MICHELLE SOURIE ROBINSON
President & CEO
Topic: “333 Years to Parity”
Michelle Sourie Robinson brings a strong operational career with a focus on business services, retail, procurement and supply chain in addition to strategic planning and diversity, equity and inclusion. She has demonstrated aptitude in creating strategy, processes, systems, and successfully driving those to implementation.
She is currently the President & CEO of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) where she leads a team that facilitates $36 billion annually in economic output and sustains more than 209,500 jobs. She is also the lead operator of the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) for the state of Michigan. Her team has been recognized multiple years as the top center throughout the MBDA national network of more than 40 centers.
In her current role, Michelle created an organizational strategic plan, developed new processes and systems, and increased professional talent. She raised more than $4.95M in funding from new sources to drive cutting-edge programs, including the creation of the organization’s first workforce development program serving major corporations and business owners. In addition, she launched the first professional business consultation unit for emerging majority business leaders. She has improved the organization’s spending from $.56 to $.92 of every $1.00 being devoted to programming, not overhead.
She also grew the organizational balance sheet 34% and created a consulting arm that advises hundreds of business owners about growth strategies and corporate processes, gaining billions of dollars in deal flow.
Michelle is an innovative solutionist as evidenced by the early stages of her career as a Corporate Buyer who led a team of Wal-Mart stores to compete for a Guinness Book of World Records title, to recently creating the first multi-corporation driven mobility incubator in the United States with a leading Silicon Valley firm; the incubator is focused on including at least 40% women and people of color as participants.
Michelle worked for Home Depot and had direct responsibility for over $1,000,000,000 dollars in annual sales, and later led the restructuring of the company’s Learning department serving 315,000 employees. Michelle then created the company’s first supplier diversity department achieving rapid contract growth while also leading the company’s federal government subcontracting plan.
A 2021 Herndon Directors’ Institute fellow, Michelle earned her B.S. in Organizational Administration from Oklahoma State University and a J.D. from the University of Kansas. She has served on several boards, including the National Minority Supplier Development Council Executive Committee in her role as Chair of all Regional Presidents, as well as Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Secretary, and Diversity Information Resources Vice-Chair. She currently serves on the State of Michigan’s Black Leadership Advisory Council appointed by the governor. In addition, Michelle serves on the Detroit Mayor’s Workforce Development Board and is active within her community where she chaired the strategic planning committee for her church. She and her husband Michael reside in Atlanta and Detroit.
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Cecil Plummer
President & CEO
Cecil Plummer is the president and a member of the Board of Directors for the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. Plummer formerly worked with Robert Half for 17 years and left his most recent position as the Director of CSS Strategic Solutions to join the Council. Plummer has over 13 years of executive leadership experience and possesses a solid background in strategic sourcing, change management, performance and process improvement, Supplier Diversity, strategic planning, and risk management.
Tony Gladney
VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Tony Gladney is a global business leader at MGM Resorts International, a fortune 500 company. He has extensive experience driving global strategic DEI, business development, corporate communications, innovative employee and community change programs, as well as talent development. Having over 100 strategic alliances has assisted the company in increasing shareholder value, generated revenue, and continues to contribute to the growth and development of the company’s global footprint.
Beverly Norman-Cooper
President
Reimagining Economic Regeneration Strategies, LLC
Beverly Norman-Cooper is President of Reimagining Economic Regeneration Strategies where she helps companies harness supply chain purchasing to create good jobs, increase community wealth, and accelerate the economic, social, and physical regeneration of under-resourced communities. As the former Executive Director of National Supplier Diversity at Kaiser Permanente, she oversaw increased spend with certified women- and minority-owned companies from approximately $1.3 billion--when she took the role in 2015--to more than $2.3 billion when she retired from the health care company in 2018. Her tenure at Kaiser Permanente spanned more than 18 years in various consulting and staff roles.
⭐ HOST
Cecil Plummer
President & CEO
Cecil Plummer is the president and a member of the Board of Directors for the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. Plummer formerly worked with Robert Half for 17 years and left his most recent position as the Director of CSS Strategic Solutions to join the Council. Plummer has over 13 years of executive leadership experience and possesses a solid background in strategic sourcing, change management, performance and process improvement, Supplier Diversity, strategic planning, and risk management.
⭐ CO-HOST
Michael McQuarry
Vice President of Operations & Corporate Services
In 2016, Michael McQuarry joined WRMSDC as Vice President of Operations & Corporate Services. Over the past 6 years, Michael has provided strategic leadership in the areas of financial administration and operations, in addition to the development and delivery of WRMSDC’s Corporate Member engagement, training and on-boarding initiatives. Michael has over 30 years of experience within Procurement Operations, Supplier Diversity, Commercial Small Business Management, and Retail Management. He previously worked at Hewlett-Packard for 16 years, served on the WRMSDC Board of Directors for 7 years.
⭐ HEADLINE SUPPORTER
Ernie Flores
Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Ernie Flores is the Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Manager for Kaiser Permanente. He joined the Impact Spending team in 2021 after 4 ½ years with sourcing team with KP. Prior to joining Kaiser, Ernie worked in the strategic souring field with several large corporations within the manufacturing, utility, agricultural and corporate real estate industries.
⭐ HEADLINE SUPPORTER
Frederic "Fred" Roots
Sr. Manager, Diversity Equity Inclusion and Supplier Diversity
Experienced DEI Practitioner, Supplier Diversity Professional, People Leader and Business General Manager, spanning Retail, Facilities Management, Health and Fitness, Hospitality and Political Campaigns respectively. I have a passion for people and progress.
Christine Liwai Nyx Garcia
Vice President of Program Development & Minority Business Services
Christine Liwai Nyx Garcia has spent over 14 years impacting minority communities in the nonprofit sector. In their current role as WRMSDC’s Vice President of Program Development & Minority Business Services, Christine leads the Council’s events, communications, program development, and minority business services. She has been instrumental in growing the Council’s events and communications impact. Prior to joining WRMSDC, Christine helped minority students gain funding and support within the field of finance, as well as having worked in a variety of business areas. She holds a master’s degree in English from Mills College in Oakland, California, and comes from a diverse cultural and ethnic background, including Native Hawaiian and Japanese.
Lynn Reddrick
Director, Supplier Diversity
Lynn Reddrick is the Director of Supplier Diversity at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the program in the Twelfth Federal Reserve District. Lynn is an advocate for fair inclusion of diverse businesses in the procurement process. She serves on the board of directors for the WRMSDC, Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Pacific, and the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity. She is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Bay Area Business Roundtable.
⭐ MODERATOR
Donna Ruff
Director Supplier Diversity & Development Corporate Social Responsibility
Donna Ruff serves as VP, Supplier Diversity & Development Manager for MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Office of Supplier Diversity and Development. She is committed to promoting economic vitality in the communities they serve and increasing the number of diverse business enterprises from which they purchase goods and services. Donna thrives to help diverse businesses do business with the bank and brings the necessary expertise to continue building on strong and sustainable supplier diversity initiatives. The commitment to promote economic vitality through supplier diversity is what drives her to continue advocacy for DBE’s through promotion, outreach, and mentorship.
Ronnette Anderson
Supplier Diversity Program Manager
Ronnette Anderson is the Supplier Diversity Program Manager for Cisco where she owns the US Sponsorship Program in which AA/Black owned businesses are afforded access to Cisco mentorship and coaching. She also works closely with leaders and colleagues throughout the company to double the diverse spend percentage with suppliers by 2023 as part of the Cisco’s Social Justice Beliefs and Actions Initiative. Her career in Supplier Diversity started over 15 years ago at a utility company as Program Manager for the Supplier Diversity and Tier 2 Programs. Ronnette and her team grew the program into a best-in-class organization. She then worked at a regional bank as the Manager of the Supplier Diversity Program, growing and developing suppliers in 12 states.
Lou Rosas
Director 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.
Ingrid Merriwether
President and CEO
Ingrid Merriwether, President & CEO of Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services. She serves as Senior Client Executive responsible for overall client satisfaction, including client goals and expectations. She is the primary architect of MWIS Contractor Development and Bonding Programs which have facilitated in excess of $1.055 Billion in bonding for small local contractors
Lynn Reddrick
Director, Supplier Diversity
Lynn Reddrick is the Director of Supplier Diversity at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the program in the Twelfth Federal Reserve District. Lynn is an advocate for fair inclusion of diverse businesses in the procurement process. She serves on the board of directors for the WRMSDC, Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Pacific, and the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity. She is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Bay Area Business Roundtable.
Jason Trimiew
Director, Global Supplier Diversity
For two decades, Jason has worked at the intersection of the marketplace and social impact in international microfinance, community and economic development, and venture philanthropy. In 2016, Jason joined Facebook to launch and lead the company’s supplier diversity program and create more opportunity for diverse-owned firms to do business with Facebook and the people and communities that Facebook connects. Facebook has now spent more than $1.1 billion cumulatively with US companies certified as minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ, or disabled-owned in categories spanning creative services, network infrastructure, facilities management and more.
⭐ MODERATOR
Kenyatta Lewis
Executive Director of Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Procurement
Kenyatta Lewis, MGM Resorts International, is a global business executive of 20 years, whose visionary leadership and strategic execution led to the enterprise adoption of an award-winning supplier diversity program within a Fortune 500 corporate organization. Kenyatta is an engaged, committed leader who has coached numerous minority businesses in obtaining and maintaining multi-million-dollar contracts, growing MGM's diversity procurement spend by 111%.
Jerilyn Gleaves
Senior Manager, Supply Chain Responsibility
Jerilyn Gleaves leads Supply Chain Responsibility for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In her role as Senior Manager, she is responsible for developing strategies to increase spending with women-, minority-, service-disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned companies and promoting a supply chain that is sustainable and ethical. She is charged with building relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, as well as with prime and diverse suppliers to foster business opportunities.
Joan Kerr
Former Director of Supply Chain Responsibility for
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Happily Retired
Joan Kerr is the former Director of Supply Chain Responsibility (Supplier Diversity, Sustainability, and Ethics) for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. She joined the company in 2009, and under her leadership PG&E more than tripled its annual spend with diverse business enterprises, exceeding $2 billion and 40 percent of total procurement spend since 2013. Her service included Board service for the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, National Utilities Diversity Council, National Minority Supplier Development Council, WBENC’s Encore Committee, NGLCC Corporate and Procurement Councils, and WRMSDC just to name a few.
Scott Vowels
Manager of Supplier Diversity
Scott Vowels is part of the Supplier Diversity Team at Apple Inc. and author of the highly successful book “Hacking Supplier Diversity.” He is a recognized thought leader and expert in the field of supplier diversity. His experiences comprises over 20 years in procurement and 10 years in supplier diversity.
⭐ MODERATOR
Scott Vowels
Manager of Supplier Diversity
Scott Vowels is part of the Supplier Diversity Team at Apple Inc. and author of the highly successful book “Hacking Supplier Diversity.” He is a recognized thought leader and expert in the field of supplier diversity. His experiences comprises over 20 years in procurement and 10 years in supplier diversity.
Kristin Malek
Director Business Diversity
Kristin Malek serves as the Director of Business Diversity at CDW. In this role, Malek has firmly established an innovative business diversity strategy that aligns with CDW’s core values. She is responsible for the firm’s total spend with diverse partners that in 2021 alone reached more than $3Billion. Under Kristin’s leadership, CDW was inducted into the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable and was named a Supplier Diversity Excellence Champion by Gartner. Kristin serves as Vice Chair of the Chicago MSDC. She holds seats on WBENC, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA). As a proponent of women in technology, she serves in several organizations advancing this effort. Kristin is a Cornell University graduate, and a native of Illinois. Malek is mother to two young girls and fosters their curiosity, independence and education but most of all grit and a will to succeed. Kristin has received several recognitions including being named one of the Top 15 Women in Power Impacting Diversity by Diversity Professional Magazine.
Stephanie Roper
Manager, Supplier Diversity
Stephanie Roper is the Manager of Supplier Diversity for MGM Resorts International (MGMRI). She is responsible for leading the Company’s efforts to locate and engage with diverse-owned business for opportunities within the MGM Resorts suite of properties throughout the U.S. Her career started with MGM Resorts 17 years ago and she has served in several increasingly responsible roles. Stephanie joined the Supplier Diversity department and hit the ground running; hosting supplier round table meetings for local businesses, managing the Company’s largest Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program class, and implementing a new Diverse Supplier Management System. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She keeps busy by playing soccer and coaching and cheering on her two boys in baseball and football.
Tommy Smith
Manager, Economic Impact, Impact Spending
Tommy Smith leads the economic impact strategy for Kaiser Permanente’s procurement spend. Tommy helps KP leverage its buying power to support economic development as a means of improving community health. Tommy serves as main contact point with business units in developing strategies and programs to promote local impact purchasing and capacity building for businesses in KP’s supply chain and in KP’s communities. Tommy holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is a veteran of the United States Navy's Submarine Service.
“Ask the Expert” Conversation Leaders in our breakout session will answer your questions around Adoption & Change Management, Measuring Beyond Spend, Tier 2 Strategies, Innovative Strategies, & More.
Lorenzo Bell
Global Lead Environmental Social Governance Services
Lorenzo Bell Jr. is the Global Assistant Director for Environmental Social Governance Services at EY, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services. He is responsible for leading and implementing the global growth strategy for EY’s supplier diversity and procurement sustainability initiatives. In this role, he is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of diverse entrepreneurs and procurement sustainability strategy, policies, processes, and solutions.
Amy Clark
Senior Manager
Amy Clark has over 20 years of experience in supply chain in the electric utility and gaming industries. After retiring from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Amy joined NV Energy as a supply chain and procurement manager. Amy is currently a senior manager at Aristocrat focused on supplier diversity, environmental social governance, and compliance. In addition to her supply chain experience, Amy was an adjunct professor at Georgia Northwestern Technical for five years. At GNTC, she taught business law, economics, HR management, leadership and management principles, labor relations, managerial accounting, and employment law. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration. She is a Certified Professional in Supply Management as designated by the Institute for Supply Management, Inc. Amy continues to further her education and will graduate this year with her Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Global Supply Chain Management.
⭐ HEADLINE SUPPORTER
Ernie Flores
Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Ernie Flores is the Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Manager for Kaiser Permanente. He joined the Impact Spending team in 2021 after 4 ½ years with sourcing team with KP. Prior to joining Kaiser, Ernie worked in the strategic souring field with several large corporations within the manufacturing, utility, agricultural and corporate real estate industries.
Bianca Flores-Johnson
Community & Citizenship Director
Native to San Francisco, Bianca is dedicated to the local community. With the social complexities and micro-communities throughout Northern California, Bianca’s tenure in the community enables Turner to advance these challenges and bring rewarding experiences to underrepresented business enterprises - Minority, Women, Disabled, Veteran and LGBTQ. A highly collaborative and innovative communicator, Bianca hopes to spread awareness of opportunities through active storytelling and strategic marketing. With a focus on three strategic pillars – Economic Development, Youth/Workforce Development, and Outreach/Service – she sets out to make the greatest impact to the community where we live and work.
Mary D. Gano, PMP
Sr. Manager, Supply Chain Diversity
Mary Gano, an advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is the Sr. Manager, Supply Chain Diversity at Vistra. She has been with the company for seventeen years. Prior to joining Supply Chain Diversity, she was a Sr. Project Manager and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Mary also spent sixteen years in Talent Acquisition. Mary serves on several diversity committees, is a member of Toastmasters, a mentor with the Global Mentoring Initiative and received her B.A. Communications from Indiana University. She has one daughter, Leah, who attends the University of Oregon, and a fur baby named Bailey Alexander.
Shakira Garcia
Director of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability, Caesars Entertainment
Shakira Garcia is a passionate supplier diversity professional committed to the inclusion of small, minority and women owned businesses in procurement opportunities. During her 7-year tenure at Caesars Entertainment she has leveraged strategic partnerships internally and externally to award opportunities to diverse businesses across the country. With a laser focus on helping businesses to not only get that opportunity, but to ensure their long-term growth as a supplier with Caesars.
Our small, minority and women owned businesses are essential to our operations. Providing the flexibility, innovation and responsiveness we need to operate at the highest of levels. Every member of our procurement team is aware that working with diverse suppliers brings benefits for our business, but more importantly it benefits the local economic growth within the communities where we operate.
Jerilyn Gleaves
Senior Manager, Supply Chain Responsibility
Jerilyn Gleaves leads Supply Chain Responsibility for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In her role as Senior Manager, she is responsible for developing strategies to increase spending with women-, minority-, service-disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned companies and promoting a supply chain that is sustainable and ethical. She is charged with building relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, as well as with prime and diverse suppliers to foster business opportunities.
Danetta Jackson
Business Outreach Liaison
Danetta Jackson is the Business Outreach Program Manager for the California Department of General Services. She is responsible for ensuring that at least 25 percent of the State’s $10-$12 billion dollars in contracting opportunities go to small and diverse businesses. Additionally, Danetta monitors contracting goal performance for state departments, providing training and consulting services to departments that do not meet the mandated goals and leads the effort on forming strategic collaborations with diverse business organizations and agencies at the private, local, state, and federal levels.
Teresa Macias-Ruiz
Bilingual Business Outreach Liaison
JTeresa Macias-Ruiz currently serves as a Bilingual Business Outreach Liaison at the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services, California Department of General Services. In this role, she educates business owners about the benefits and opportunities of pursuing a Small Business (SB) certification, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certification, and contract opportunities with the state of California. Teresa worked in various capacities in banking for about 20 years. Later on, Teresa worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years at Washington Unified School District. Her background is in business and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Sacramento State University.
Sal Peinado, Jr.
Supplier Diversity Program Lead
Sal joined Autodesk Inc., in October 2020. He is responsible for developing and implementing Autodesk Inc.’s global supplier diversity program. He currently serves on the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council’s board of directors. Prior to Autodesk Inc., Sal was Sr. Supplier Diversity Consultant at CSAA Insurance Group, where he was responsible for developing its Supplier Diversity program. He is past Chair of the California Department of Insurance Diversity Task Force. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Economics from San Jose State University. Sal also taught courses in Microeconomics and Investments at San Jose State University.
Mick Penn
Community Relations Manager
Mick Penn works for Swinerton as the Northern California Regional Community Relations Liaison. Mr. Penn spearheads Swinerton’s workforce development, small, diverse, veteran business outreach and community engagement in Northern California. Mr. Penn currently serves on the board of directors of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, Cypress Mandela Training Center, Mission Hiring Hall, Construction Industry Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and the City of Richmond Workforce Development Board. In 2021, Mr. Penn was named the Western Regional Minority Development Council’s Supplier Diversity Leader of the Year and the Associated General Contractors of California’s Construction Education Foundation Friend Award winner. Mr. Penn has a BA from San Francisco State and a Master of Public Administration from University of San Francisco.
Donna Ruff
Director Supplier Diversity & Development Corporate Social Responsibility
Donna Ruff serves as VP, Supplier Diversity & Development Manager for MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Office of Supplier Diversity and Development. She is committed to promoting economic vitality in the communities they serve and increasing the number of diverse business enterprises from which they purchase goods and services. Donna thrives to help diverse businesses do business with the bank and brings the necessary expertise to continue building on strong and sustainable supplier diversity initiatives. The commitment to promote economic vitality through supplier diversity is what drives her to continue advocacy for DBE’s through promotion, outreach, and mentorship.
Scott Vowels
Manager of Supplier Diversity
Scott Vowels is part of the Supplier Diversity Team at Apple Inc. and author of the highly successful book “Hacking Supplier Diversity.” He is a recognized thought leader and expert in the field of supplier diversity. His experiences comprises over 20 years in procurement and 10 years in supplier diversity.
Event Agenda
Times listed are Pacific Daylight Time; times are approximate and subject to change.
| 10:00am |
Event Begins
|
| 10:03am |
Welcome & Opening Comments |
| 10:07am |
Headline Supporters Remarks
|
| 10:15am |
Announcement of New Corporate Members
|
| 10:21am |
333 Years to Parity
Brought To You By: 
|
| 10:47am |
Leveraging Internal Relationships (DE&I, Marketing, and Foundation)
|
| 11:15am |
Development/Mentoring Programs: Should You Build One or Buy One? (Build vs. Buy)
|
| 11:42am |
Financial Strategies to Support MBEs
|
| 12:03pm |
Measuring True Impact
Brought To You By:
|
| 12:31pm |
Driving Internal Adoption Strategies & Mining Opportunities Inside Your Company
|
| 12:57pm |
Leveraging Awards Programs for MBEs and Corporate Teams
|
| 1:08pm |
Beefing Up Your Tier 2 Strategy
|
| 1:30pm |
Closing Comments & Intro of Breakout Sessions
|
| 1:34pm |
“Ask the Expert” Breakout Sessions
|
| 2:15pm |
Event Ends
|
Special Thanks to our Lunch Sponsor:
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Redeem it promptly as the Voucher will expire shortly after the event.
