This year's theme is:
"Surviving and Thriving in a Post-Pandemic Economy."
Event Registration: Register Here
Sponsorships: Register Here
Community & Economic Engagement Summit
Small Business Expo & Reception: Register Here
- Advance regional community engagement and economic development activities during N.C. A&T Homecoming Week.
- Inform, train, and educate the public on topics of community and economic engagement.
- Facilitate mutually beneficial conversations between the university and its community partners.
- Create opportunities for participants to network and learn how to build personal wealth.
- Influence policy makers and advocacy leaders to support underserved communities.
- Inform impact of event with pre- and post-event assessment instrument.
TUESDAY, October 25
|
Time |
Description |
Facilitators |
|
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
Walking Tour - from/to N.C. A&T ALUMNI EVENTS CENTER |
Benjamin Briggs, Executive Director, Preservation Greensboro |
|
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM |
Opening Plenary - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Lonnie Cockerham, N.C. A&T Executive Director of Community Engagement |
|
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM |
Overcoming Business Obstacles - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Joel Wiggins, Director, Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Innovation |
|
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
Networking Essentials - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Dan Ford, President, Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance |
|
5:45 PM - 6:30 PM |
Business Expo and Reception - ROOMS 101 & 102 (Not streamed or Recorded) |
WEDNESDAY, October 26
|
Time |
Description |
Facilitators |
|
8:30 AM |
Breakfast |
|
|
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM |
Opening Session - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Harold Martin, Chancellor, N.C. A&T State University |
|
9:45 - 10:15 AM |
Affordable Housing Shortages and the Effect on Economic Mobility - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Cephas Naanwaab & Alfredo Romero, Associate Professors of Economics, N.C. A&T State University |
|
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM |
How to Start and Fund a Business - ROOM 103 |
Kevin Price, President & CEO at National Institute of Minority Economic Development |
|
Tech Startups: from Academia to Impact (including SBIR/STTR funding) - ROOM 101 |
David Kaiser, Deputy Director for the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation |
|
|
Innovation: Staying on the Leading Edge in Your Industry - ROOM 102 |
Hope Rush, Do You Believe Enterprises, Inc. Geoff Foster, President/CEO Core Technology Molding Corporation |
|
|
History of Redlining & Future Economic Outlook for East Greensboro - ROOM 104 |
Kim Cameron, Executive Director, N.C. A&T Real Estate Foundation, Inc. |
|
|
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM |
Thriving in a Competitive Landscape - ROOM 101 |
Antwan Adams, Owner, 42-Fry Restaurant |
|
Preparing & Presenting a Successful Sales Presentation - ROOM 102 |
Thom Randle, CEO, and Founder of The Rising Tide Group |
|
|
Becoming Cyber-Vigilant to Avoid Attacks - ROOM 103 |
Terrence Gilmore, Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks |
|
|
Plans for Eugene-Elm Innovation District - ROOM 104 |
Majik Pennix, Founder/President at Focused Sista's Outreach |
|
|
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM |
Lunch Session - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Dr. Michael Roberts, Executive Vice President of the Roberts Companies |
|
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM |
Panel Discussion: TOPIC: Taking advantage of global opportunities in the fields of social media business applications, cyber security, blockchain utilization, cryptocurrency emergence, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Hossein Sarrafzadeh, Director, N.C. A&T Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity, |
|
3:30 PM - 4:20 PM |
Keeping Your Financial House in Order - ROOM 102 |
Ulysses Cozart, Owner, FosCo Resources Company |
|
Connecting "CommUnity" to Economic Development ROOM 101 |
Forrest Toms, CEO, NC Research & Engagement Group, LLC |
|
|
How You Can Make an Impact in Community & Economic Engagement - ROOM 104 |
Sofia Crisp, Founder/Executive Director, Housing Consultants Group Josephus Thompson, The Poetry Cafe |
|
|
Minority Land Ownership Business Opportunities - |
Tunya Smith, Director, N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights |
|
|
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM |
Closing Session - MIDDLE BALLROOM |
Tony Goins, Director of Economic Development at Nebraska Department of Economic Development |
|
5:30 PM |
Reception - ROOM 101 (Not streamed or Recorded) |
N.C. A&T Jazz Ensemble |
THREE MAIN TRACKS: Competitive Edge, Strategic Alignment, and Community Impact
|
Competitive Edge
|
Strategic Alignment
|
Community Impact
|
| How to Start and Fund a Business (Hour 1) | Innovation: Staying on the Leading Edge in Your Industry (Hour 1) | History of Redlining & Future Economic Outlook for East Greensboro (Hour 1) |
| Thriving in a Competitive Landscape (Hour 2) | How to Use Social Media & Opinion Mining to Tell Your Story and Grow Your Brand (Hour 2) | Plans for Eugene-Elm Innovation District (Hour 2) |
| Keeping your Financial House in Order (Hour 3) |
Setting Realistic Goals to Scale Your Company (Hour 3) | How You Can Make an Impact in Community & Economic Engagement (Hour 3) |
| Tech Startups – Academia to Impact - SBIR/STTR | Becoming Cyber-Vigilant to Avoid Attacks | Minority Land Ownership Business Opportunities |
Sessions: Tuesday, October 25
-
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Topic: Walking Tour
Conductor: Benjamin Briggs, Executive Director, Preservation Greensboro
-
4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Topic: Opening Plenary
LOCATION: Ballroom
Speaker: Dr. Lonnie Cockerham, N.C. A&T Executive Director of Community Engagement
-
4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Topic: Overcoming Business Obstacles
LOCATION: Ballroom
Speaker: Joel Wiggins, Director, Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
-
4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Topic: Networking Essentials
Location: Ballroom
Speaker: Dan Ford, President, Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance Gerry McCants, President, McCants Communications Group Robin Adams Cheeley, Owner, CEO WriteRight (moderated by Joel Wiggins)
-
5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Topic: Business Expo and Reception
Location: Room 101
Sessions: Wednesday, October 26
- 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
- 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
TOPIC: Opening Session
LOCATION: Ballroom
SPEAKER: Dr. Harold Martin, Chancellor, N.C. A&T State University
- 9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
SESSION 1 TOPIC: Affordable Housing Shortages and the Effect on Economic Mobility
LOCATION: Ballroom
SPEAKERS: Dr. Cephas Naanwaab, Associate Professors of Economics, N.C. A&T State University
Dr. Alfredo Romero, Associate Professors of Economics, N.C. A&T State University
- 10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
SESSION 1 TOPIC: How to Start and Fund a Business [Track: Competitive Edge]
LOCATION: Room 103
SPEAKER: Kevin Price, President & CEO at National Institute of Minority Economic Development
- SESSION 2 TOPIC: Tech Startups: from Academia to Impact (including SBIR/STTR funding) [Track: Competitive Edge]
- LOCATION: Room 101
SPEAKER: David Kaiser, Deputy Director for the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation Art Gooray (Remote), Retired, Director, Commercialization Partnerships, Technology Commercialization Office at The Ohio State University
- SESSION 3 TOPIC: Innovation: Staying on the Leading Edge in Your Industry [Track: Strategic Alignment]
- LOCATION: Room 102
SPEAKERS: Hope Rush, Do You Believe Enterprises, Inc
Geoff Foster, President/CEO Core Technology Molding Corporation
- SESSION 4 TOPIC: History of Redlining & Future Economic Outlook for East Greensboro [Track: Community Impact]
- LOCATION: Room 104
SPEAKER: Kim Cameron, Executive Director, N.C. A&T Real Estate Foundation, Inc. Sue Schwartz, Director of Planning, City of Greensboro
- 11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
- SESSION 1 TOPIC: Thriving in a Competitive Landscape [Track: Competitive Edge]
- LOCATION: Room 101
SPEAKERS:
Antwan Adams, Owner, 42-Fry Restaurant
LaWanda Simpkins, Founder of Creative Justice, Inc.
Gregory Watson, Vice President of Operations, Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
- SESSION 2 TOPIC: Preparing & Presenting a Successful Sales Presentation [Track: Competitive Edge]
- LOCATION: Room 102
SPEAKER: Thom Randle, CEO, and Founder of The Rising Tide Group
- SESSION 3 TOPIC: Becoming Cyber-Vigilant to Avoid Attacks [Track: Strategic Alignment]
- LOCATION: Room 103
SPEAKERS:
Terrence Gilmore, Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks
Sheldon Winston, Founder/CEO, Phoenix Systems
Kevin Robinson, Founder/CEO, Rtriad Enterprises, LLC
Laura Rodgers, Director of Cybersecurity Practice at NC State Secure Computing Institute
- SESSION 4 TOPIC: Plans for Eugene-Elm Innovation District [Track: Community Impact]
- LOCATION: Room 104
SPEAKER: Majik Pennix, Founder/President at Focused Sista's Outreach
- 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
LUNCH
LOCATION: Ballroom
SPEAKER: Dr. Michael Roberts, Executive Vice President of the Roberts Companies
Lunch Session - MIDDLE BALLROOM
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/93651934129
Dr. Michael Roberts, Executive Vice President of the Roberts Companies
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/93651934129
Dr. Michael Roberts, Executive Vice President of the Roberts Companies
- PANEL DISCUSSION
TOPIC: Taking advantage of global opportunities in the fields of social media business applications, cyber security, blockchain utilization, cryptocurrency emergence, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning
LOCATION: Ballroom
PANELISTS:
Dr. Hossein Sarrafzadeh, Director, N.C. A&T Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity
Dr. Michael Roberts
Laura Rodgers
Dr. Madhuri Siddula
Sponsored by the North Carolina A&T Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- 3:30 - 4:20 p.m.
- SESSION 1 TOPIC: Keeping Your Financial House in Order [Track: Competitive Edge]
- LOCATION: Room 102
SPEAKERS:
Ulysses Cozart, Owner, FosCo Resources Company
Ron Davidson, President, Davidson Financial Group
Nicholas Miles, Partner/Wealth Manager, Rutledge Financial Partners, LLC
Tommie Crump, Regional VP and Independent Representative, Primerica Financial
- SESSION 2 TOPIC: Setting Realistic Goals to Scale Your Company [Track: Strategic Alignment]
- LOCATION: Room 101
SPEAKER: Tonya Foster, Vice President, Core Technology Molding Corporation
- SESSION 3 TOPIC: How You Can Make an Impact in Community & Economic Engagement [Track: Community Impact]
- LOCATION: Room 104
SPEAKERS:
Sofia Crisp, Founder/Executive Director, Housing Consultants Group
Josephus Thompson, The Poetry Cafe
Athan Lindsay, Vice President Grants and Initiatives, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Marvin Price, Vice President of Economic Development, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
(moderator: Kim Cameron)
- SESSION 4 TOPIC: Minority Land Ownership Business Opportunities [Track: Community Impact]
- LOCATION: Room 104
SPEAKERS:
Tunya Smith, Director, N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights
Phil Barnhill, Executive Vice President, East Greensboro NOW
- 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.
Closing Session
LOCATION: Ballroom
CLOSING SPEAKER: Tony Goins, Director of Economic Development at Nebraska Department of Economic Development
- 5:30 p.m.
Reception
LOCATION: Room 101
N.C. A&T Jazz Ensemble
Keeping Your Financial House in Order - ROOM 102
[Track: Competitive Edge]
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/92895030236
- Ulysses Cozart, Owner, FosCo Resources Company
- Ron Davidson, President, Davidson Financial Group
- Nicholas Miles, Partner/Wealth Manager, Rutledge Financial Partners, LLC
Tommie Crump, Regional VP and Independent Representative, Primerica Financial
Connecting "CommUnity" to Economic Development - ROOM 101
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/98197924285
- Forrest Toms,
CEO, NC Research & Engagement Group, LLC
How You Can Make an Impact in Community & Economic Engagement - ROOM 104
[Track: Community Impact]
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/94096429102
- Sofia Crisp, Founder/Executive Director, Housing Consultants Group
- Josephus Thompson, The Poetry Cafe
- Athan Lindsay, Vice President Grants and Initiatives, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
- Marvin Price, Vice President of Economic Development, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
(moderator: Kim Cameron)
Closing Session - MIDDLE BALLROOM
https://ncat.zoom.us/j/93651934129
- Tony Goins, Director of Economic Development at Nebraska Department of Economic Development
5:30 PM Reception - ROOM 101
(Not streamed or Recorded)
N.C. A&T Jazz Ensemble
Event Sponsors
North Carolina A&T Real Estate Foundation
CVS Health
N.C. DOT Office of Civil Rights
Dr. Rosalind Dale
