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The 2020 NMSDC Conference +
Business Opportunity Exchange (BOE) is now virtual!
October 26 – 29, 2020
In This Together: 2020 National Conference Opening Session
October 26, 2020
11:00 AM-12:30 PM ET
Although we can’t gather in person this year, the 2020 National Conference gives us the opportunity to appreciate each other, celebrate accomplishments, and remember that we’re “In This Together” – now and into the future. The conference kick-off session sets the tone for this week and features an inspiring keynote message from Doug McMillion, President & CEO of Walmart.
Sponsored by IBM and Nissan
Adrienne C. Trimble
Host
President and CEO
National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
Adrienne Trimble is the President and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). She is a known thought leader for advancing corporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. Prior to her role with NMSDC, Ms. Trimble was General Manager, Diversity & Inclusion at Toyota Motor North America, responsible for leading and executing diversity & inclusion strategies across Toyota’s North American operations.
Doug McMillon
Keynote Speaker
President and CEO
Walmart, Inc.
Under Doug’s leadership, Walmart is making life easier for busy families and building trust with customers. It is investing heavily in associate wages, benefits and education—including a debt-free, dollar-a-day college program and an expanded parental leave policy. And, it launched an ambitious program, Project Gigaton, to combat climate change and work with suppliers to avoid 1 billion metric tons of emissions worldwide.
Sidd Ahmed
Welcome Remarks
Founder and CEO
VDart Group
Sidd Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of VDart Group, one of the leading digital talent management, solution and product companies found in the industry globally. VDart was born months after the recession during a time when companies were closing, and its success was the result of sheer effort and motivation from its captain, Sidd. He claims that it’s because the mindset has always been to “create opportunities for the success of others,” the company is standing where it is today.
Amir Ali
Speaker
Supplier Diversity Lead
Baxter International
Amir Ali serves as senior leader of Supplier Diversity for Baxter Healthcare. Currently his responsibility includes developing diverse supply base who can contribute to saving and sustaining lives-A Baxter Mission. In his 20 year experience, Amir has built high performance teams, managed multi-million dollar vendor contracts, and led organizations into transformation during IT and procurement restructure. Strong communication skills have allowed him to work with global partners in Europe, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, and Mexico. He currently holds a B.S. degree in Technology and Business.
Michael Bracey
Speaker
Procurement Diversity Group, Team Manager
Honda of America
Michael Bracey is the Team Manager of the Procurement Diversity Group of Honda of America Mfg. Inc. He is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic supplier initiatives that ensure the stabilization and growth of Honda’s diverse supply base. Michael’s primary focus is developing the strategic vison for Procurement Diversity, creating “One Voice” for supplier diversity throughout Honda.
Michael A. Byron
Speaker
Senior Director, Supplier Inclusion
Walmart
Michael Byron currently serves as Senior Director of Supplier Inclusion for Walmart, Inc. He is responsible for leading the company’s national supplier inclusion initiatives, which are designed to enhance its purchasing activities and long-term relationships with women and diverse owned businesses. He and his team had responsibility for leading the company’s critical initiative to source $20 billion with women-owned businesses over a five-year period, which culminated in 2016 where they exceeded the goal by $1 billion.
Ije Nwosu
Speaker
Executive Director Impact Spending
Kaiser Permanente
UK Born. California Raised. Daughter of Nigeria. As a global child, Ije knows representation matters and so does connection. Whether it’s connecting people to people, purpose or causes, she is living her best life when she is working with others to unleash their superpower, see their reflection and unapologetically live life to the fullest.