Georgia Hispanic Business Conference & Expo

America is investing in laying a foundation for the future with infrastructure at its core focus. Billions of dollars are being poured in to create a transformational shift in our roads, bridges, and expansion efforts for broadband and rural access to ensure a solid foundation for what America is building next. The GHCC Regional Conference will focus on the theme of FUTURE NOW: Laying a Foundation for Tomorrow, Today by exploring the economic hurdles and opportunities ahead and how this can translate into economic empowerment opportunities for businesses to participate in. The conference will provide keynotes, workshops, panels and exhibition opportunities to meet with procurement, supplier diversity professionals, cities, counties, and small business vendors to build the pipeline for economic opportunity in Georgia.

• Learn the latest economic trends & forecast for what’s next
• Workforce & workplace trends and how higher education can provide strategic solutions
• Mayoral Fireside Chat
• Learn more about infrastructure areas of focus including energy, electric vehicles, broadband, and expansion projects
• Learn some of the largest developments are reshaping the landscape of Metro Atlanta and how businesses can participate
• HCCA 4th Annual ERG Competition in partnership with GHCC and ALFA featuring Georgia’s best and brightest corporate Hispanic inclusion groups on retention, culture, belonging, community and commerce engagement strategies
• And more!

If you have a small business you would like to promote or offer your services to the Hispanic business community, register for an Exhibition table! During this event, you will have the opportunity to showcase your company to attendees and connect with business-minded individuals. Purchase your Exhibition Table today!

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Registration/ Breakfast

9:00 AM – 9:04 AM Opening Remarks

Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO, GHCC

9:05 AM – 9:10 AM Welcome

Julieta McCurry,Vice President, In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Strategy, Delta Air Lines

9:10 AM – 9:30 AM Owning Your Future – Morning Keynote

Anna Roach, Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Economic Forecast

Andrew VanWazer, VP, Regional Portfolio Specialist, Head of 

USWM, JPMC US Wealth Management 

9:45 AM – 10:30 AM State of the Industry

Moderated By: Antonio Molina, Chairman, GHCC Board of Directors

Karen Bremer, President & CEO, Georgia Restaurant Association

Sean Flaherty, VP of Advanced Analytics & Market Insight, UPS

Kathy Kuzava, President, Georgia Food Industry Association

Brian Steed, Vice President, Gilbane

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Networking Break & Exhibits 

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Breakouts I

ESCALAR: Scale Business Growth Resources 

Moderated By: Adam Moore, Chief People Officer, Stellar Consulting Solutions, LLC

Julian Bailey, Small Business and Supplier Diversity Manager, DOAS

Aundraya Boone, Sr. Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Microsoft

Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Chairwoman, Cobb County Commissioner

Rosemarie Drake, Deputy District Director, Georgia District Office, SBA

HCCA Competition

Delta Adelante

Georgia Power Amigos

UPS Crecer

HYPE Presents NextGen Attraction & Retention

Moderated By: Nathaly Loaiza, Co-Founder/ Director of Operations, CAL Industries

Liney Arciniegas, UX Designer, Home Depot

Alex Raul Rivera, Director of Business and Community Development, Rudhil Companies

Jennifer Silva, Public Relations Associate, York Public Relations

Alex Villanueva, Sr Cybersecurity Consultant, EY, President, HYPE

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Networking Break & Exhibit Visits

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM Lunch Buffet

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Mayoral Fireside Chat

Moderated By: Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO, GHCC

Mayor Hardie Davis, Mayor of Augusta

Mayor Skip Henderson, Mayor of Columbus

Mayor Craig Newton, Mayor of Norcross

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Breakouts II

Unlocking Access: Energy, Infrastructure and Broadband

Moderated By: Rosa Marroquín, Corporate Relations, Georgia Power

Rich Johnson, Assistant Vice President of External Affairs, AT&T

Mark Smith, Senior Planning Policy Coordinator, Georgia Department of Transportation 

César A. Zapata, Director, Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Region 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

See What Matters: A Focused Approach to Strategy & Execution 

Jess Villegas, Principal, Acuity 

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM Breakouts III

1:45 PM – 1:50 PM Opening + Welcome

Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO, GHCC

1:50 PM – 2:20 PM Latin American Trade: The Next Frontier

Moderated By: Javier Diaz de Leon, Consul General of Mexico

Adriana Arias Castiblanco, Consul General of Columbia

Monica Altagracia Marin Cruz, Consul General of El Salvador

Juan Manuel Navarro, Consul General of Argentina

2:20 PM – 2:50 PM Workforce Development Panel

Moderated By: Rosan Petrillo, Manager of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity, Kaiser Permanente

Commissioner Dozier, Technical College System of Georgia

Steven Jahng, Director Of External Affairs, SK Battery America

Representative Marvin Lim, District 99 (Gwinnett County)

Commissioner Bruce Thompson, Labor Commissioner-Elect

2:50 PM – 2:55 PM Closing Keynote

Juan Diego Ramirez, Director & Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management

2:55 PM – 3:00 PM Closing Remarks

Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO, GHC

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