After three years apart, the WBDC is thrilled that we are finally coming together again!! On the first day of our regional business conference this year, we expect to welcome several hundred women business owners, along with private sector, public sector, and community partners. We truly hope that you will join us for enlightenment, information, and valuable connections, both rekindled and new.
The 2022 conference program will be held in-person on 9/7. Our line-up on 9/8 is the virtual Corporate Connections and the virtual WBDC Midwest Bracket for WBENC Pitch.
SEPTEMBER 7 - 8, 2022
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago | 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont, IL 60018
The WBDC complies with federal, state, and local COVID-19 requirements and guidelines. Masking is voluntary and we ask that you not attend our September 7th in-person program if you are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms or if you have been exposed recently to anyone with COVID.
The WBDC complies with federal, state, and local COVID-19 requirements and guidelines. Masking is voluntary and we ask that you not attend our September 7th in-person program if you are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms or if you have been exposed recently to anyone with COVID.
Check-in begins at 3:00 pm
Location: Grand Ballroom A,B,C
4:00 – 4:05
Welcome Remarks
Emilia DiMenco, President and Chief Executive Officer | LinkedIn
Sandra Rand, Acting WBDC Board Chair and Retired Director of Supplier Diversity, United Airlines, Inc.
4:05 – 4:15
Economic Backdrop
Current economic landscape (e.g., inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions, labor shortage, and the recessionary forecast)l from the perspective of impact on women and minority business owners in the Midwest
4:15 – 5:00
Adjusting to New Economic and Business Realities
Moderator
Jennifer Schlott-Rouzan, Managing Director, Professional Development Commercial N.A., BMO Harris | LinkedIn
WBE Panel
Ari Rodriguez Boog, CEO, Archifootprint, Inc. | LinkedIn
Caren Schweitzer, Founder and President, Creative Resources | LinkedIn
Rashi Arora Khosla, Founder and CEO, MARS Solution Group | LinkedIn
Location: Grand Ballroom E
Gaining a Bidding Advantage by Developing Supplier and Workforce Diversity Plans
Learn how to increase opportunities for certified diverse firms and gain an advantage while bidding by developing supplier and workforce diversity plans for your business. Increasingly large private and public sector buyers are requiring their suppliers to create their own diversity initiatives. Rebecca Fyffe is the founder and CEO of the very successful company Landmark Pest Management, a WBE, and she has also become a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rebecca will present actionable steps for developing supplier and workforce diversity plans to give suppliers a competitive edge while making the world a better place.
Presenter
Rebecca Fyffe, CEO, Landmark Pest Management | LinkedIn
Location: Grand Ballroom H
Navigating Cybersecurity Entrance Requirements
Cybersecurity requires collaboration between large private and public sector entities and their suppliers. To give your business more of an upper hand, this panel will address how to meet the levels of security and associated controls required of supply chain partners in the insurance, utilities, and retail industries.
Moderator
Michelle Blaise, WBDC Board Member and Senior Vice President, Technical Services, ComEd | LinkedIn
Panel
Anna Maria Viti, President, The Viti Companies
LaJuan Miller, Senior Manager, Third Party Risk Management & Surveillance, Ameren
Mike Nott, Director of Sourcing & Procurement, American Family Insurance | LinkedIn
Sara Schmidt, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, US Foods | LinkedIn
Location: Grand Foyer
Corporate Partner representatives will kick off this virtual session with an insightful “worst practices” panel. Come learn how to avoid mistakes that can be deal-killers in your sales efforts. After the panel, you can visit industry break-out rooms to hear about upcoming opportunities at participating corporations. Closer to September 8th, you’ll receive the Zoom link for this session!
Currently Confirmed Corporate Participants
Abbott
Allete
Ameren
BMO Harris
bp
Capital One
Evergy
Ferrara Candy
Kellogg Company
Medtronic
New World Van Lines
True Value
Vistra
Vizient
This is the Midwest bracket for the first round in the national WBENC Pitch. Winners from the WBDC Midwest bracket will move on to the WBENC semi-finals in October. Closer to September 8th, you’ll receive the Zoom link for this session!
Room Blocks
For those who wish to stay overnight at the Hyatt on September 7, we have a block of rooms available at a discounted rate of $153 per night. The deadline for booking a room within our block at the discounted rate is August 8, 2022. Please VISIT THIS WEBSITE prior to August 8 to book your room at the discounted rate.
Parking
Self-park is available at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare for the discounted rate of $17/vehicle on September 7. To secure your discount, have your parking validated at registration on September 7.
Transportation
The Hyatt is conveniently located less than a mile away from the Rosemont CTA Blue Line station.
The Hyatt offers complimentary shuttle service to and from O’Hare International Airport, running every 15 minutes from 4:00 am-midnight and every 30 minutes from midnight-4:00 am.
The WBDC complies with federal, state, and local COVID-19 requirements and guidelines. Masking is voluntary and we ask that you not attend our September 7th in-person program if you are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms or if you have been exposed recently to anyone with COVID.
Use the promo code EARLY to get 20% your ticket price!
The mission of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) is to support and accelerate business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.
WBDC © 2022. All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY
Women's Business Development Center 8 S. Michigan Avenue. 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60603
P: 312.853.3477 www.wbdc.org