L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, LA
May 15 – 18, 2023
Information about the event:
The 18th Annual Business and Procurement Conference provides an opportunity for small business communities to network with larger companies and government agencies aimed at growing their businesses. Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension (SUAREC) has partnered with the MBDA to host this year’s conference along with Southern University Law Center, and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at Southern University.
The small business community, especially minority business enterprises, woman-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, 8(a) certified firms, HUBZone certified firms, and Veteran-Owned (including Service-Disabled Veteran owned) is invited to attend this event. The 2023 Conference will be unique in that many of the sessions and contracting opportunities made available are a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The $1.2 trillion appropriated in this bill is available to small business through procurement opportunities in federal, state, local, and even private businesses. Businesses don’t want to miss this opportunity to market their services and products to the various buyers. Nor do they want to miss this opportunity to network with other businesses in their industries for potential partnerships and other collaborations.
You’ll have an opportunity to meet with representatives from various agencies – local, state, federal, and private – to sell your products and services.
We’ll have staff from the small business community to assist you with completing your applications for the various certifications, e.g. 8A, DBE, EBR Fair Share, Hudson
You’ll have an opportunity to network with other business owners, industry leaders, and community leaders.
With more than 30 sessions being offered, you’ll gain valuable skills and insights to grow your business.
| General | Farmers | Small and Micro Businesses | Large MBE’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Chambers of Commerce to Grow your Business | Growing Micro-greens | Beginner’s Session on Small Business Funding | Listening Session: Policy Changes Needed in Lending |
| Financing Government Contracts | Resources for Farmers | Digital Marketing Ads | Legal Lens on Partnerships, Mergers, Acquisitions , & Joint Venture Agreements |
| Federal Contract Readiness | Overview of Contracting Assistance for Farmers | Developing Systems to Scale Your Business | Alternative Lending, Venture Capital, Factoring, and Equipment Loans |
| Taking Care of Yourself while Taking Care of Business | Cover Crops and other Efficiencies to Maximize Farm Profits | Library Resources to Grow Your Business | Pricing for Competition & Market Research |
| Impact of Personal Credit on Business Credit | SUSTA- Farmers and other Exporters | LED's Resources to Grow Your Small Business | Using the Resources at the LSBDCs to Grow Your Business |
| Doing Business with the Federal Government | Export Readiness | ||
| Doing Business with State of Louisiana | How to Develop Products | ||
| Doing Business with Port of New Orleans | |||
| Doing Business with BREC |
Katara A. Williams, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and External Relations
Edward ‘Ted’ James, Region 6 Administrator,
U.S. Small Business Administration
Welcome & Greetings
Orlando F. McMeans, Ph.D. Chancellor-Dean
Southern University Ag Center
Charletta “Charlie” Fortson, J.D., MBA, MSIT
Assistant Professor & Director of the Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
John Pierre, J.D.
Chancellor
Southern University Law Center
Michael Stubblefield, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor
Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives
Southern University and A&M College
Cynthia “Cindy” Carrier, Program Manager
Louisiana Apex Accelerator
Leslie Chambers, J.D.
Office of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome
Special Presentation Honoring
Eual Hall and Rinaldi Jacobs, Sr. For Excellence In Service
Krystal J. Brumfield, J.D., LL.M.
Chief Acquisition Officer
Associate Administrator
Office of Government-wide Policy
Krystal J. Brumfield, J.D., LL.M.
Chief Acquisition Officer
Associate Administrator
Office of Government-wide Policy
Danielle Viguerie Coco, Southern United States Trade Association
Jo Ann Lawrence
Deputy District Director
Louisiana District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Charles Rice, JD
Community Liaison at the Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Get Certified with City of Baton Rouge/ Parish of East Baton Rouge
The City of Baton Rouge
Jo Ann Lawrence
Deputy District Director
Louisiana District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
David Lee
Business Development Officer
Evergreen Working Capital
Tyra Banks, MPA
Director of COVID Business Response Programs
Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Business Plan Bootcam
Tyra Banks, MPA Director of COVID Business Response Programs
Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Tatiana Bruce, Senior Program Manager
Louisiana Economic Development
JoAnn Lawrence Deputy District Director
Louisiana District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Edward “Ted” James Region 6 Administrator
U.S. Small Business Administration
Terry G. Simmons, Jr.
Founder & President
Orange Strategy
Irene Coates, Vizion Salon
Dezmion Barrow, Premier Landscapes
Chisolu Isiadinso, Forever A Dreamher
Derrick Smith, Luxury Landscape
Zonda Barnes, BodiFX
Mark Samuels, Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council
Alvin-O Williams, Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council
Charletta “Charlie” Fortson, JD, MBA, MSIT
Assistant Professor & Director of the Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Presentation by The Folgers Coffee Company
Words of Wisdom Raymond A. Jetson, MetroMorphosis
Craig Stevens, Genesis 360
DeWayne Williams, Mac Enterprise Consulting
J. Gaudet, Founder of Rizen, Inc.
Erin Butler, US Commercial Service
MBDA-CS New Orleans Export Bootcamp-05.16.23-Agenda.docx
MBDA-CS New Orleans Export Bootcamp-05.16.23-Agenda.pdf
Stephanie Elwood, Growing Healthy Coordinator
Southern University Ag Center – Cooperative Extension Program
JoAnn Lawrence, Small Business Administration
Peter Mars, Prudential
Opening Remarks
Ted James, US Small Business Administration
Kenyatta Sparks, SJB Group
Stephanie R. Hartman, Director
Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development
Carla Holland Bryan Greenwood, State Director
Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Ada Womack- Bell
Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University
Opening Keynote
Janea Jamison Regional Advocate
Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy
Janea Jamison
Regional Advocate
Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy
Various Financial Institutions Including:
b1 Foundation
Pelican State Credit Union
Hope Credit Union
Chase Bank
Kelly A Raney, Louisiana Economic Development
File for SBA certifications with live technical assistance. Including:
Krystle J. Allen, PhD, Southern University Ag Center
Shalaya T. Morissette (she/her)
Chief, Minority Business and Workforce Division
Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
U.S. Department of Energy
Christopher Cassagne, Louisiana Economic Development
Burnell Muse, Program Trainer, Louisiana Small Farms
East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness
Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness
FEMA
Camile Campbell, Travis Lewis, Jill Tucker, Kendra Hardnett
Enid Jesse
HIBU
Gayle Young
Laughter in Your Belly
Laci Melancon
Coastal Technical Assistance Center (CTAC)
Orhan McMillan
Travis Lewis, Travis Lewis Insurance Group
Angela Bruns, Southern University Financial READ Program
De’Shoin York, Ph.D.
Vice-Chancellor, Extension and Outreach
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension- Cooperative Extension Program
Charletta “Charlie” Fortson, JD, MBA, MSIT
Assistant Professor & Director of the Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Ken Naquin, Louisiana Associated General Contractors
Keynote: Whey McGrew
Director of Business Programs, US Department of Agriculture
LaKesha Hart, Louisiana Division of Administration
Hosted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metro Baton Rouge Chapter
Travis Lewis
Gallagher Insurance
LaKeisha Robichaux,
Chief of Minds
Gayle Young, J.D.
Laughter in Your Belly
Tyra Banks, MPA
Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Paul Narcisse,
Interim Purchasing Director
North Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Peter Mars, Prudential
Tranell Montague, Toco
June Lyle, Primerica
Olivette Lewis, Aflac
Colleen Broussard-Perry,
Federal Government Contracting Specialist
APEX Accelerators, Formerly Louisiana PTAC
Tyra Banks, MPA
Lakeisha Robichaux, CEO
Chief of Minds
Sponsors
Louisiana Associated General Contractors
U.S. Department of Energy
Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
Louisiana Economic Development
Hope Credit Union
Jacobs Engineering
Louisiana State University
Entergy
SJB Group DBE Supportive Services
Terry Simmons & Company
Orange Strategy
Tyra Banks, MPA Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency
