication to women’s business leadership is illustrated in her many professional and personal roles advancing women’s excellence and opportunity. She serves on women’s advisory committees of several corporations including the CVS Health Executive Learning Series, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, and Walmart’s Women Owned Business Advisory Council.

Pamela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from East Tennessee State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland with a Master of Administrative Science in International Business and Finance. In 2008, she was among the first to receive ISM’s Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) designation, in 2010 was named a Power Women by NYMoves, and in 2012 she received the AIDC WBE Hall of Fame “Executive Leadership” award. In 2013 and 2017, she was named a top leader in Supplier Diversity by WE-USA Magazine and selected by the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) as the 2014 Woman of Achievement. Most recently she was inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame in March 2018 and was recognized as Alumna of the Year at East Tennessee State University in May 2018.

She and husband John have three children and six grandchildren. Favorite family activities include tennis, basketball, and snowboarding.

Hoda Hawa

Civil Rights Policy Lead
Google

Hoda Hawa is the Civil Rights Policy Lead at Google where she engages civil rights and multicultural organizations to build internal and external expertise on the ways in which technology and public policy impact BIPOC and vulnerable communities. Prior to joining Google, she was VP of Social Impact at Participant Media, the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspired audiences to engage in positive social change, and was the Director of the Washington DC Office for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), a national policy advocacy organization working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims.

Hoda has an M.A. in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs from American University and a B.A. in Political Science from the George Washington University.

Ruben Barrales

Senior Vice President, External Engagement, Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion
Wells Fargo

Chuck White

Vice President of Procurement, Nationwide
Chair, CPO Forum & CPO Council

Charles White leads the Procurement group at Nationwide covering all source to pay functions, corporate travel, supplier diversity and risk management. Charles has over two decades of experience in diverse sectors including, financial services, high tech, and consumer electronics manufacturing. He has covered a wide range of direct and indirect categories while working for some of the largest companies in the Technology and Financial Services. He recently joined Nationwide in December 2018 from Charles Schwab and prior to that was with Fidelity, Deutsche Bank and Microsoft. He is a US Navy Veteran and former aircraft carrier based jet pilot. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Dan Edwards

Vice President, Direct Procurement
Trane Technologies

Dan Edwads has been the Vice President of Direct Procurement since August 2022. He joined Trane Technologies (Formerly Ingersoll Rand) in 2002 and has over 15 years experience in strategic sourcing and category management.

Prior to joining Trane Technologies, Dan worked with FreeMarkets and Authur Andersen LLP, both located in Pittsburgh, PA. Dan holds an NMBA from Indiana University, as well as a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon. University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sandhya Mukkamala

Co-President; Partner and Co-Founder
USPAACC Western Regional Chapter; ASTUTE

Sandhya Mukkamala is a Partner and Co-Founder at ASTUTE and an accomplished CPA in the State of California. She advises clients on R&D tax incentives, technical accounting, forensic audits, as well as works closely with clients’ CFOs/Controllers to develop stronger processes and controls within the business. She has more than 15 years of experience in audit and review engagements, and complex Merger & Acquisition due diligence audits for private and public accounting sectors.

Prior to founding Astute, Sandhya has served as M&A due diligence auditor for several years in a reputed public accounting firm in Silicon Valley. She has led the audit team in planning, structuring, and performed M&A due diligence activities across all functional areas such as financial, products, operations, and technology etc. She has also served as an external Auditor for various high-tech, automotive, retail, manufacturing, and service industries nationally and globally. As an acumen auditor, she helped companies uncover millions of dollars lost due to fraudulent activities or lack of control over processes, addressed complex accounting and financial reporting challenges.

Besides Auditing and Corporate finance, Sandhya has extensive experience in R&D tax credit consulting projects, performed numerous financial and M&A due diligence audits, resolved complex Accounting for Income tax provisions, SEC Reporting, internal controls testing and fraud testing over financial reporting for a multitude of industries from early startups to Pre-IPO to public companies nationally and globally.

Her unique understanding, problem-solving skills and providing reliable solutions have benefited clients in various industry sectors.