2022 AABA Will County Black Business & Entrepreneurship Conference

AABA Presents the 2022 Will County Black Business and Entrepreneurship Conference

 

Theme: “The Art of Entrepreneurship”

 

November 11, 2022

 

Networking Night:

Bring your Business Cards and your best elevator pitch

Heavy Hors d’oeuvres

 

 

The Art of Entrepreneurship Panel:

“Advancing Business Capacity for Economic and Social Change”

 

Panelist:

 

Matthew Simpson, African American Business Development Manager, IL. DCEO

Ronald Milsap, Director, Industry Vertical Team, BMO Harris Bank

Melissa Duff-Brown, Director of Strategy, Joseph Business Services

Donnie F. Chestnutt, Mission Advancement Director, Greater Joliet YMCA

 

 

 

Moderator:

Natalie Coleman

CEO, After The Peanut

 

 

Sat. November 12, 2022

 

Continental Breakfast

Breakout Sessions

Full Lunch

 

Luncheon Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Boyce Watkins

Scholar, Author, Producer, Writer

 

Luncheon Session entitled:

 

“Building Sustainability through Collaboration within Our Underrepresented Business Community”

 

 

(5) Breakout Sessions Include:

Setting Your Business Up for Success: Structure, Organization and Certification

Facilitators:

Desiree M. Otkins, CEO of Dynamix Consulting LLC

Stephanie Bonner, Owner of SEE Consulting

 

 

ABC’s of Procurement and Grant funding Opportunities

Facilitator:

Matthew J. Simpson

African American Business Development Manager

Office of Minority Economic Empowerment

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

 

 

 

Finances: Building and Balancing Business Cash Flows

 

Facilitator:

Ronald Milsap

Director, Industry Vertical Team

BMO Harris Bank

 

 

Information Technology: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Communication Post Pandemic

 

Facilitator:

James R. Farrell, MS

Chief Information Officer

Village of Bolingbrook

 

 

 

 

Marketing and Sales: Building a Profitable Brand and Sales Cultural

 

Facilitator:

Melissa Duff-Brown

Director of Strategy

Joseph Business Services

 

 

 

For questions, please call AABA at 779-707-0778 or you can also email us at aabaemail@gmail.com. You can also visit our website at aabaconnect.org

 

 

 

Breakout Sessions Details

 

Setting Your Business Up for Success: Structure, Organization and Certification

Facilitators:

Desiree M. Otkins, CEO of Dynamix Consulting LLC

Stephanie Bonner, Owner of SEE Consulting

 

Session Description:

In this session, participants will learn how to ensure that their business is setup for success. They will learn the various types of business structures and how to apply it to your business. Learn about the certification process and how businesses can expand their businesses through the certification process and all it entails. Further, learn successful best practices that you need to have in place in order to be in the best position of business success.

 

 

ABC’s of Procurement and Grant funding Opportunities

Facilitator:

Matthew J. Simpson

Matthew Simpson, African American Business Development Manager, IL. DCEO

 

Session Description:

In this session, participants will learn the importance of achieving and positioning for procurement opportunities. They will also learn about the process and best practices when looking for procurement opportunities. Participants will learn how to seek for grants and what are best practices that will help businesses win. Lastly, Participants will learn about current grant opportunities available to apply for now.

 

 

Finances: Building and Balancing Business Cash Flows

 

Facilitator:

Ronald Milsap

Director, Industry Vertical Team

BMO Harris Bank

 

Session Description:

In this session, participants will learn the basics of financial statements and why financial statements are so important. Along with how to gauge the financial health of their business and how to make smart financial decisions. Participants will learn how to effectively monitor and compare financial results to other industry peers.

 

 

Information Technology: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Communication Post Pandemic

 

Facilitator:

James R. Farrell, MS

Chief Information Officer

Village of Bolingbrook

 

Session Description:

In this session, participants will learn the importance of Information Technology. Participants will learn the importance of having a robust and cost effective I.T. infrastructure that will set you apart from your competitors. Participants will learn best practices for building meaningful communication strategies for internal and external use. They will also learn how to leverage innovation in technology to build a sustainable post pandemic company. Lastly, participants will learn about various systems that are needed to be in place in order to compliment a strong I.T. infrastructure.

 

Marketing and Sales: Building a Profitable Brand and Sales Cultural

 

Facilitator:

 

Melissa Duff-Brown

Director of Strategy

Joseph Business Services

 

Session Description:

In this session, participants will learn the basics of branding and how to identify which products and customers promise to be the most profitable. Participants will also learn which markets have the greatest potential for growth and how to best understand competition. They will also touch upon effective ways to reach customers and improve sales while improving the sales culture.