Institutional Diversity and Inclusion

MED Week recognizes the achievements of local minority entrepreneurs, provides opportunities for networking, and presents workshops to help grow and strengthen businesses.

During the two-day conference, attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Connect with business vendors
• Meet leaders from the regional business community
• Learn about government contracting and business opportunities
• Grow your professional network
• Receive information and resources to develop your business 

Wednesday, Oct. 24 | 2 - 6:30 p.m.

Co-sponsored by UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Workshop:
"Sustain Your Dream! How Developing Structures and Systems Keep Your Business in Business"
Katrina M. Harrell, CEO of Sage22 Ventures, LLC.
2 - 4:15 p.m.

Katrina M. Harrell, CEO of Sage22 Ventures, LLC, is a serial entrepreneur, business strategist and community advocate. As founder of Sage22 Ventures, LLC, Harrell helps entrepreneurs in high-growth and return industries become more sustainable and profitable and establishes workforce development projects throughout North Carolina. Sage22 Ventures clients include construction companies, nonprofit organizations and municipalities. Harrell is the co-founder of The Launch Project (@LaunchWilmington), an economic empowerment, business training company and entrepreneurship investment for underserved individuals in predominantly distressed communities.

Reception with Minority Business Enterprise Spotlight Presentations
and Vendor Fair
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Special performance by saxophonist, Benny Hill

Vendors: AARP, Balfour Beatty Construction, Bordeaux Construction Company, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, City of Wilmington, Coastal Women's Ventures, Greater Wilmington Business Journal, New Hanover County, NCDOT, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Government Contracting), Self-Help Credit Union, Small Business and Technology Development Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, UNCW Cameron School of Business, UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Minority Enterprise Spotlights
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Wilma Daniels, founder and CEO of Daniels Development, LLC
Wilma Daniels is founder and CEO of Daniels Development, LLC as well as the founder and property manager for William Hooper Apartments.  An active member of the community, she serves on the boards of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the New Hanover Community Health Center and Cape Fear Community College Foundation.  She is president of the Wilmington Black Chamber of Commerce, is a graduate of Leadership Wilmington and is a member of The Order of Cape Fear.

Daniels was reappointed to the UNCW Board of Trustees by the UNC Board of Governors in 2015, for a term which expires in 2019.  She serves as a member of the Educational Planning and Programs Committee and the External Affairs Committee.  She is also a member of the Endowment Board as the Immediate Past Chair.  She holds a B.S. in business management from Shaw University.

Aaron Thomas, President and CEO of Metcon
Aaron Thomas, President and CEO of Metcon, founded the Native American owned construction management firm in 1999.  Under his leadership, the company has experienced steady growth and is North Carolina's largest minority-owned construction management firm.  In 2011, Metcon was awarded the National Minority Construction firm of the year by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

Thomas is responsible for setting and defining the vision and culture of the firm, managing the day-to-day operations, promoting a safe work environment, fostering businesss opportunities, and maintaining the goals of the organization.  He holds a Bachelor of Sceince degree from UNC Pembroke, a Master of Construction Managment from East Carolina University and Executive Management Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

Thursday, Oct. 25 | 7:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Breakfast and Registration
7:30 - 9:30 a.m. 

Business Coalition Roundtables sponsored by Live Oak Bank
Business Coalition Roundtables produced by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and sponsored by the Coalition
8 a.m.

Roundtable topics include: Motivating, Engaging and Retaining Employees, Winning Government Contracts, Reaching your Target Audience, Employers & Job Seekers: Competing for Talent & Jobs in the Cape Fear Region, Creating Retirement Plans at Small Businesses, Business Succession Planning, Buying or Leasing Office Space, Creating and Implementing a Content Marketing Strategy, What are the best strategies for a business owner to protect and grow assest and business, Bank @ Work Benefits, Modern Office, Accounting, Auditing and Taxes:  Key Trends and Hot Topics, The Business Recovery Process, Ask the SBA Guy.

Roundtables 
8:15, 8:40 and 9:05 a.m.

Keynote speaker:
"The IMPACT of You in the Success of Your Business"
Gloria Shealey, President and CEO of The Daniele Company
9:30 a.m. 

Gloria Shealey, President and CEO of The Daniele Company, is an accomplished construction executive with more than 25 years of experience. Over the past 12 years, the company has formed collaborative partnerships to build capacity and complete more than $560 million in projects in the areas of K-12 and higher education, healthcare and life sciences, governmental institutions, and manufacturing concerns focused in pharmaceutical, automotive and aviation construction.

Shealey served as the first woman president of the National Association of Minority Contractors and was inducted into NAMC's Hall of Fame. She is a founding member and former chair of the North Carolina Chapter of NAMC and United Minority Contractors of North Carolina. She has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Woman of the Year by the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce.

Session 1 Concurrent Workshops - 10:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.

• Natural Disasters: Building Resiliency and Speeding Recovery
• The Elusive Government Contract
  
  

Luncheon
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.

Motivational Speaker during Lunch:
"Taking Care of Self while Taking Care of Business"
Suprena Hickman, RN; Chief Escape Officer, Suprena Hickman Enterprises
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. 

Suprena Hickman is a registered nurse of nearly 20 years who now, as a Nurse Entrepreneur, chooses to use her stethoscope differently. Hickman is the CEO of ​Suprena​ ​Hickman​ ​Enterprises​ ​(SHE),​ ​which includes: She Wellness (Escape to Sisterhood and Girls Rocking In the South - GRITS), Your Escape Coach, and Sweet Escapes by Suprena.  ​Her ​mission​ ​with SHE is​ ​to​ ​empower​ ​the​ ​lives​ ​of women​ ​and​ ​teen girls​ ​through​ ​her​ ​coaching,​ ​youth​ ​mentorship,​ ​workshops,​ ​wellness​ ​retreats,​ ​and​ ​live​ ​events. 

For nearly a decade of her career, Hickman​ ​has​ ​traveled​ ​across​ ​the​ ​country​ ​providing​ ​direct​ ​support to​ ​hospitals,​ ​clinics,​ ​and​ ​community​ ​organizations.​ ​She​ ​understands​ ​the​ ​impact​ ​self-sacrifice​ ​can have​ ​on​ ​one’s​ ​personal​ ​health​ ​by​ ​placing​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​others​ ​before​ ​their​ ​own.​ ​As she has learned to heal herself, she has continued to share her process of healing- physically, mentally, and spiritually! She utilizes her​ ​personal​ ​journey​, ​to​ ​help​ ​broken​ ​women​ ​wanting help, to fearlessly​ ​pursue​ ​their​ ​passion​ ​and​ ​purpose​ ​while​ ​assisting them​ ​to​ ​optimal​ ​health.​ ​

Hickman​ ​is​ ​a​ ​graduate​ ​and​ ​alum​ ​of​ ​Norfolk​ ​State​ ​University​ ​where​ ​she​ ​received​ ​her​ ​B.S.​ ​in​ ​Nursing. She also received her MBA​ ​from​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Phoenix​. She is ​a​ ​Certified​ ​Integrative​ ​Health​ ​Coach-​ ​trained​ ​by​ ​Duke Integrative​ ​Medicine.​ ​Hickman​ ​is​ ​a​ ​member​ ​of​ ​American​ ​Nurses​ ​Association,​ ​National​ ​Nurses​ ​in​ ​Business Association,​ ​Black Nurses Rock, North​ ​Carolina​ ​Nurses​ ​Association,​ ​&​ ​International Coach​ ​Federation.

Session 2 Concurrent Workshops - 1:45 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.  

• Create the Killer Elevator Pitch
• Where Can I Get Business Financing?

Cape Fear MED Week is a part of the nationwide observance of Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week.

Parking Information and Directions to Burney Center (Lot M)