MBEs & Diverse Suppliers
Take the Stage
Pitch Competition
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
   ⭐   
10‍:‍00 a‍.m. to 12‍:0‍5 p.m. PT
via

About

Please join WRMSDC for our first event of 2022, MBEs and Diverse Suppliers Take the Stage Virtual Pitch Competition!

⭐ At our virtual pitch competition, we will be supporting and celebrating the top pitch finalists showcasing their products and services to a panel of corporate judges. Please join us and support fellow MBEs and diverse suppliers. The winners of our virtual pitch competition will be announced LIVE at the event.

DATE & TIME

Wednesday, March 9, 2022
10:00 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. PT

LOCATION

via

SUGGESTED ATTIRE

It's up to you! The audience will not be on camera, but please take selfies and post them, tag #WRMSDC.

Registration

Certified MBEs & Diverse Suppliers: Use promo code MBE2022 to attend for free

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Agenda

All times listed are in Pacific Daylight Time and activities may change

10:00am It's Showtime! Event Begins

Cecil Plummer
WRMSDC President & CEO
10:10am LET THE PITCHES BEGIN
11:00am SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
11:55am PITCHES END
12:00pm ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
12:00pm WINNERS CELEBRATION
12:05pm EVENT ENDS

Pitchers

🏆 Hall of Fame 🏆
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Rosaline Gulati
CEO
Industry: IT, Software, Dev, Tech, Cybersecurity
Company Profile: ActivePrime is a SaaS company focused on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data quality for enterprise customers. The company works across three major CRM platforms and has deep roots in building automated, intelligent data processing solutions for CRM customers with revenues greater than $100 million/yr.
🏆 2nd Place! 🏆
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Luis Miguel
CEO
Industry: Consulting Services, Professional Services, Other
Company Profile: When Luis Miguel founded Avantpage in 1996, he saw a need for a language firm dedicated to making the benefits of living in the U.S. accessible to people with limited English proficiency. This belief continues to drive us today. Avantpage is a linguistic bridge that connects people, cultures, and communities through understanding. We provide exceptional translation and interpretation support to healthcare, government, elections, education, and other sectors critical to the wellbeing of non-English-speaking populations.
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Rhea Moore
Founder & Chairman
Industry: IT, Software, Dev, Tech, Cybersecurity
Company Profile: FortressSecure developed Cipher7™, a unique storage security solution with the utmost simplicity protecting stored data wherever it resides. Cipher7 delivers the following benefits for securing stored data, A single simplified high-security solution for securing data in the cloud, regardless of platform, and on-premise storage. Simple to use and simple to administer. • Elimination of the complexity and cost of managing encryption keys. Lower capital costs and operational costs, freeing up security specialists and budget.
🏆 Honorable Mention 🏆
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Michael Kuo
VP Sales and Marketing
Industry: Manufacturing Suppliers
Company Profile: At Magtech Industries we are a leading manufacturer in switch-mode power supplies design and manufacturing for over 30 years. The products ranged from LED driver, Surge Protector, Emergency LED drivers, Emergency Exit Signs and lights to wireless control devices and control systems.
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Syed Karim
President
Industry: Marketing & Promo, Professional Services
Company Profile: QPC provides Printing, Mailing, Engraving and Embroidery Services from under one roof, so that you don't have to run around to different vendors for your Marketing & Promo needs. We do the traditional Offset and Digital Printing; Large Format Printing; Promotional Products Printing. We also do Screen Printing, Direct to Garment Printing and Dye-Sublimation Printing. We do Awards & Trophies as well as Industrial Engraving.
🏆 3rd Place! 🏆
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Stanley Li
CEO
Industry: IT, Software, Dev, Tech, Cybersecurity
Company Profile: Netswitch developed a cyber risk mitigation system, CyberRisk Governance System, to address cyber risk and GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance) issues for SMB (Small Mid-size business) to accelerate autonomous cybersecurity and satisfy ever-changing GRC requirements, like a GPS system with Turn-by-Turn Direction guidance to build cyber resilience with cost- efficiency and justification.
Mike Sorce
Senior Sales Representative
Industry: Manufacturing Suppliers
Company Profile: TRINTERNATIONAL, INC. is a full-line chemical distributor. We provide creative sourcing solutions as a world-class distributor of raw materials. Our team brings quality product alternatives, extensive product knowledge, and industry experience with attention to personal customer service. We take time to recognize your needs, understand your business, and solve your sourcing challenges. As a small business with SBA WOSB, WBENC, & NGLCC certifications, TRI is committed to Excellence for our State, Federal, and Commercial clients.
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Deepak Choudhary
President and Founder
Industry: Consulting Services, IT, Software, Dev, Tech, Cybersecurity, Professional Services, Staffing
Company Profile: As a leading consultancy working to serve hi-tech clients around the world, we have leveraged over 25 years of experience to create the right tools, campaigns, and services to help our clients attract and retain the candidates they desire. Today, we’re one of the top choices for developing custom hiring plans that help you find, hire, and retain the right people to help your organization thrive.
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Damon Hobbs
President and Founder
Industry: Construction & Utilities, Clean Energy, Electric Vehicles & Charging
Company Profile: KD Electric is a Minority Owned Business located in Northern Nevada. We provide the best electrical services, electrical wiring, panels and breakers, lighting, low voltage, data cabling, security cameras, automation and control systems, renewable energy, solar panels, home and office batteries, generators, snow melt systems, emergency backup systems, fiber splicing, new construction, and remodels.
🏆 1st Place! 🏆
⭐ Certified WRMSDC MBE
Christine Maddela
Managing Partner
Industry: Marketing & Promo, Professional Services, Other
Company Profile: We create your highlight reel! Storyville RD, LLC is a full-service video production company that produces, directs, shoots and edits video content including but not limited to: commercials and marketing, internal communications and training, social media, website, news and documentaries. Storyville RD, LLC also provides media coaching to help individuals or groups prepare for and improve interview, presentation and public speaking skills.
Tiffany Ward
CEO, Certified DISC Practitioner & Facilitator
Industry: Professional Services, Consulting Services
Company Profile: WE are fully-certified Coaching Professionals since 2018, helping clients throughout the Las Vegas Valley achieve their overall business goals. The essence of our work is to facilitate self-growth by helping you identify the businesses core challenges so that you can overcome them with confidence. Understanding behaviors and creating team synergy is our core mission. We specialize in creating personalized plans and providing tools to guide you forward and achieve your desired goals.

Judges

Kimberly Chastang-Lee
Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing
Kimberly Chastang-Lee is a Sourcing/Procurement leader with 20+ years of experience. Currently, she leads a team who supports Corporate and Professional Services for Salesforce, managing a large and complex portfolio of spend. A Sourcing warrior by day, Kim enjoys free time with her family and traveling as much as possible to places with sandy beaches and clear waters (yes, the pandemic has slowed this down).
Ron Holmes
Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity Team
Ron Holmes is a Sr. Manager on Apple’s Supplier Diversity team and brings more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry to the role. He has been with Apple since 2005 and during this time has lead efforts in Materials Management, Strategic Supplier Deals, and most recently in Corporate Procurement (Indirect).
LaSandra Hunt
Vice President, Middle Market Banking
LaSandra Hunt is a Commercial Banker and a 12-year veteran with the firm. She brings the most relevant experts in the firm together to help her customers achieve the highest success. LaSandra has a passion for technology and innovation, which is part of her motivation for leveraging the firm's annual $11B investment in technology to help customers drive operational efficiency. She leverages the treasury payments experts to help examine workflow processes, introduce innovations in payments and advocate for integrated systems helping reduce cost and improve cash-flow. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, LaSandra earned her bachelor’s degree from Golden Gate University. LaSandra enjoys traveling and learning new languages like Tagalog and Croatian.
Lisa Roben
Supplier Diversity Program Manager
Lisa Roben leads Comcast California’s Supplier Diversity Program, which is designed to promote, increase and improve participation of diverse businesses within the procurement process. Lisa and the Comcast California Region team work with incumbent diverse suppliers and provide outreach/technical assistance to prospective diverse suppliers to include Comcast California’s collaboration with business inclusion of women, minority, service-disabled veteran and LGBTQ enterprise.
Lou Rosas
Director of Supplier Inclusion
Lou Rosas is the Director of Supplier Inclusion at Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm. He is responsible for the management of the company’s U.S. supplier inclusion initiative to include diverse suppliers in all aspects of the supply chain and to support diverse business organizations in their business development efforts. Prior to working for Robert Half, he worked for AT&T in a variety of roles and also served in the United States Air Force for 8 years attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Lou holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from California State University Northridge and became involved in local politics serving on the Concord City Council and later as Mayor Rosas serving as the first Latino Mayor in Concord’s history.

Supporters

WANT TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES?
CLICK HERE

WRMSDC was founded 44 years ago to support the growth and welfare of minority communities by championing the use of minority-owned businesses in Northern California, Nevada, and Hawai‘i. Our virtual pitch competition will showcase the top pitch finalists who are fellow MBEs and other diverse suppliers.

WRMSDC deeply appreciates the following companies for their support. Their contributions ensure our ability to advocate for and impact communities of color. Remember these brands when you choose companies to do business with!

EVENT SPONSORS

MAKE A DIFFERENCE SPONSORS

Due to the generosity of our Make a Difference Sponsors, this event is FREE for MBEs and diverse businesses.

PREMIER MEMBERS

MBE Platinum Partners

Contact

WRMSDC supports the growth and welfare of minority communities by championing the use of minority-owned businesses in Northern California, Nevada, and Hawai‘i. Our parent organization, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, helps over 12,000 minority businesses connect with major Fortune 500 corporations and their buyers every year. Please visit us online at www.wrmsdc.org.

WRMSDC Headquarters
80 Swan Way
Oakland, CA 94621

Please contact cgarcia@wrmsdc.org for questions about the event.

Contact Us

(510) 686-2555