Last year, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he wanted to see the goal of awarding 30 percent of state contracts to minority- and women owned businesses come to fruition. On Wednesday, March 23, the New American Chamber of Commerce will do its part to help make that happen. ?
?The organization is hosting the second annual Diversity Procurement Conference 2016, which attracts hundreds of businesses who connect with federal, state and local agencies as well as prime contractors and each other to ?foster business success.?Attendees can expect to learn how to get contracts for their businesses and how to get certified with the city, state and corporate America. ???
“The purpose of the Diversity Procurement Conference is foremost educational: to educate our small business owners and budding entrepreneurs about procurement, certification and the available opportunities. We all know that knowledge is power. What do we do with that knowledge? Our goal is to show entrepreneurs how to use that knowledge to take their businesses to the next level,” Pearl Phillip, President of the New American Chamber of Commerce, told TNJ.com.??
Billed as a full-day conference, the event kicks off with a Welcome VIP Breakfast focusing on celebrating Women?s Month with speakers such as Kellie LeDet, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration; 10-year old fashion designer and CEO of Chubiline and BullyChasers and Egypt ?Ify? Ufele, who is the youngest fashion designer to have a show at New York Fashion Week and dress curvy models.
“Terrence Clarke, who is the President/CEO of the The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc., will also be onhand. The Council is a vital link between major corporations and minority businesses and serves as the organization that certifies minority businesses for Corporate America,? says Phillip. ?
?There will also be 20 empowering breakout sessions going on, exhibiting hall of 40 vendors, a Networking Lunch hosted by Miss Haiti/Universe 2016 with a mini-fashion show by Jamaican fashion designer, D?Marsh. ??
?Business owners can learn quite a bit,? explains Phillip. ?As a business owner, you have to empower and educate yourself. If you don?t, you become stagnant and so does your business. Diverse (minority) business owners can learn about the different certifications required to do business with the city, state and federal governments as well as Corporate America and the process to get those contracts. Also, they can learn about the products and services available from these entities. The bonus is networking with other attendees. As a result of great breakout sessions happening concurrently, we advise a minimum of two representatives attend the event to maximize the offerings,? she says.?
?Corporate sponsors include BNY Mellon, Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, Investors Bank, DC 9, IQ Inc. Global Consulting and SocialButterfly.nyc. Exhibitors include but are not limited to the NYC Comptroller?s Office, the NYC Department of Education, CUNY, NYPD and General Services Administration (GSA), the organization that handles procurement for the federal government, the world?s largest buyer. For full details, visit diversitynyc. com
The conference will be held at BNY Mellon in Lower Manhattan.
