9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Hon. Nikki Hall, UMA Chairwoman, South Carolina

Gaining The Competitive Advantage: Successes and Challenges of Diverse Supplier Certification

Given the challenges diverse suppliers have in growing their businesses and in competing in the global economy, it is often necessary for them to partner with major certifying bodies to maximize potential opportunities. Major corporations with supplier diversity programs are members of both state and national advocacy organizations that assist with contracting diverse suppliers. These organizations act as the gatekeepers, so to speak, between diverse suppliers and successful business opportunities and procurement. This panel will examine the relationships between all parties involved in the certification process and potential challenges and successes involved to date and going forward.

Moderator: Stephanie Green, Supplier Diversity Manager, California Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:
Virginia Gomez, President & CEO, Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council

Summer Sepulveda, Director of Corporate Relations and Community Development, Women's Business Enterprise Council - West

Sydney Furbush,  Supplier Diversity Manager, San Diego Gas and Electric

Stephanie Hickman, President & CEO, Trice Construction Company

Osceola Consulting's Tribal-Based Technology Delivery Center

This presentation will highlight the Tribal Technology Center, its overall business and job creation model and future plans for expansion in and outside of California.

Presenter: Kevin O. Narcomey, President and CEO, Osceola Consulting

21st Century Innovations in Energy: An Equity Framework

The National Urban League will present an overview of a White Paper it released in October 2016 reviewing the current state of the energy industry and setting forth a plan by which the NUL will address various pressing economic and policy issues of concern to the African-American community. 

Presenter: Donald Cravins, Jr., Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director, Washington Bureau, National Urban League

Commissioner Discussion:  UMA Supplier Diversity Toolkit

The Supplier Diversity Toolkit was formally launched at the NARUC Annual Meeting in San Francisco.  Now the UMA Committee members will discuss future plans for the Toolkit, including an action plan to retrieve relevant data from each state represented at NARUC.

Moderator: Hon. Nikki Hall, UMA Chairwoman and Commissioner, South Carolina

Comments: Laurie Dowling, Executive Director, National Utilities Diversity Council

Commissioner Discussion: Subcommittee Name Change

Moderator: Hon. Nikki Hall, UMA Chairwoman, South Carolina