2023 Baton Rouge "Business on the Bluff"
Southern University and A&M College
Monday, March 27, 2023
Open Mic Networking Mixer – Women in Business/Resource Partners
Monte Cristo Cigar Bar & Bistro
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Conference Day 1
Southern University, Baton Rouge
P. B. S. Pinchback Hall, Engineering Building
Robert Smith Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
7:30-8:30am
Business Expo Set-up and Continental Breakfast
8:00-8:30am
On-Site Registration
8:30am
Mistress of Ceremony (TBD)
Welcome and Acknowledgements of Supporting Sponsors
Dr. Michael Stubblefield, Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives
Southern University and A & M College
Jo Ann Lawrence, Deputy District Director, Louisiana District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Bryan Greenwood, State Director
Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Anthony Montgomery, Senior Vice President Community Economic Development
Hancock Whitney Bank
9:00am
Greetings
Leslie Richard Chambers, Mayor-President Broome Office
Judge John Michael Guidry, Louisiana Judicial Council
9:20am
“LEADERS IN BUSINESS-WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINE”
Panel Discussion: Women in Business and Leadership
Moderator:
Dr. Carla Antoine - Director
Small Business Support Services, Urban League of Louisiana
Panelist:
Kelisha Garrett - Vice-President Governmental Affairs, Executive Director
Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Heidi Melancon - Assistant State Director
Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Mayra Pineda - President & CEO
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana
Dr. Kim Carter Evans - Senior Vice President/Managing Director
Trufund Financial Services
10:10am
HANCOCK VENDOR SPOTLIGHT/ DOOR PRIZES
10:30am
“GROW YOUR BUSINESS: ICM CAPTURE MANAGEMENT
(IDENTIFY, CERTIFICATIONS AND MARKETING)”
Guest Speaker:
Jo Ann Lawrence - Deputy Director
Louisiana District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
11:10pm
“THE POWER AND IMPACT OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS”
Keynote Speaker:
Janita Stewart - District Director
Mississippi District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
11:40pm
CONFERENCE LUNCH
VENDOR TIME
12:30pm
“FUNDHER: ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS”
Guest Speaker:
Brenda Guess - Director
Business Incentive Services, Louisiana Economic Development
1:00pm
“FUNDHER: ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS PANEL”
Moderator:
Denage Piper - Commercial Relationship Manager
Citizens Bank and Trust
Panelist:
Julie Pleasant - SVP/Commercial Banking
Hancock Whitney
Kathy Saloy – Senior Vice President, Community & Economic Development
Hope Enterprise Corporation – Hope Credit Union
Veronica Reyes - AVP, Market Manager
Southeast Region – Louisiana, TruFund Financial Services, Inc
Alison Jorajuria -Regional Director
Chase Bank
1:50pm
HANCOCK VENDOR SPOTLIGHT/ DOOR PRIZES
2:00pm
“SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR WOMEN’
Moderator:
Laci Sherman – President
North Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
Panelist:
Stephanie Hartman – Director
Small Business Services, Louisiana Economic Development
April Hawthorne – Director
Baton Rouge North Economic Development District
Colleen Broussard-Perry – Government Contract Consultant
LA APEX Accelerator
Cynthia Beaulieu – Director
Small Business Development and Management Institute, Southern University New Orleans
2:50pm
Erica McCain – Executive Director
Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier
3:10pm
“Monday’s Best” Dress Showcase
Monday’s Best, LLC
Candice Perrilloux, Business Owner
3:30pm
“WORK LIFE BALANCE IN BUSINESS”
Moderator:
Nikki Pea-Williams - Board Chair
National Sales Network
Panelist:
Agnes Andrews – Entrepreneur, Community Advocate
Allstate Insurance Agency
Lauren Jackson – CEO
Purposeful Woman LLC
Rosemary Wilkerson – Owner
Renew and Heal Spa, LLC
Britney Temple – Business Owner
Elected Official, Influencer, Mother
4:20pm
HANCOCK VENDOR SPOTLIGHT/DOOR PRIZES
4:30pm
Business Expo Opens
6:30pm
CONFERENCE BUSINESS GALA
Southern University, Baton Rouge
P. B. S. Pinchback Hall, Engineering Building
Robert Smith Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Keynote Speaker:
Ted James – Regional Administrator, Region 6
U.S. Small Business Administration
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Conference Day 2
Southern University, Baton Rouge
P. B. S. Pinchback Hall, Engineering Building
Robert Smith Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
7:30-8:00am
Continental Breakfast
8:00am
Welcome
Dr. Robyn M. Merrick - Vice President for External Affairs and University Relations
Southern University and A & M College
Ted James - Regional Administrator, Region 6
U.S. Small Business Administration
Cynthia Beaulieu – Director
Small Business Development and Management Institute, Southern University New Orleans
Amanda Flynn – Director
Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Southern University Shreveport
8:30am
Greetings
Chauna Banks, Council Member, District 2
Collete Greggs, Attorney at Law
8:50am
“WOMEN IN ADVERSE FIELDS: MANUFACTURING, TRUCKING, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING”
Moderator:
Paula Merrick Roddy, DOTD Program Director
Panelist:
Fonda Lindfors – Business Owner
New, QRI
Lameika Washington – Business Owner
Diamond Security
Suna Adam – Business Owner
Gulf South Research Corporation (GSRC)
Tomika Willis – Business Owner
TDS Trucking, Training & Technology LLC
9:45am
Resource Partner
Charletta Fortson – Director
LA Minority Business Development Agency Business Center
9:55am
WOMEN AND HOMEOWNERSHIP: HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMS/RESOURCES
Moderator:
LaCarsha Babers - Assistant Vice President, Community Development Officer
Hancock Whitney Bank
Panelist:
Tish Allen - Vice President, Community Lending
Hancock Whitney Bank
Dr. Kristy Perry – Director, Center for Social Research
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Rayna Winnfield – Program Manager, Homeownership/HUD Approved Housing Counselor/Foreclosure Prevention Specialist, Mid-City Development
Attorney Keith Cunningham, Jr – Housing Development, Entrepreneur
Keystone Consulting Group
10:40am
HANCOCK VENDOR SPOTLIGHT/DOOR PRIZES
10:50am
HOME EQUITY: LEVERAGING BUYING POWER
Guest Speaker:
Anthony Montgomery - Senior Vice President Community Economic Development,
Hancock Whitney Bank
11:20am
MARKETING INFLUENCERS: BRAND YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS!
Moderator:
Janel Lyons - Vice President PR and Social Media Producer
Hancock Whitney Bank
Panelist:
Candice Perrilloux, Business Owner
The Printing Source
Kinda Andrews, Business Owner
That Kinda Luv
Raven Jackson, Business Owner
The HairSlangerz
Cierra Johnson, Business Owner
The Chic and Savvy Belle
12:00pm
CONFERENCE LUNCH
“WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITIES”
Keynote Speaker:
Bibi Hildago, Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting & Business Development
U.S. Small Business Administration Headquarters, Washington, DC
1:00pm
WEALTH MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH
Moderator:
Will Campbell, Director
B1 Bank Foundation
Panelist:
Jan Hilborn, Vice President & Trust Officer
Hancock Whitney
Mikayla Bates, Financial Advisor
Prudential Financial
John Oneal, Investment Advisor Representative
PSF Investment, Inc.
1:50pm
HANCOCK VENDOR SPOTLIGHT/DOOR PRIZES
2:00pm
HEALTH AND WELLNESS: HEALTH IS WEALTH (MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH)
Moderator:
Sonia Wilson, Facilitator
Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Panelist:
Dr. Gayle Young, Practitioner
Laughter in Your Belly
Dr. Laterisa Bell, Chiropractor
Capitol Spine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Erica Joseph, Practitioner
Adult Psych/Mental Health Nurse
L’Asia George, Nutritionist
NuEarth, 180, LLC
2:50pm
Closing Remarks
Jo Ann Lawrence, Deputy District Director, Louisiana District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Deanna Smith, Executive Director Strategic Engagement, Southern University
101 Women in Business, Founder
Ada Bell, Director Louisiana Small Business Development Center Southern University
101 Women in Business, Founder
Special Thanks
3:15pm
VENDOR TIME
4:30pm
Conference Ends
Conference Schedule
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