MBC Diversity Summit Focuses on "Connecting to Grow"
September 21, 2017
The Minority Business Council of West Alabama's third annual Small Business Diversity Summit, presented by ARD Logistics and Bama at Work, was held September 19 at the Bryant Conference Center and featured the theme, "Connecting to Grow."
The event included an entrepreneur panel discussion with Erica Grant of Charming Kreations; Rodney Pelt, Sr., of Mind Changer, Inc.; Antonio Minifield of YNOT Images; and Robin Bailey of the Legacy Connection. The panelists spoke on a wide range of topics including the importance of having a strong support network when developing your own business, having a business plan, and having a passion for your business.
The agenda also included workshop sessions on DBE, led by Tanja Bell of the Birmingham Airport Authority; Sources of Business Financing, led by Jarvis Morehead of Renasant Bank; Positively Marketing your Personal Brand with Social Media, led by Maria Sanders Ford of the University of Alabama Student Health Center and Pharmacy; Communicating Across Generations in the Workplace, led by Heather MacLeod of the DCH Employee Assistance Program; and Funding for Contractors, led by Norman Davis of Trufund Financial.
The lunch program included remarks by Dr. G. Christine Taylor, the Director of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the University of Alabama, and featured a keynote address by Dr. Yvette Rice of LLVE, LLC.
Rice is the owner and president of LLVE, LLC, and uses her visionary leadership ability, training expertise, and motivational/inspirational speaking skills to help others realize their true capabilities and maximize their potential. Serving as a leader in the Marketplace, Rice has over thirty (30) years combined experience as an Engineer, Project Leader/Manager and Trainer for the Department of Defense (civilian), the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a government contractor, and multiple Non-Profit Organizations. She has trained both nationally and internationally. Rice presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce in Decatur, Alabama. She is also a certified Trainer, Coach, and Speaker through the John Maxwell Online University Certification Program. Rice is the published author of inspirational life development book, Mountain Moving Made Easy.
Gold Sponsors for the event were Bryant Bank, TekLinks and Stillman College.