09 Charlotte Chamber Diversity/Inclusion Agenda
January 16, Business Opportunity Meeting featuring Belk, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Duke Energy, Food Lion, Lowes Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council in partnership with Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Councils 1Q Purpose: The Business Opportunity Meetings are half-day sessions with the first portion of the session focused on larger businesses providing awareness building on engaging their organizations, followed by Q&A. The second portion provides direct opportunity for participants (for prospective vending opportunities) to directly interact with purchasing agents from the various large corporate entities. January 19, Latin American Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Address Guest Speaker: Tim Belk, Chairman Charlotte Chamber External Communications Mecklenburg Times Diversity Inc. PRIDE Communications Diversity Resource Guide February 23, Relationships Equal Access to Opportunity in partnership with the Shipman Group Purpose: Targeted to minority and women owned businesses with focus on building business relationships to grow business opportunities February 25, State of Black Business: Economic Recovery Summit In partnership with Black Pages USA, Charlotte Chamber Black Professionals Network and the City of Charlotte Guest Panelists: Alban Burney, Economic Development, City of Charlotte Dr. Wesley Carter, Editor-in-Chief Working Charlotte Harold Cogdell, Vice Chair, Mecklenburg County Commission Tanya Dial-Bethune, VP/City Executive, Mechanics and Farmers Bank Anika Khan, Economist, Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company Howard McDonald, CPA more >>
February 26, HITEC 100 Hispanic IT Executive Council National association identifying the most influential Hispanics in the IT sector across the country hosted their winter session in Charlotte. Charlotte Chamber and guests invited to attend. 1Q March 5, Third Annual Recruiting Roundtable Local Chapters of National Association for African American Human Resources (NAAAHR), Black MBA s, Black Data Processors Association (BDPA) and National Association for Black Accountants Guest Panelist: Bob Morgan, President, Charlotte Chamber March 21, Charlotte Business Guild First Annual Business Expo Lesbian and Gay Community Center Charlotte Chamber booth display March 23, Host session with 14 representatives and interpreters from 11 different countries in Africa Sponsored by the Dept.of States International Visitor Leadership Program Understanding the role of the Charlotte Chamber in the role of diversity and the impact on transparency in governance
April 22, Business Opportunity Meeting Day at the Races Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council in partnership with Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Council 2Q Purpose: The Business Opportunity Meetings are half-day sessions with the first portion of the session focused on larger businesses providing awareness building on engaging their organizations, followed by Q&A. The second portion provides direct opportunity for participants (for prospective vending opportunities) to directly interact with purchasing agents from the various large corporate entities. May 16, Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce Dragon Boat Festival Charlotte Chamber Diversity Advisory Cabinet sponsors May 21, University City Chapter Luncheon It s Not Just Black and White: How Diversity Can Help Your Bottom Line Guest Panelists: Nicole Dean, Belk Ted Harrington, Harris Teeter June 16, Getting Prepared for Stimulus Session 1 in partnership with Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council, East Chapter and Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Council Access to Stimulus Session 2 in partnership with Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council, East Chapter and Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Council
3Q July 15, Jazz on the Roof Hosted by Charlotte Chamber s Black Professionals Network in partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce. Held at the EpiCentre. Special Guest: Warren Ballentine, national radio talk show host and commentator Event sponsor: August 1, 25th Bon Odori Festival in partnership with the Japanese Association & the Japanese Language School Special Guest: Charlotte Chamber August 4, Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands Sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Hosted by the Charlotte Chamber Black Professional Network (BPN) in partnership with Latin American Chamber of Commerce (LACC), Carolinas Asian America Chamber of Commerce (CAACC), French American Chamber of Commerce (FACC), German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) Participants learned how to interact with international clients and understand cultural differences Guest Presenter: Terri Morrison, co-author Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to do Business in Sixty Countries CHARLOTTE CHAMBER Black Professionals Network more >>
3Q August 10-12, Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC) 32nd Business Opportunity Conference The conference brings together major corporations and minority businesses in one place for two and a half days of workshops, seminars and networking events. Charlotte Chamber hosted Survive and Thrive! corner August 11, SouthPark Chapter Breakfast Incorporating Diversity SouthPark leaders talk about how they incorporate diversity in the business practice to positively impact their bottom lines. Guest Panelists: Robin Crause, Prudential Financial Services Nicole Dean, Belk Tim Flannagan, Hinrichs Flannagan Kevin Henry, Coca Cola Bottling Company Steve Larson, Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company Moderator September 18, Carolinas Healthcare System Third Annual Procurement Conference Opportunity for Charlotte Chamber MWBE members to build business relationships with Carolinas Healthcare System procurement staff
September 29, CIAA Kick off Luncheon Charlotte Chamber hosts CIAA Local Organizing Committee 4Q October 1, Ballantyne Chapter Luncheon Doing Business with Big Business in partnership with the Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council Minority and women-owned businesses detailed the inside view of conducting business with large majority owned companies, while large majority owned companies detailed expectations of small companies. Guest Panelists: Michelle Fish, Integra Staffing Emmanuel Choice, Lincoln Harris Bobby Spikes, Covenant Painting Demond Richardson, Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company Nicholas Beamon, Whitehead Associates Moderator October 2, Charlotte Chamber International Economic Development Summit in partnership with Latin American Chamber of Commerce (LACC), Carolinas Asian America Chamber of Commerce (CAACC), French American Chamber of Commerce (FACC), German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) Session Topics: Understanding and expanding opportunities: An overview of Foreign Trade and Investment International Trade Resources Building and Strengthening Charlotte s International Business Community An Insider s View of Foreign Direct Investment Special Guests: Keith Crisco, Secretary, NC Department of Commerce Minister Xie Feng, Dept Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy to the United States more >>
October 20, Come Grow Your Business hosted by the Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council and Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Council 4Q Minority and women owned businesses participated in a open conversation about strategies and tool for success in the new economy. October 21, African American Economic Forecast Breakfast presented by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company October 22, North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development/ NC Minority Enterprise Center Business to Business Forum hosted by Charlotte Chamber Participants had an opportunity to join representative from government agencies, general contractors and other companies to learn about contracting opportunities.
RESULTS Charlotte Chamber Diversity/Inclusion Agenda Member Survey What is your perception of how effective the Charlotte Chamber has been in addressing minority business issues? 2008 = Effective/Very Effective - 26.6% = Effective/Very Effective - 30.2% Business Opportunity Meetings Developed and implemented supplier diversity forums to increase member value for Charlotte Chamber MWBE members by building knowledge of corporate supplier diversity programs and build working relationships Three Forums held in Attendance: 60 plus per event Satisfaction: avg. score 95 Monitoring business relationships resulting from sessions Charlotte Chamber Diversity Advisory Cabinet Developed a communications/plan strategy relative to Charlotte Chamber s work in diversity and inclusion Plan complete, moving forward with implementation Successfully created opportunities for cross-networking between Diversity Advisory Cabinet stakeholder constituencies Ballantyne Chapter East Chapter SouthPark Chapter University City Chapter Charlotte Chamber Black Professional Network/Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber/Jazz on the Roof International chambers Charlotte Chamber Crossroads Initiative Charlotte East Leaders Team/East Chapter established Small Business/Community Focused Role: Convening key stakeholders to identify key economic/community opportunities Key partners identified: - City of Charlotte Economic Development - The Park Ministries - YMCA of Greater Charlotte more >>
RESULTS Charlotte Chamber Diversity/Inclusion Agenda Intra-City Visit Charlotte Diversity Advisory Cabinet guidance in planning intra-city visit to Charlotte: Charlotte East Dine Around Featured Session held at The Park Independence Boulevard Featured Session held at Johnson C. Smith University Beatties Ford Road Featured Session Bruns Elementary School -West Charlotte Charlotte Business Guild/Lesbian and Gay Community Center Open House BusinessFirst Charlotte Recruites volunteers from Charlotte Chamber Diversity Business Council members to conduct interviews Member Engagement Dashboard Tracking diverse participation at the Charlotte Chamber Chapter level Belk Innovation in Diversity Award Presented to Balfour Beatty at the Charlotte Chamber s Annual Meeting
Diversity Partners platinum gold silver bronze ADT Balfour Beatty Batson-Cook BB&T Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Collabera Compucon Fiserv Food Lion Hamilton Pacific Hewlett-Packard K&L Gates Lesco Restoration Lincoln Harris NELSON Otis Elevator Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Perkins + Will Prudential Rodgers BuildersShaw Group Shaw Integrated Solutions SouthPark Mall Limited Partnership SteelFab Inc. Tandus Unicco Service Company Wakenhut 330 S. Tryon Street P.O. Box 32785 Charlotte, NC 28232 www.charlottechamber.com For more information about the Chamber s diversity initiatives, call 704.378.1319.