CMSDC, Fortune 500s to Discuss Supplier Diversity at Business Opportunity Conference, Aug. 8-10

Emmy Award Winner and BET Host Ed Gordon is Guest Speaker

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Corporate executives and procurement professionals from the world's largest purchasing organizations, along with hundreds of minority business owners, will converge in Durham, NC, August 8-10, for the 2011 Business Opportunity Conference. Emmy award winner and BET host Ed Gordon will provide the keynote address during the Tuesday, Aug. 9 business luncheon. The event is hosted by the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council and will be held at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club.

An invitation-only CEO Breakfast on Aug. 9 will feature top executives from all industry sectors throughout North and South Carolina. Presidents of local Chambers of Commerce also will attend to discuss how to strengthen and leverage business opportunities between the public, private, government and non-profit sectors.

Other scheduled activities include: Billion Dollar Roundtable discussion; an Awards Dinner to celebrate corporations and minority business achievements; and the Minority Business Enterprise matchmaker and tradeshow on Wednesday, Aug. 10, that gives corporations an opportunity to meet one-on-one with top minority suppliers. This year, America's biggest corporations are expected to spend almost $100 billion buying goods and services from minority-owned businesses.

Farad Ali, CMSDC interim president and CEO said, "We will host prominent corporate members and certified minority businesses to discuss strategies for enhancing business partnerships, current economic trends and how to collaborate for business and job growth."

To learn more about the Business Opportunity Conference, visit Carolinas MSDC online at: www.carolinasmsdc.org/events/event/business-opportunity-conference or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carolinas.msdc.

The Carolinas MSDC is a non-profit corporation chartered to enhance business opportunities for minority-owned companies by providing support through developing mutually beneficial networking opportunities with corporate members and promoting minority business development. For more information or to schedule an interview with CMSDC Board members, corporate members or guest speaker Ed Gordon, contact V.K. Fields & Co. Public Relations at (919) 829-5951 or e-mail [email protected].

SOURCE Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council