Annual Conference Agenda

The Annual Conference features energizing wellness sessions; a Homecoming Welcome Reception; keynote addresses from Christina DeLay, Head of Small Business and CSR for Santander; Alberto Perlman, CEO and co-founder, Zumba Fitness, LLC; Ingrid Hoffmann, Author and Host of Top Chef Estrellas; alumni keynote speeches from TJ Douglas, the founder and CEO of Drink Progressively Group, and the founder of The Urban Grape; Brittany Raji Alberty, Founder, The Marketing Midwife (Winner, Alumni Speaker Contest); and Amber Lawson, Principal, Aspire Construction & Design (Winner, Alumni Speaker Contest); a Business Growth Marketplace; informative breakout sessions; the Inner City 100 Awards Ceremony; and more! Explore the full agenda below.

View the Program Book: English

Monday, December 11

1:00 p.m. | Leadership Luncheon

Hyatt Regency Miami

In recognition of their dedication to strengthening our alumni community and driving ICIC’s mission, vision, and values, leaders from the ICIC community, including ICAN Steering Committee Members, will be honored by the Board of Directors at an exclusive Leadership Luncheon. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with ICIC’s top leadership and other distinguished individuals from across the country who have demonstrated a similar level of commitment and impact.

1:30-4:30 p.m. | Chair Massage delivered by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alum, Healing Hands

Hyatt Regency Miami
Japengo Room

Experience the ultimate relaxation as Healing Hands’ skilled massage therapists provide chair massages designed to relieve tension, reduce stress, and enhance your physical and mental health. Seated comfortably in specially designed massage chairs, you’ll enjoy an 8-minute session that targets key areas of muscle tension, promoting circulation and relaxation.

2:30-3:30 p.m. | Zumba Sessions led by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alum, Healing Hands

Hyatt Regency Miami
Japengo Room

Get ready to move, groove, and break a sweat at Zumba, a dynamic and fun-filled dance fitness program that combines Latin and international music with easy-to-follow dance moves. Zumba instructor, Claudia Scala from Healing Hands, will lead you through 15-minute increments of a high-energy and fun workout that will leave you smiling and feeling more energized than ever. Whether you’re a Zumba pro or a beginner, you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time.

This session is perfect for individuals of all fitness levels and is an excellent opportunity to prioritize self-care and wellness. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, a physical workout, or a combination of both, this session has you covered.

ATTEND THE SESSION

4:00-5:30 p.m. | Scaling Businesses through Supplier Diversity Initiatives
An exclusive Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) alumni gathering hosted by the Miami 10KSB team

Building 8 Miami Dade College
315 Northeast 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alums are invited to connect with your peers from all over the country. Dorie Smith, Deputy Director of 10,000 Small Businesses, will facilitate a distinguished panel of 10KSB alumni as they reveal invaluable insights on scaling businesses through supplier diversity initiatives and how they have navigated the challenges of meeting client demands while mitigating risks through diversified procurement strategies.

REGISTER

6:00-8:00 p.m. | Homecoming Welcome Reception

Cerveceria La Tropical
42 NE 25th St., Wynwood, Miami, FL 33137

Join us as we kick off the conference, reuniting with peers and partners from across North America at Cerveceria La Tropical. William Porro, Assistant Director for the Office of Innovation & Economic Development for Mayor Daniella Levine Cave, will share welcome remarks. Live music from MannySwagg and salsa from the Karibe Dance Group will provide entertainment while you network and enjoy delicious treats and drinks.

Tuesday, December 12

Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will take place in the Hyatt Regency Miami’s Main Ballroom. Santander, the conference’s presenting sponsor, will host all sessions in the Orchid Room.

7:00-8:00 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast

LOBBY & PROMENADE LOWER

Registration can be found in the lobby. Breakfast will be served in the Promenade Lower.

8:00-8:15 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by ICIC CEO Steve Grossman
8:15-9:00 a.m. | Keynote Address: Christina DeLay, Head of Small Business & Corporate Social Responsibility, Santander

Following Christina’s keynote address, she will be joined for a fireside chat by graduates of Santander’s Cultivate Small Business program,  Haydee Gomez, Founder-CEO of BOSCO Frozen Desserts, and Darlene Jones, Chef and Owner of Star Fusion Brand.

9:00-9:15 a.m. | Michael Porter Tribute
9:15-9:45 a.m. | Keynote Address: Alberto Perlman, Co-Founder and CEO of Zumba Fitness
9:45-10:00 a.m. | Break
10:00-11:15 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
Developing Talent for the Future of Work

Lynda M. Applegate, Professor Harvard Business School, and Flavio Litterio, COO, Kovi

JASMINE ROOM

In exploring the challenges faced by global business leaders, talent acquisition emerges as a key limiting factor for strategy execution in high-growth businesses. This interactive session features discussions with Kovi’s COO, delving into the company’s mission in revolutionizing urban mobility and making car ownership accessible, focusing on themes like talent pipeline development for future work and the evolving impact of technology on work and organizational structures from the industrial era to today’s partnership ecosystems.

Assessing Engagement, Wellness, and Performance Confidence on Teams: Applying EAS, WAT, and PAF Assessments

Professor Dobbin Bookman, Principal, TBG Advisory & Director, Harvard Business School, ExEd (ret.)

HIBISCUS ROOM

This session equips attendees with the skills to evaluate engagement, wellness, and performance capacity within their teams using three essential tools. Participants will learn to assess these dimensions as leaders, gather input from team members, and use rubrics to interpret data for enhancing team dynamics and performance.

Prepare Your Business to Engage with Buyers: Supplier Diversity Tools and Best Practices

Moderator: Abby De Molina, ESG Director & Head of Supplier Diversity, Santander

Panel: Pilar Guzman Zavala, CEO, Half Moon Empanadas; and Brian Van Hook, Executive Director, SBDC at Florida International University

ORCHID ROOM

Santander welcomes voices spanning entrepreneurship, procurement and advocacy for a discussion detailing best practices, resources and tools available to ensure your business is maximizing the opportunities afforded through a strong Supplier Diversity initiative.

Meet and Greet with Alberto Perlman (10:00-11:00 a.m.)

PROMENADE UPPER

11:15-11:30 a.m. | Break
11:30-1:00 p.m. | Kinder, Gentler Shark Tank & Panel Sessions
Kinder, Gentler “Shark Tank”-Style Pitch Competition

Gentle Sharks: Don Bravo, Senior Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Anita Graham, Managing Director, Arctaris Impact Investors; Rana Diedrick, Vice President SBA Loan Specialist, Regions Bank; and Steve Hall, Vice President, Small Business Lending, LISC; Kevin Prokop, Managing Partner, Rockbridge Growth Equity (Moderator)

Pitchers: Alfonso D’Niscio Brooks is a Speaker, Activist, Social Entrepreneur, African Diaspora Cultural Advisor, Philanthropist, and the Founder of AfriKin; Lara Goldmark, Founder & CEO, Just Results; and Victoria Brunner, Co-Founder & CEO, FattE-Bikes/EQLX

MAIN BALLROOM

Watch as three Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program participants pitch their way to glory in front of a diverse panel of capital providers, “Shark Tank” style. These expert practitioners will offer prompt feedback on how to make strategic moves to secure future capital.

Panel sessions | Merchant Services and Electronic Payments: Tools for Small Business Success and Cybersecurity: Safe and Reliable Best Practices to Keep Your Business – and Customers – Protected

Moderators: Andy Rosenberg, Vice President, Sr. Relationship Executive, Fiserv and Rebecca Smith, Head of US Cyber Governance, Risk & Compliance, Santander

Panel: Robert Korpak, Vice President, Director of Merchant Services, Santander; Stacey Krasnow, Regional Sales Director, Fiserv; and Andre Salgado, Chief Information Security Officer, Santander

ORCHID ROOM

Two separate panels address the critical nature that cybersecurity and electronic payments play in small business operations in today’s economy. Conversations will span the realities all small business owners should consider – and how each of these elements are related.

1:00-1:15 p.m. | Presentation of Chevron Dorothy A. Terrell Impact Award
1:15-3:00 p.m. | Lunch & Keynote
1:45-2:30 p.m. | ICIC Alumni Keynote Addresses

TJ Douglas, Founder and CEO, Drink Progressively Group
Brittany Raji Alberty, Founder, The Marketing Midwife (Winner, Alumni Speaker Contest)

Amber Lawson, Principal, Aspire Construction & Design (Winner, Alumni Speaker Contest)

 

2:30-3:00  p.m. | Keynote Address: Ingrid Hoffmann, TV Personality, Author, and Host of Simply Delicioso
1:15-5:00 p.m. | Business Growth Marketplace

OUTSIDE THE MAIN BALLROOM

3:00-3:15 p.m. | Presentation of FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship Award
3:15-3:30 p.m. | Break
3:15-4:15 p.m. | Meet and Greet & Book Signing with Ingrid Hoffmann

PROMENADE UPPER

3:30-5:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
The Art of the Pivot: Adapting to the Brave New World of Supplier Diversity

Moderator: Beatrice Louissaint, President & CEO, Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council

Panel: Donna Ennis, Director, Community Engagement and Program Development, Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute; David Feldman, P/SCM Advisor, Supplier Diversity, Chevron; Susana Robledo, Founder & CEO, CUBE Care; and Paul E. Taylor, Director, Development and Small Business Resource Center, Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development

JASMINE ROOM

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on college admissions and corporate diversity policies has broad implications, including for small businesses, as substantial investments in infrastructure and diverse suppliers are being made to stimulate economic growth. To thrive in this evolving landscape, business owners must be flexible, resilient, and open-minded, and this panel discussion offers insights and strategies to prepare for the changes ahead.

Adapting to Thrive: Economic Trends and Small Business Capital Access

Moderator: Howard Wial, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, ICIC

Presenter: Devon Yee, Senior Research Associate, ICIC

Responding Panel: Jason Brown, Founder and Managing Partner, PGP Advisory; Steve Hall, Vice President, Small Business Lending; Heidi Joseph, Senior Vice President, Small Business Region Executive, Bank of America; Sharon Maxwell, CEO, Bratton Construction, LLC; Brian Pifer, Vice President, Research and Insights, Small Business Majority

HIBISCUS ROOM

Explore the impact of economic trends on small businesses, with a focus on small businesses’ access to capital. Join us for an insightful session that includes an overview of current economic conditions and a dynamic discussion featuring perspectives from both seasoned business owners and experts in small business technical assistance, advocacy, and banking.

Santander’s Cultivate Small Business Graduation

ORCHID ROOM

Come and toast the graduates of the Fall 2023 cohort of Cultivate Small Business as Santander celebrates the culmination of the program with remarks from the Babson instructors, Santander leaders, and the live announcement of $300,000 in capital grant awards to the participating class.

5:00-5:30 p.m. | Break
5:30-7:30 p.m. | Closing Reception and Inner City 100 Awards Ceremony


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