Registration & Check-In

Continental Breakfast

Annual Meeting (Current Corporate and Certified Members Only)

Opening Plenary - Preparing for AI Agent Team Members

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept—it is actively reshaping how work gets done today.

In this keynote, Alim and Jared, introduces agentic AI—a new generation of AI systems that move beyond simple prompts to execute tasks, manage workflows, and operate as part of your team.

This session shifts the conversation from experimentation to application.

Through live demonstrations and real-world examples, attendees will see how AI agents can:

• Automate routine and time-intensive work
• Support faster, more informed decision-making
• Extend team capacity without increasing headcount
• Turn everyday operations into scalable, efficient systems

As highlighted in emerging models of work, businesses are beginning to move from using AI as a tool to integrating it as a functional part of their operating model—augmenting teams and accelerating output at a fraction of the cost and time.

This is not about future possibilities. It’s about what can be implemented now.

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of where to start, how to apply AI within their own organizations, and how to begin unlocking immediate business value.

Morning Sessions

Session A: AI in Marketing & Predictive Analytics (LIVE & Virtual)

Panel discussion exploring how artificial intelligence and influencer marketing are reshaping how brands connect with audiences, personalize experiences, and drive measurable growth. The session blends strategic insights with actionable takeaways and collaborative idea generation.

Session B: Dodging Tariffs and Securing the Supply Chain

Tariff changes ripple beyond manufacturers and importers—they influence every layer of commerce, from B2B (business-to-business) transactions to B2C (business-to-consumer) retail dynamics, and extend even to B2G (business-to-government) contracts. Understanding consumer demand elasticity, especially during periods of inflation or high interest rates, enables businesses to align product pricing and fulfillment strategies sustainably.

Keynote Luncheon - Three Macro Spaces Shaping What’s Next

Building on the practical applications introduced in the opening keynote, [Minsoo Pak], a Certified Futurist, will provide a broader perspective on the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

This session will explore where AI stands today, where the technology is heading, and what it means for businesses, organizations, and industries over the next several years. By connecting present-day use cases with emerging trends, the keynote will help leaders understand how to prepare their organizations for the next phase of AI-driven innovation.

Attendees will gain insight into how AI will reshape workflows, decision-making, and competitive advantage, and why organizations that learn to adopt and integrate AI strategically will be positioned to lead in the coming decade.

Together, the two keynotes provide both practical application and strategic foresight, helping leaders move from understanding AI to preparing their businesses for its continued evolution.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Session A: AI in Marketing & Predictive Analytics

The workshop is intended to have participants discuss and develop strategy to address the issues discussed in the morning session. The idea is to have a concept for each participant to take back to their organizations. The session will complete with a report out from the table's representative on their concept regarding their discussion.

Session B: Dodging Tariffs and Securing the Supply Chain

The workshop is intended to have participants discuss and develop strategy to address the issues discussed in the morning session. The idea is to have a concept for each participant to take back to their organizations. The session will complete with a report out from the table's representative on their concept regarding their discussion.

What Comes Next: From Agentic AI to Future Mapping - Building Your Plan (LIVE & Virtual)

CDC Corporate Member Meeting (Corp Members Only)

Networking Reception

Registration & Check-In

Continental Breakfast & Networking

Tradeshow and Pavilions Ribbon Cutting

Tradeshow Floor and Pavilions Open

CPO Meeting (Invite Only)

Lunch

MMPC Supplier Spotlight

Closing Reception

MM365 Contracts & Capital (Matchmaking Experience)

A curated matchmaking experience that connects corporate and government buyers with NMSDC certified suppliers offering real business opportunities.

IRS Booth - Tax & Compliance Central

The IRS Booth gives businesses direct access to verified tax resources and experts who help attendees understand:

• How tax compliance impacts access to capital
• What lenders look for
• How to prepare records and documents
• Which credits or opportunities may apply

Credit Readiness & Repair HUB

This hub equips attendees with:

• On-the-spot credit snapshots
• Personalized action plans
• Lists of vendor accounts that report to credit bureaus

Ask Dolores (Financial Readiness) (LIVE & Virtual)

Ask Dolores, which includes live interviews with our speakers, helps demystify financial readiness and makes capital access approachable through storytelling and real conversation.

Loan Request Station - Apply for Capital Here

This is where conversations turn into action. Lenders will be available to accept:

• Pre-applications
• Funding inquiries
• Direct follow-up meeting requests

Participants can walk away with a real path to funding.

Lender and TA Speed Dating - Meet the Money Matchmakers

This is one of the most high-impact experiences. Attendees rotate in 10-minute sessions meeting with:

• Banks
• CDFIs
• TA providers

By the end, businesses leave with matched funding options and clear next steps.

AI Lab (Products/Services Demos)

Hackers at the Door: The Security Nightmare Every Business Faces

This interactive session is an open discussion and Q & A focused on real-world cybersecurity challenges. Bring your questions and share any concerns or fears about your technology environment so we can provide insight and expert guidance.

Meet MMSDC: Services & Growth Lab

Board Members Meet & Connect

Meet Your MBEIC Chairs & Co-Chairs Engagement Hour

Meet Your CDC Chairs & Co-Chairs Industry Engagement Hour

Key Partner Spotlight: DYP + Ecosystem Partners

Exploring ICE to EV Opportunities with Partner Organizations (Live)

ICE to EV: Hightower Petroleum’s Pivot to EV (Virtual)

This session features insights from Ken Cartwright, President and COO of Hightower EV Solutions, as he shares his real-world journey pivoting from a legacy ICE‑based industry into the fast-evolving EV infrastructure market. Drawing from his experience in clean energy and national speaking engagements, Ken will discuss:

• What it takes to pivot industries in the face of disruption
• Building a startup in a brand-new clean energy ecosystem
• Overcoming challenges as a minority‑owned businesses
• Scaling from local projects to national EV infrastructure capabilities
• Lessons learned and what success looks like today

The content is designed for minority‑owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners looking to position themselves for growth in emerging clean energy markets.

ICE to EV: BCF Value Proposition (LIVE & Virtual)

Every year, under-invested small businesses win contracts they cannot fulfill — not because they lack the capability, but because they lack the capital. This session explains why traditional lenders say no, what predatory alternatives actually cost, and what a mission-driven CDFI like Business Consortium Fund offers instead. Sahra Halpern, President and CEO of BCF, walks through what lenders evaluate, how BCF's supply chain financing products work, and how the Capital Readiness Program prepares businesses that are not quite loan-ready. Real client outcomes ground the conversation in what is actually possible. Attendees leave with a clear path to capital and a lender ready to talk.

Turning Factory Floor Data into Bankable Assets: How AI Verification Infrastructure Unlocks Capital for Manufacturing SMEs (Virtual)

Minority-owned manufacturers in the US-Mexico corridor are winning contracts but struggling to get paid on time. With payment cycles stretching 120 to 180 days and banks unable to verify production collateral, thousands of creditworthy suppliers are locked out of affordable capital. Nishant Dixit, CEO of Alisio and a Detroit-based founder with a prior fintech exit in Mexico, will explain how AI-powered verification infrastructure is changing this by turning unstructured production data into a format that bank credit committees can underwrite. He will walk through how the Digital Compliance Jacket works, why five US banks are independently scoping integration, and what this means for MBE manufacturers looking to move beyond expensive factoring into institutional bank financing.

Building Cross-Border Partnerships: Opportunities from Guanajuato to the U.S. (Virtual)

This session explores how Guanajuato is positioning itself as a leading hub in North America’s nearshoring movement. Secretary Cristina Villaseñor outlines the state’s investment strategy, innovation priorities, and partnership approach under USMCA, offering practical insights for companies evaluating expansion, supply chain shifts, or cross-border collaboration.

Global Initiatives Live Session with Supply Nation (LIVE & Virtual)

From Australia to the World: How Expanding Access Strengthens Economies

In this session, Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell shares how Australia’s national supplier diversity model connects Indigenous‑owned businesses with corporate and government buyers. Attendees will gain perspective on global best practices, emerging opportunities, and strategies that can strengthen inclusive procurement efforts across markets.