Carolinas Celebrate Diversity in Greenville

Hundreds of minority business owners, corporate executives and procurement professionals from across the Carolinas will convene at The Hyatt Regency Greenville (S.C.) for the 2010 Business Opportunity Conference (BOC), on August 9-11, 2010 to celebrate progress, recognize achievements and build opportunities for supplier diversity advancement in the Carolinas, organizers announced today. 

The BOC will open August 9 with a golf tournament at Verdae Greens Golf Course, followed by a BMW Ride-Along and opening reception at the BMW Zentrum. On Tuesday August 10^th , there will be an exclusive CEO Breakfast  that is expected to draw executives from leading organizations across the Carolinas, including Boeing, Volvo, Denny’s, SCANA, Clemson, Enterprise Holdings, Progress Energy, Bank of America, Sonoco, Duke Energy, BMW, BI-LO, Wells Fargo, Michelin, Mack Trucks, Merck, Food Lion, Turner Construction, Skanska, GE Healthcare, Milliken, Johnson Controls, SAS, First Citizens, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dell, Coca Cola, Shaw, Staples, Lockheed Martin, Time Warner, Compass Group/Food Buy, Greenville Hospital System, Novant Health, Verizon, and GE Energy.

The CEO Breakfast will be followed by a Legislative Roundtable discussion with public sector officials from both Carolinas, a Purchasing Panel of leading purchasing executives from across the Carolinas, and a Diversity University luncheon and training sessions that address the needs of purchasing professionals and minority business owners.  An Awards Dinner to celebrate corporate and minority business achievements will cap the evening.

On August 11th, a day-long tradeshow facilitating corporations meeting one-on-one with the minority suppliers will cap the conference, which is expected to attract nearly 1,000 attendees over its 3-day span. 

“The key to advancement will be leaders who understand that promoting and supporting the development of minority business enterprises (MBEs) not only helps the business community, but is essential to regional competitiveness,” said Ray Lattimore, CEO of Marketplace Staffing of Greenville, and one of the host organizations for the Business Opportunity Conference.  “We all benefit when business owners and leaders from across the Carolinas come together to discuss how to continue increasing opportunities for minority-owned enterprises.”

Minority suppliers are among the fastest-growing segment of today’s business landscape. This year, America’s largest corporations will spend close to $100 billion to buy goods and services from minority-owned businesses.  “We are hoping that the fine example of business and civic leadership set by our prominent corporate members and certified minority businesses will motivate other corporations and entrepreneurs to join us in ensuring the success of our economy,” said Robyn Hamilton, Carolinas MSDC president.

The cost to register for the Business Opportunity Conference ranges from full conference registration at $350 - $500 per person, while individual event registrations are $150.  Registration for the BOC will be on-site at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. For a complete listing of events, call (704) 549-1000 or visit www.carolinasmsdc.org.