I had the privilege this year of joining the largest representation of minority business owners at the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) 2024 Conference. McPherson, Berry & Associates, Inc. received great exposure, was provided an opportunity to showcase our capabilities, made new connections, and sponsored an important business event.
The week started with the inaugural Golf Classic. Thank you Sheila Washington (Golfing Queen) for the golf clinic along with Technology Concepts Group, Inc. and Deluxe Delivery & Logistics Systems Inc for orchestrating this event.
Saturday night, we along with Stratagon Inspiration Digital Charles Weems III Full View Productions help sponsor the first ever The Power of Us Reception; MBEs to MBEs doing business. Many thanks to Avis Yates Rivers TCGi for being the title sponsor and executing this MBE partnership event.
I can not tell you how thrilled I was to prepare and deliver the inaugural MBE CEO Roundtable with Percy "Master P" Miller. Anyone that knows me know the passion I have for developing people and organizations. The opportunity to have over 20 Minority CEOs and business leaders in the room sharing best practices, strategies, and having Percy Miller sharing business gems from his entrepreneurial journey was absolutely amazing!! Thank you National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Jetheda Hernandez for trusting me to bring this vision forth.
We manage the Emerging Young Entrepreneurs program which hosted the largest cohort of 50 next generation business owners. This year included the partnership of “Master P” as a judge in the pitch competition. Congratulations to the pitch winners and finalists:
1st Place: Patty Jackson, MBA, CEO of Cobachi C.R.E.A.M - Using Ice Cream to increase STEM literacy while bridging with Culture
2nd Place: Michelle Jones of BPT Staffing - Diverse staffing
3rd Place: Guilherme Maia Silva of Força Foods LLC (Milkish) - a milk alternative (watermelon milk)
Finalists:
Kamilah Mantle of EPICC Technologies - Speech Therapy App
Ashley Jean of Ashley Jean Creative - Authentic personal branding for women of color through photography
Many thanks to the judges: I. Javette Hines, Esq., CPSD,RP, Aaron Petty, Durecia Moorer, MS, MDiv, John Rutledge BASF, and Percy Miller. Appreciative of the EYE sponsors: Zones, LLC, UPS Citi BASF. Please take the time to research the entire cohort’s businesses on the NMSDC website.
Thank you Brooke Foley Jayne Agency, LLC Varonnica Kirn for being my “partner in good crime” with the pitch competition and Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL).
It was great moderating the panel of EYE alumni on how MBEs partner and do business together. Thank you Aaron Petty Shakeia K. Akil Alvin!
A huge thank you to the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) staff for organizing such a meaningful event.
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