SPEAKERS

Farad Ali
President & CEO
Asociar
Farad Ali is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Asociar, a technology solutions company. Asociar provides data center solutions, IT infrastructure services, support and community reinvestment.
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Kathleen Alcorn
Founder & Technical Director
Atollect LLC
A federal lobbyist and consultant guiding industries, private entities, and governments, Kathleen specializes in emerging technologies.
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Dorge Jean Baptiste
Director of Dining Services
Tamarisk Northshore
Dorge Jean Baptiste was born in Haiti and came to the United States at age 11, settling with his family in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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Steven Bruner
Director of Joint Venture
Thompson Hospitality
Steven is the Director of Joint Venture for Thompson Hospitality, the country’s largest minority-owned foodservice company.
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Dwayne K. Barlow
President & CEO
The BarTech Group
You can say he has Electricity running through his veins and it has sparked a multi-million-dollar business. Dwayne K. Barlow, started his career in the Utility industry in 1984 as a Meter Reader for ComEd – an Exelon Company.
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Melody Spann Cooper
Chairman
Midway Broadcasting Corporation
Melody Spann Cooper is a second-generation owner of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, a best-in-class African-American & female owned media company whose properties include radio.
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Deon M. Crayton
Supplier Diversity Specialist
United Airlines
Deon M. Crayton is the Supplier Diversity Specialist for United Airlines. United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,100 flights a day to 374 airports across six continents.
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Tavares Campbell
Founder
Campbell Transport LLC
Tavares Campbell is the founder of Campbell Transport LLC, a petroleum products transportation company located in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Campbell Transport delivers a variety of motor fuel products.
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Jill S. Davis
Vice President, Marketing Manager, Global Supplier Diversit
JPMorgan Chase
Jill Davis is Vice President, Marketing Manager of Global Supplier Diversity at JPMorgan Chase and oversees supplier diversity related communications. on the firm’s intranet and external publications.
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Jana Farmer
President & CEO
Jana Tina LLC, DBA Ms. Jana’s Candy
Jana Farmer began her company, Jana Tina LLC, DBA Ms. Jana’s Candy officially in January 2018. The story goes back several years to 2008,
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Stefanie Garcia
Co-Owner
FlanBoyan Corporation
Stefanie Garcia is the Co-Owner of FlanBoyan Corporation. FlanBoyan is an ecommerce flan company that specializes in 20 flavors of flan with residential.
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Laura Helmuth
Midwest Cash Management Manager, Business Banking
JP Morgan Chase
Laura Helmuth is a Regional Cash Management Manger with the Chase Business Banking team. With over 25 years of banking experience, Laura brings expertise in helping business owners grow their companies
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Debbie Highland
Director of Hospitality
Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel
Debbie Highland earned her BS in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, but her desire for a fast paced and ever changing environment led her into the casino business.
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Dr. Jerry Bell Jr.
Owner
JBJ Business Group Inc.
Dr. Jerry Bell Jr. is a former enlisted Army medic, West Point graduate, and former Army Aviation Training/Operations Officer where he flew the UH60 blackhawk.
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Constance Yvonné Jones
Senior Director
Network Delivery Services
Business is in her blood. For as long as she can remember, Constance Jones has had an affinity for business and she’s dedicated her life to helping entrepreneurs.
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Gerald Leonard
Chief Executive Officer
Principles of Execution
Gerald Leonard is the author of “Culture Is The Bass: 7 Steps to Creating High Performing Teams, listed on Entrepreneur magazine as one of the “Top 15 Books on Business.
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Pratik Patel
Engineer
MasterCard
Pratik Patel has been in the Sourcing profession for 15+ years. He has a degree in Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Cleveland State University.
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Anita J. Ponder
Partner
Anita J. Ponder is a partner and the Director of the Chicago Government Contracts Group at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB).
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Tavares Porter
Culinary Arts Professional
Hi, I’m Tavares! A driven culinary artist dedicated to creating dining experiences that are flavorful and exciting. From in-home intimate gatherings, working the line, to on-site and special event catering.
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Neha Rana
HR Specialist
SHRM-CP, MA-Ed
I am a Human Resource Specialist for Insperity. I work with clients from small to mid-size. I am dedicated to assisting my clients in elevating their organizational culture.
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Eric Trapp
Regional Director of Dining Service
Senior Lifestyle
My name is Eric Trapp and I am a Regional Director of Dining Service with Senior Lifestyle. I began my Hospitality career while studying Hospitality Management at Howard University in Washington, DC.
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Christina Tyson
Director of Supplier Diversity
PepsiCo
Christina Tyson is the Director of Supplier Diversity for PepsiCo. In this role, Christina leads the Supplier Diversity team across PepsiCo aimed at increasing the diversity within our supply base across all diverse.
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Terrance Williams
EVP & General Manager
Allstate Insurance Company
Terrance Williams is Executive Vice President and General Manager of Allstate Agency Sales. He is focused on accelerating innovation to transform the company’s agency distribution
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Byron Witherspoon
Director, Supplier Diversity
Ameren
Byron Witherspoon is the Director, Supplier Diversity at Ameren responsible for establishing and implementing the strategic vision for Ameren’s Supplier Diversity department.
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George A. Williams
President and CEO
PMI Energy Solutions, LLC
As the President and CEO of PMI Energy Solutions, LLC, Mr. Williams is responsible for electrical construction and maintenance services in the utility industry. Services include storm restoration, directional boring,
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Heidi Widom
Northeast and GNP Cash Management Manager,
Business Banking,JPMorgan Chase
Heidi is a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Cash Management Manager for the Northeast and GNPDivisions in Business Banking. Prior to taking over the group, Heidi spent nine years.
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Ashley Woods
President & CEO
DAAM Freight & Hauling LLC
DAAM Freight & Hauling LLC is an African-American female owned company based out of St. Louis, Missouri that specializes in stress free freight. The company’s focus is on compliance,
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