SPEAKERS

![]() |
Allison Moore Founder & CEO Moore Laughing Consulting & Black please. Coffee Clean Comedian, Speaker and Entrepreneur, Allison Moore‘ is known for her ability to find inspiration and comedy in literally anything! In addition to being a hilarious story teller, Allison is also a Business woman. She is Principal of Moore Laughing Consulting and the founder of the startup company, Black please. Coffee. |
![]() |
Bernard Worthy Co-Founder and CEO/CTO LoanWell Co-Founder and CEO/CTO of LoanWell, and a third-generation entrepreneur with a passion for seeing black excellence in the tech industry Bernard has leveraged his gifting for software architecture. |
![]() |
Cynthia Kelley Financial Consultant Equitable Advisors Cynthia Kelley is a graduate of Wake Forest University and was a proud member of the women’s basketball team. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Cynthia |
![]() |
Darryl Gibbs Chief Diversity Officer Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company Darryl W. Gibbs is Chief Diversity Officer at Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (“Equitable”) and a member of the company’s Operating Committee. In this role, he is responsible for fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment across the organization, positioning the company to fully deliver on its mission as it helps more Americans face the future with confidence. |
![]() |
D. Keith Pigues Founder and CEO Luminas Strategy Founder and CEO of Luminas Strategy – a strategy and value proposition consultancy based in Research Triangle Park, NC. He also serves as Chairman of CulTRUE – a culture analytics software company. |
![]() |
Dominik Mjartan President and CEO Optus Bank Dominik is President and CEO of Optus Bank, a U.S. Treasury certified CDFI and an MDI (FDIC designated Minority Depository Institution).He spent more than a decade as a senior executive officer at a community development bank |
![]() |
Dr. Tope Mitchell Chief Executive Officer and Founder Reflekt Me Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Reflekt Me, a B2B SaaS platform that empowers brands to speak to the needs of 100% of their customers instead of 30% of their online shoppers; by harnessing the joy of social media. |
![]() |
Herbert L. Drayton III Managing Partner HI Mark Capital Herbert, a Charleston, SC native, is Managing Partner of HI Mark Capital. His firm invests in Black, women and other minority-owned businesses in the Southeast, seeking both a financial return as well as a social impact |
![]() |
JAMES J. “JIM” FRANKLIN Principal & Founder Prodigy Capital Consulting Jim Franklin is a principal and founder at Prodigy Capital Consulting and specializes in strategic planning and financial services to clients within several industries including private insurance, aerospace and defense, international technology, entertainment, security, healthcare, pharmaceutical, transportation |
![]() |
Jamel Lynch CEO Harlem Beer Distributing Jamel Lynch is an innovative technology leader with an exceptional combination of skills that include Management, Engineering, Technology Development, Manufacturing, Sales, Business Integrations, IT Consulting, and Professional Services. |
![]() |
Janice Bryant Howroyd Founder and CEO ActOne Group Janice Bryant Howroyd – affectionately known as JBH – is an entrepreneur, educator, author, mentor, Presidential special appointee, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of the ActOne Group. As the leader of a multi-billion dollar (USA$). |
![]() |
James Hing Category Manager,Global Sourcing and Supplier Relations – Starbucks As Starbucks category manager, in Global Sourcing and Supplier Relations, James Hing is responsible for leading and overseeing the Supplier Diversity Program. James champions the Starbucks mission by advocating & developing a robust, diverse supply base that embodies the Starbucks Experience. |
![]() |
James Hamlin Supplier Diversity and Performance Lead American Tire Distributors James is currently the Supplier Diversity and Performance Lead at American Tire Distributors helping lead the Supplier Diversity Initiative since August of 2020. |
![]() |
Jeremiah Smith Student. Leader Entrepreneur Alum of Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s – accelerated program, in Greenbelt, MD. He will be attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the Fall of 2021 to study electrical engineering. |
![]() |
Joshua Esnard Inventor and CEO The Cut Buddy A native of the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Joshua Esnard is a classic example of the American Dream. Since immigrating as a young child, Joshua Esnard has grown from humble beginnings to a wildly successful entrepreneur with millions in global product sales in less than 5 years of business. |
![]() |
Kate Weaver Supplier Diversity Manager Peapod Digital Labs Kate Weaver is the Supplier Diversity Manager for Peapod Digital Labs, an Ahold Delhaize USA Company.Peapod Digital Labs is the ecommerce and commercial engine that provides support to Food Lion. |
![]() |
Kevin W. Williams President and CEO GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Kevin W. Williams was appointed President and CEO of Global Automotive Alliance Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management in September 2019. In this role, Williams is a Corporate Board Member and leads all operations of the company. Prior to this role |
![]() |
Kymberlyn Gardner Director of Community and Citizenship Turner Construction Company Kym is the Director of Community and Citizenship for Turner Construction Company in North and South Carolina. In this role, she leads the efforts to improve participation of underrepresented groups within the construction industry through outreach, development, and education. |
![]() |
Louise Connell Supplier Diversity Manager BMW Manufacturing, Co., LLC Louise Connell is a supplier diversity manager at BMW Manufacturing, Co., LLC, and is credited with launching and continuing the company’s successful Tier 1 Supplier Diversity Matchmaker Conference. |
![]() |
M. Keith Daniel Co-Founder and Managing Director Resilient Ventures, LLC Rev. Dr. M. Keith Daniel, is Co-founder and Managing Director for Resilient Ventures, LLC. and owner of Madison Consulting Group, LLC. Resilient is a committed, capital fund investing in African American entrepreneurs. |
![]() |
Priscilla Wallace VP of Supplier Diversity Compass Group under the Foodbuy Sector Business executive with over 20 years of experience building, nurturing, awardwinning programs within corporate organizations. A determined leader who has assisted numerous companies in creating multi-million dollar contracts with Fortune 500 companies. |
![]() |
Quinn Conyers Transformational Speaker Quinn Conyers, Inc. Quinn Conyers is on a mission to empower black women in business how to leverage their voice as a marketing strategy, lead generation tool and income stream within their business. Her goal is to train the fastest group of growing entrepreneurs how to maximize and monetize all speaking opportunities on behalf of their business, book or brand. |
![]() |
Randall Dobbins President Dobbins International,Inc. For over 30 years, Randall Dobbins has been a noteworthy leader in the MBE development space. MBE’s are Minority Business Owners-MBE, Veteran Business. You may know him from his work as the Founder of the Business Partner Blueprint and President of Dobbins International, Inc. |
![]() |
Ralph Sampson Founding Member Winner’s Circle Enterprises Winner’s Circle Ventures is centered around my motto “It takes teamwork to make a dream work” for specific business development and expansion. We are very excited about being here for your annual |
![]() |
Shelly Brown Diversity Solutions Leader AON Shelly leads Aon’s Diversity Solutions capabilities with a focus on supply chain and business development. He is a catalyst for profitable growth, innovator, value driver and is passionate about investing in underserved communities. He is a champion for the firm’s Global Inclusive Leadership Council and the Aon Apprenticeship program. |
![]() |
Stefon Pettigrew Founder, Consultant & Creative Thinker KBF Marketing If delivering results were a person, you would find Stefon Pettigrew. This New York native is a creative thinker that takes pride in his name and in the work that he stands behind. He is very personable, passionate, committed, and fears failure. When working with Stefon, his overall objective is to ensure that his clients have met their overall marketing goals |
![]() |
William “Bill” Spruill Co-founder and CEO Global Data Consortium (GDC) Co-founder and CEO of Global Data Consortium (GDC). GDC is a Raleigh based provider of global digital identity verification for individuals and businesses though its Worldview platform. Customers include Amazon, Mercado Libre, DHL Global, Stripe and Tipalti. |
![]() |
William Williams Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer American Tire Distributors Mr. Williams has served as American Tire’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since March 2017, having previously joined the company in September 2016 as interim CFO from Tatum, a financial executive services and consulting firm where he was a CFO partner. |
![]() |
William J. Milton, Jr. Certified Financial Planner Equitable Advisors William J. Milton, Jr. is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ |