Sept. 14 event is top conference on diversity, inclusion coming to Scottsdale
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The 2022 United Diversity Business Summit is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts with a theme of “Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem through Diversity, Community and Innovation.” It is free for attendees.
The event’s organizers have announced four new major sponsors that are helping to make this important conference a reality: Salt River Project, Blaylock Van, Country Financial and the Arizona State University Office of Economic Development.
Response from the business community has been strong as the 2nd annual installment of the conference on diversity and inclusion grows closer, according to a press release.
Speakers for the 2022 summit include:
- David Ortega, mayor of Scottsdale
- Dr. Velma Trayham, CEO of Thinkzilla
- Jackie Johnson, diversity director for the City of Scottsdale
- Rob Millar, Economic Development director for the City of Scottsdale
- Art Hamilton, founder of the Art Hamilton Group
- Danny Seiden, President and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Cloves Campbell, co-publisher of the Arizona Informant
- Eric Standifer, president and CEO of Blaylock Van
- Ashlee Atkins, president of Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals (YP)
- Mark Stanton, president & CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce
- Keasha Beach, executive director of BASE Arizona
Registration for the event has been brisk and has increased in the past couple of weeks, so potential attendees are encouraged to register now to ensure their attendance. To register for the event, go here.
“We are very excited about how the event is coming together and the compelling speakers and content we will be bringing together on Sept.14,” Dr. Trayham said in a prepared statement. “We are grateful to our sponsors — particularly Salt River Project, Blaylock Van, Country Financial and the ASU Office of Economic Development — for making this event possible. We are looking forward to advancing the discussion of diversity in business and creating invaluable connections for corporations and entrepreneurs in our community.”
The summit recently announced its distinguished co-chairs: Cameron Robb, senior development consultant at APS; Jackie Johnson, City of Scottsdale diversity director; and former Arizona Rep. Art Hamilton.
Presented by Thinkzilla Consulting Group and the city of Scottsdale, the Sept. 14 summit will convene diverse business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Arizona to share ideas and innovations. The United Diversity Business Summit will spearhead break-out sessions and training workshops covering various topics and industries with the aim of moving 100 or more companies forward and expanding fast-growing diverse small businesses across the Valley.
The United Diversity Business Summit offers corporations and governmental entities the opportunity to reach more than 500 business owners during the event and through pre- and post-event marketing. Each year, as a part of Thinkzilla Consulting Group’s “Diversity Business Awareness” aimed at increasing patronage of inclusive organizations, the Diversity Business Summit co-chair committee salutes and highlights the accomplishments of five diverse businesses in Scottsdale.
Attendees will learn from more than 25 speakers on innovative approaches and best practices to improve economic diversity outcomes for organizations and entrepreneurs.
Scottsdale summit hosts two tracks:
Track 1 is designed for public and private companies seeking to increase diversity outcomes and Track 2 incorporates business development programs to attract and grow the minority small business community.
Workshop topics will include using disruption to advance business strategy, entrepreneurship 101, supplier diversity, inclusive decision-making, recognizing and overcoming financial challenges, and more.
