Diversity Summit 2023

9:00 AM	Registration & Networking Breakfast
10:00 AM	Opening Remarks
10:05 AM	One-on-One with Lisa M. Flores, Director, New York City Mayor's Office of Contract Services and City & State NY
10:30 AM	Strengthening New York's MWBE Programs New York has focused on breaking barriers by maintaining the most aggressive MWBE programs in the nation. Just last fall, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package that will strengthen New York's nation-leading program to support MWBEs. NY is committed to providing critical resources for Minority- and Women-Owned businesses to help them succeed. NY government entities and partner businesses are all interested in making our economy the strongest, most diverse, accessible, and inclusive. How can NY provide MWBEs the tools they need to succeed? We hear from leaders in this area. Suzanne Veira, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, New York City School Construction Authority (Moderator) Tracey Mitchell, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, MTA Rodneyse Bichotte, Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Oversight of MWBEs Carlos Bannister, Chief MWBE Officer, New York City Department of Transportation
11:30 AM	New York's Current Opportunities and Projects The opportunities for government contracts in New York are practically limitless. There have been so many successful projects including the MTA Capital Program, the ConnectALL Initiative, NY Forward and more. How can we promote productive capital spending, encourage public/private partnerships and design build and make sure MWBE's and small business can fit into the implementation of major government projects? This panel will break down new projects and opportunities in New York, including transportation, construction, technology, energy, and more. Eric Alemany, Sr. Director, Supplier Relationship Management, New York Power Authority Danielle Barrett, Assistant Commissioner, EEO, Diversity, & Inclusion, NYC Department of Environmental Protection Sondra A. Little, Director, Office of Diversity and Opportunity, New York State Department of Transportation Brian Sanvidge, Principal, Leader of Regulatory Compliance and Investigation, Anchin
12:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 PM	Doing Business in New York New York State and NYC are committed to assisting businesses across all market sectors to increase contracting opportunities with agencies and authorities. This process requires sorting through many opportunities and identifying the ones that are right for each organization. While New York strives to promote equality of economic opportunities for MWBEs it is also working hard to eliminate barriers in respect to participation in state contracts. Major challenges faced by these firms are limited access to networks and information, and a lack of access to capital at affordable rates. How can certifications, specialized trainings, grants and other resources assist these companies? What are ways we can provide dedicated involvement and cooperation from membership organizations, unions, companies and government to get to the next level? Zenadia Rodriguez, Executive Director, Regional Alliance for Small Contractors (Moderator) Michael J. Garner, Citywide Chief Business Diversity Officer Dynishal P. Gross, Executive Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Small Business Services
2:30 PM	Emerging DEI Practices in New York New York is working harder than ever to implement inclusive hiring practices and DEI frameworks to make sure that all environments are diverse. These strategies help promote good outcomes and help organizations remain competitive. What else can the government and all sectors do to increase diversity and inclusion? How can New York’s ensure that the diversity in this city and state is further embraced? What works for a successful organization in terms of their Call to Action strategies? What should a framework look like moving forward? Wendy Garcia, Deputy Commissioner, Equity and Inclusion, New York City Police Department Lea Case, Chief Diversity & Industry Relations Officer, New York City Department of Design & Construction Sadye L. Campoamor, Chief Equity Officer, Office of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander May Boucherak, Principal, KPMG
3:30 PM	Sessions Conclude

Inclusion is one of the core values of City & State. Our goal is to create a company climate accessible to all, and proactively plan events free of physical, communication and/or other barriers so all individuals may meaningfully participate in our activities and events.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend City & State sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Alexis Arsenault at aarsenault@cityandstateny.com or Isabelle Poulard at ipoulard@cityandstateny.com.

Please contact us for the full policy.

We require that ALL attendees be vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to the event and submit to a temperature check upon arrival, to help ensure the safety of all attendees. Please remember to bring a copy or photo of your vaccination card or your Excelsior pass to gain entry. We will space out all attendees in a large room to maintain social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

All attendees will be required to provide government-issued photo ID upon entry. Walk-in registrants will be charged an additional fee and will be required to provide credit card payment on-site.