BLACK ENTERPRISE And Walmart Host Forum On Supplier Diversity On Wednesday, October 1, In Atlanta

ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

WHO:            BLACK ENTERPRISE, the premier business, investment, and wealth building resource for African Americans, along with Walmart, the nation's leading retailer and one of the nation's largest private employers of African Americans.

WHAT:          20/20 Vision Forum: Supplier Diversity in the 21^st Century, where entrepreneurs will explore how to prepare themselves and their ventures to form profitable partnerships with large corporations as part of their supply chain.  The 20/20 Vision Forum was created by Black Enterprise jointly with Walmart to educate, encourage and empower audience members to become full participants in wealth creation within the global community.

WHERE:        The Westin Peachtree Plaza
                     210 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303                         

WHEN:          Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Event Highlights

8:30 a.m.       Registration/Networking

9:00 a.m.       Remarks

• Earl "Butch" Graves Jr., President & CEO Black Enterprise
• Michael Byron, Senior Director, Supplier Diversity, Walmart

9:10 a.m.       Building Banking Relationships
Entrepreneur will share personal insight on building and solidifying a relationship with a small business banker/community lender.

• Rumia Burbank, CEO, President, VMS365 and Founder, Sole de Frio

9:35 a.m.       Shelf Space: Going From Local To National Distribution 
                     Conversation with a Walmart Supplier and Regional Manager
Black Enterprise will interview supplier about going from local to national distribution as well as review such areas as partnering, scaling, manufacturing, and financing the business. Regional manager will discuss what it takes to become a supplier for a major corporation. The session will include a Q&A with the audience.

Interviewer:

• Derek T. Dingle, S.V.P., Editor-In-Chief, Black Enterprise                             

Panelists:

• Stephen Gilchrist, President, GLS Distributors-Wallace Pork Skins
• Kevin Hester, Regional Merchandise Manager, GA, Walmart

10:25 a.m.     Session 1: Store Within A Store: Tenant Leasing Program
A look at in-store leasing programs that provides local, regional, and national businesses the opportunity to lease space in front of operating Walmart stores and supercenters. Panel will discuss how to establish retail, food services and other types of businesses inside an operating Walmart.

Moderator:

• Carolyn M. Brown, Senior Content Producer, Black Enterprise

Panelists:

• Asia Seman, Cleopatra Shop, GA, Walmart
• Anthony Hylton, Senior Director, Walmart Store Channel

11:15 a.m.     Session 2: Beyond Shelf Space: Service and Non-Resale Suppliers
This panel will discuss other areas of the business outside the shelf and emerging opportunity areas. Panel will consist of businesses that provide services in these emerging areas and experts who will discuss micro enterprises selling to Tier 1 suppliers and providing supplies to large merchants that are not for resale.

Moderator:

• Derek T. Dingle, S.V.P., Editor-In-Chief, Black Enterprise

Panelists:

• Wallis Shoppy, Senior Director, Strategy and Planning Realty Procurement, Walmart
• Stacey Key, President/CEO, GMSDC
• Renae Keitt, President, Ark Temp Staffing

12:15pm        LUNCH

1:00pm          BE Talks Technology, Innovation, Sustainability and Scaling Up 
                     Small Teams + Small Partners = Big Ideas and Big Innovation
A group of speakers will each be given 10 minutes each to discuss core topics, such as innovation, wearable technology, sustainability as a business strategy, growing your company, etc. Plus a 15-minute Q&A

Moderator:
Alfred A. Edmond Jr, S.V.P., Chief Content Officer, Black Enterprise

• Sustainability—Leroy Johnston, CEO, Plastics Recycling & Grinding and Steve Outain, Walmart Reverse Logistics
• Next Gen Technology/Innovation—Donovan Bell, Walmart Vendor Management and David Segura, CEO, Vision IT
• Capital Access—Rodney Sampson, Angel Investor/Diversity Executive, ABC's Shark Tank
• Growing/Scaling Up—Ron Busby, President, US Black Chamber
• Marketing/Branding—LaVon Lewis & Sherrod Shackelford, Co-Founders/CEO's, Pencilworx Design Group

2:25pm          Earl "Butch" Graves, Jr., President & CEO, Black Enterprise

Registration for the 20/20 Vision Forum is free, but seating is limited. Click HERE to register.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Interested press should contact Johann Alleyne-Morris at 212-886-9598 or via e-mail at [email protected].  

SOCIAL MEDIA NOTE: For information and updates shared from this event on Twitter and other social media platforms, follow @blackenterprise and @WalmartAction or search the hash tag #BESUPPDIV

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source of Wealth For Life, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 4 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces radio and television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends. 

SOURCE BLACK ENTERPRISE