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Adapting to Thrive: Economic Trends and Small Business Capital Access
Hibiscus Room | 3:30-5:00 p.m.

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

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.

Assessing Engagement, Wellness, and Performance Confidence on Teams: Applying EAS, WAT, and PAF Assessments
Hibiscus Room |10:00-11:15 a.m.

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

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.

Cultivate Small Business Graduation
Orchid Room | 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Presenters: Dr. Candida Brush, Franklin W. Olin Distinguished Professor in Entrepreneurship, Babson College, and Christina DeLay, Head of Small Business & Corporate Social Responsibility, Santander

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.

Developing Talent for the Future of Work
Jasmine Room | 10:00-11:15 a.m.

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

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.

Fireside Chat
Regency Ballroom | 8:15-9:00 a.m.

Christina DeLay, Head of Small Business & Corporate Social Responsibility, Santander; Haydee Gomez, Founder-CEO, BOSCO Frozen Desserts; and Darlene Jones, Chef and Owner of Star Fusion Brand.

Following her keynote address Christina DeLay, Head of Small Business & Corporate Social Responsibility, Santander, will be joined for a fireside chat by graduates of Santander’s Cultivate Small Business program.

Meet and Greet
Promenade Upper | 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Alberto Perlman, CEO and Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness, LLC

Join Alberto Perlman for a meet and greet session following his keynote speech.

Meet and Greet & Book Signing
Promenade Upper | 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Ingrid Hoffmann, TV Personality, Author, and Host of Simply Delicioso

Join Ingrid Hoffmann for a meet and greet session following her keynote speech, where you will have the opportunity to get a signed copy of her latest book, Simply Delicioso: A Collect of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist.

Merchant Services and Electronic Payments: Tools for Small Business Success and Cybersecurity: Safe and Reliable Best Practices to Keep Your Business – and Customers – Protected
Orchid Room | 11:30-1:00 p.m.

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

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

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.

Prepare Your Business to Engage with Buyers: Supplier Diversity Tools and Best Practices
Orchid Room | 10:00-11:15 a.m.

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

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.

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

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

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.