10TH Annual National Black Economic Conference: The Road to Generational Wealth

(Black PR Wire) West Palm Beach, FL  – The 10th Annual National Black Economic Conference (NBEC) brought to you by The Mosaic Group and Black Business Loop, draws hundreds of attendees to the conference each year. With the move to a virtual setting in 2020, NBEC has innovated and grown to expand and improve the virtual experience. The 2- day virtual conference will take place on August 21-22, 2020.

NBEC’s goal is to empower community members to take the necessary steps to grow and develop their enterprise, create wealth for their families, support black businesses throughout the US, and foster growth and sustainability while reducing unemployment and bridging the wealth gap in the US and beyond. This year is without exception as the conference features: world-renown and international speakers, panel discussions, keynote speakers, breakout sessions to showcase the growing global Black Business community. NBEC will also host the Written Black Experience, a premier book club featuring best-selling black authors from around the world.

The theme for this year’s conference is “The Road to Generational Wealth”. A diverse group of subject matter experts will discuss the topics including “Secure the Bag – Securities, Stocks, Bonds”; “Equity through Homeownership”; “Thriving in a Global Crisis”; along with “What’s Hot in Innovation & Technology” and more.

“The National Black Economic Conference is timely and more relevant than ever given the current COVID-19 pandemic that is devastating our local and global economies and the death of George Floyd sparking the debate of the many elements of systemic racism. When the nation faces an economic recession, our communities experience an economic depression. This is the time for us to focus on creating, investing, and building sustainable financial resources for ourselves families, and communities. We must strengthen the black economy to not only survive but thrive for generations to come”, said Ann Marie Sorrell, President/CEO of The Mosaic Group and Founder of NBEC.

2020 PANEL DISCUSSION THOUGHT LEADERS

Friday, August 21st

9:30AM – Opening/Keynote Speaker Keynote Speaker: Walter Bond, Motivational Speaker, Author of Swim – The Bond Group

11:00AM – PANEL: Leading Growth Industries: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Construction, and Transportation Moderator: Clarence E. Anthony, CEO & Executive Director of National League of Cities (NLC) Thought Leaders: • Beatrice Dixon, Founder of The Honey Pot Company • Connie W. Kinnard, Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development – Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau • Grant McGaugh, Owner & Managing Director of 5 STAR BDM • Psyche Terry, Founder of UI Global Brands • Ann McNeill, Speaker, Author, & Coach – MCO Construction

11:00AM – PANEL: Buy the Block: Real Estate Development & Investments Moderator: Gordon Eric Knowles, President & CEO of Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce Thought Leaders: • Dr. Jeremy Earle, Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director for City of Hallandale Beach • Fabiola Fleuranvil, CEO of Blueprint Creative Group • Miguel Pilgram, Partner of The Pilgram Group • Clarence Woods, Manager, Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency

11:00AM – PANEL: What’s Hot in Innovation & Technology Moderator: LaToya Stirrup, Founder & President of Digital Glass Thought Leaders: • Armando Pantoja, Co-Founder of Hire Match • Alan E. Bottorff, CEO of Teledactyl • Felicia Hatcher, Co-Founder of Tribe Cowork & Urban Innovation Lab, Code Fever, and Black Tech Week

1:15PM – PANEL: Access to Capital for Businesses Moderator: Grasford Smith, Commercial Litigation Partner Thought Leaders: • Inez Long, President/CEO of Black Business Investment Fund • Thais R. Sullivan, First Vice President & Regional CRA Officer at Valley National Bank • Kevin Cohee, Chairman & CEO of One United Bank

1:15PM – PANEL: Scale Your Business with Government Contracts Moderator: Sharna Barnes, CEO of Complete Contract Consulting LLC Thought Leaders: • Adriana Clark, SE Region Director of Office of Small Business Southeast Region – U.S. Depart of Transportation • Robert M. Ballou, Officer of Economic Development & Diversity Compliance Department Broward School District • Frank Hayden, Director of Office of Equal Opportunity – City of West Palm Beach • Dicky Sykes, Director of the Office of Diversity in Business Practices – School District of Palm Beach County • Burnadette Norris-Weeks, Partner at Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell, PLLC • Sandy-Michael McDonald, Director of Broward County Office of Economic & Small Business Development

2:45PM – PANEL: The Impact of Media on the Black Economy Moderator: Katia St. Fleur, Principal at KSF & Associates Thought Leaders: • Yvette Miley, Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – NBCU News Group • Bernadette Morris, President/CEO of Sonshine Communications & Black PR Wire • Dexter Bridgeman, CEO of MIA Media Group

Saturday, August 22nd

9:30AM – Opening Session: Connecting your Mind, Body & Spirit • Shauna Whittingham, Mentor, Connector & Influencer at Shauna Simone Yoga • Sheila Zayas, Practitioner of Reiki – The Sanctuary

11:00AM – PANEL: Go Global: Caribbean & Africa Trade & Investments Moderator: Petula Burks, Civic Engagement Director, City of Miami Gardens Thought Leaders: • Dale Holness, Mayor of Broward County • Paola Isaac Baraya, Economic Development Specialist-International Trade, Broward County’s Office of Economic and Small Business Development • Joseph Bell, Regional Manager of International Trade Development – Enterprise Florida • H.E. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Ambassador of Ghana – Embassy of Ghana

11:00AM – PANEL: Secure the Bag – Securities, Stocks, Bonds Moderator: Shaheewa Jarrett, General Counsel & Vice President of Compliance – Gelin Benefits Group, LLC Thought Leaders: • Mark A. Parks, Jr., Chief Financial Officer for City of West Palm Beach • Gayle M. Waldon, Financial Advisor & Financial Planning Specialist – The Swinton Group at Morgan Stanley • Robert Owens, Chief Financial Strategist for R.V.OWENS, Strategic Group

11:00AM – PANEL: Health is Wealth – A comprehensive approach to our overall well-being Moderator: Chantél Siegrid Thompson, Interpretive Career Coach Thought Leaders: • Ed Harris, Consultant Chef of Chef Life Consulting • Robert M. Ballou, Officer of Economic Development & Diversity Compliance Department Broward School District • Nicole Chaplin, Master Personal Trainer of The Fitness Rockstar™ • Adrian Carter, Founder of EmpowerMEN Conference • Rufus & Jenny Triplett, Marriage Life Experts of Surviving Marriage in the 21st Century

1:15PM – PANEL: Equity through Home Ownership Moderator: Dexter Bridgeman, CEO of MIA Media Group Thought Leaders: • Cornell Crews Jr., Executive Director of Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida • Derrick Berry, Loan Originator for Buccaneer Mortgage/TheGoodPirates Home Loans • Angelique Hibbert, Vice President of South Florida Board of Realist Women Council

1:15PM – PANEL: Green is the New Black: $10 Billion Cannabiz Moderator: Bryan Cunningham, Entrepreneurship Center Division Manager – Urban League of Broward County Thought Leaders: • Dasheeda Dawson, Founder & Bestselling Author of The WeedHead™ & Company • Roz McCarthy, Founder/CEO of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Inc. • Scheril Murray Powell, Esq., Agricultural & Cannabis Attorney at Doumar, Allsworth, Laystrom, Voigt, Adair, and Dishowitz LLP

1:15PM – PANEL: Getting Those Digital Dollars: Influencer Takeover Moderator: Kitty Lundon, Host & Creator of The People of Power Talk Show Thought Leaders: • Darren Brown, CEO of Advantage Business Consulting • Andre Kay, CEO & Founder of Sociallybuzz

2:45PM – PANEL: How Collaborative Communities are Driving Business Growth Moderator: Jerome Hutchinson, Jr., Founder & Chief Servant Officer of International Career and Business Alliance, Inc. (ICABA)

Thought Leaders: • Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, Esq., Founding Executive Director of Venture Café Miami • Melvin Coleman, President & CEO of Essential Wealth Management Group, LLC Written

Black Meet the Author Experience Host: Donna M. Gray-Banks, Founder & Director of F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival

2020 Community Partners: • Urban League of Broward County • Broward County Library/African American Research Library & Cultural Center • International Career & Business Alliance (ICABA) & ICABA World Marketplace • Walker’s Legacy • Pyramid Books

2020 Sponsors: • Florida Power & Light (FPL) • Valley National Bank • R.V.Owens • Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) • Broward County - Office of Economic & Small Business Development (OESBD) • Palm Beach County Office of Equal Business Opportunity (OEBO) • Discover the Palm Beaches • Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) • Miami Media Group, LLC • South Florida Times

To learn more about the conference, keynotes, other speakers, and how to register visit www.nationalblackeconomicconference.com. One day registration is $59.00 (Friday or Saturday); Two-day registration is $99.00. Both registrations include access to panel discussions, keynote speakers, breakout sessions and The Written Black Experience. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available.

Interviews with any speakers or organizers may be granted upon your request. For full media access to conference and workshops, please email media contact Danielle A. Jones, danielle@themosaicgroup.co, for your all access media pass.

For more information about the National Black Economic Conference, please contact The Mosaic Group at (561) 651‐9565 or via email, nbec@mosaicgroupc.co.

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