Hundreds attend summit at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The United Diversity Business Summit held in Scottsdale last week brought together hundreds of local business and community leaders for insightful discussion of issues related to diversity and inclusion.
More than two dozen speakers provided thoughts on key issues in both panel discussions and individual presentations that included “Overcoming Barriers to Entry & Promoting Statewide Economic Growth,” “Moving from Transactional to Transformational,” “Increasing Visibility in Underrepresented Demographics” and “Diversity in Progress: Strides Made to Date and Work Moving Forward.”
Keynote sessions were complemented by breakout sessions on two tracks — one for corporate and one for entrepreneurs — providing even more information for the attendees.
“We are so pleased with the important dialogue that was created as part of this year’s United Diversity Business Summit,” said Dr. Velma Trayham, president & CEO of ThinkZilla Consulting Group, which produced the summit in partnership with the city of Scottsdale.
“We are grateful to everyone who attended the event, the many great speakers and panelists we had and all of the sponsors and community partners that made the event happen.”
The 2022 United Diversity Business Summit was held on Sept. 14 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Center with the theme of “Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem through Diversity, Community and Innovation.” It was free for attendees.
Taniqua Broughton, executive director of the State of Black Arizona, said the conference was an important event for discussion of diversity, particularly considering the findings of the organization’s 2022 study.
Ms. Broughton said it’s not about helping one group at the expense of others, “but we must continue our fight to make intentional, target[ed] investments of political, social and business capital to aid in our priorities of building a better ecosystem for Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. It is a matter of good business, which creates a greater opportunity for all Arizonans.”
The event’s sponsors included Fry’s Food Stores, Salt River Project, Blaylock Van, Country Financial, Arizona Commerce Authority, and the Arizona State University Office of Economic Development. Community Partners included the Black Chamber of Arizona, Base Arizona, Maricopa Community Colleges, Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals, and Associated Minority Contractors of Arizona.
The United Diversity Business Summit offers corporations and governmental entities the opportunity to reach hundreds of business owners during the event and through pre-and post-event marketing.
