FEATURED SPEAKERS
industry leaders
Connect with industry giants and innovative trailblazers, be inspired by colleagues, and gain insights from those changing the business community as we know it. This event is a one-stop shop to build those all-important relationships and gather information on the latest programs and incentives.
LEADERS ROUNDTABLES/FIRESIDE CHAT/WORKSHOPS
LEADERS ROUNDTABLE: RETHINKING AND FINDING FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR YOUR BUSINESS
MODERATOR
Laforce Baker
Vice President of Community Impact
World Business Chicago
Brad McConnell
CEO
Allies for Community Business
Pamela Randle
V.P. Sr. Business Consultant, Minority Entrepreneur
JP Morgan Chase
Susana Meza
HACIA Board Member and Vice President Wintrust Financials
Robert Esquivel
Supervisory Lender Relations Specialist
U.S. Small Business Administration
LEADERS ROUNDTABLE: DEVELOPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THAT WILL TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES
MODERATOR
Lisa Freelon
Deputy Procurement Officer Intergovernmental Affairs
Department of Procurement Services, City of Chicago
Willette Benford
Director of Re-Entry
Chicago Office of the Mayor
Bob Gallo
Chief Operating Officer
Power Construction
Jayne Vellinga
Executive Director
Chicago Women In Trade
Manny Rodriguez
Founder & Executive Director
Revolution Workshop
LEADERS ROUNDTABLE: BUILDING INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - DIVERSITY IN CONSTRUCTION
MODERATOR
Karen Freeman-Wilson
President
Chicago Urban League
Jorge L. Escarpita
Founder & President
Escarpita Construction
Jimmy Akintonde
President & CEO
UJAMMAA
Stephanie Hickman
President & CEO
Trice Construction Company
LEADERS FIRESIDE CHAT: REVITALIZING A RESILIENT CITY WITH WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
MODERATOR
Guadalupe Vasquez
Co-Founder,CEO
US Council of Hispanics in Construction
Brenda Garza Karhoff
President & Principal Founder
Garza Karhoff Engineering LLC
Mae C. Whiteside
CEO
CKL Engineers
Ann McNeill
Founder
National Association of Black Women In Construction
Jaemie Neely
Executive Director
Federation of Women Contractors
Sandi Llano
President
Sandi Llano & Associates
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO THE JOB ORDER CONTRACT (JOC) PROGRAM
Michael Judd
Senior Account Manager
Mid Lakes Region
Gordian
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO INCENTIVES AND PROGRAM
Courtney DelGiudice
Attorney
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS
WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES: PROCUREMENT AND CERTIFICATION
MODERATOR
Cordell McGary
Sr. Certification Officer
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
Raffi Sarrafian
Chief Procurement Officer
Cook County Department of Procurement Services
Bruce Montgomery
Commissioner Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion
State of Illinois, Business Enterprise Program
To request an accommodation, please contact DPS Public Affairs at dps.accommodations@cityofchicago.org.
