Meet OUR SPEAKERS
Plenary Speakers
Chief Executive Officer of WACIF
shannan herbert
Featured Speaker
Shannan Herbert is the Executive Vice President of Inclusive Credit for Stratyfy, a women-led fintech company on a mission to drive greater financial inclusion by introducing technology that eliminates bias in critical financial decisions. Backed by innovative investors, Stratyfy secured 10 million in funding to make this mission a reality. A mission Shannan has lived throughout her career. Since joining Stratyfy, Shannan has led strategy and program creation for Community Development Financial Institutions and large to mid-size community banks, by illuminating the use of emerging technologies to better serve individuals typically excluded from the financial system.
Founder and CEO, 37 Oaks
Terrand smith
Keynote Speaker
Terrand Smith is the Founder and CEO of 37 Oaks, a Chicago-based commerce development & learning laboratory that educates and prepares entrepreneurs for growth through e-commerce, wholesale, storefront & popup markets. Strengthening and revitalizing communities through commerce is not only her mission but also her responsibility.
CEO and Chief Designer, Sassy Jones
charis jones
Keynote Speaker
Charis Jones, CEO and Chief Designer of Sassy Jones, created an award-winning accessory brand deeply rooted in the belief of helping women feel undeniably confident about themselves. After ranking as a top sales professional for Fortune 50 companies like Verizon and Geico, she left her corporate position to build her brand full-time at the most inconvenient life stage; becoming a twin mom. Through much perseverance and persistence, today Sassy Jones is a multi-million dollar brand; earning #24 on the INC 5000 Fastest growing small businesses in America, placement in Forbes magazine and an exclusive line on HSN, all while boasting a 72% 30-Day Customer Return Shopping Rate.
Chief Programs Officer
kimberly d. gayle
Featured Speaker
Kimberly D. Gayle provides leadership and management oversight of Wacif’s small business and entrepreneurship advisory services and technical assistance initiatives. Before Wacif, she was the Regional Director for the Minority Business Assistance Center led by the State of Ohio’s Minority Business Development Division and hosted by the Columbus Urban League. The Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center served the needs of Ohio’s small, minority, and socially economically disadvantaged businesses in 18 counties. She is a certified business advisor with extensive experience driving business growth in start-up, turnaround, and well-established cultures.
Program Director, EWOC DMV Business Center
Marisela Rodela
Featured Speaker
Marisela Rodela is the Program Director for the Enterprising Women of Color DMV Business Center (EWOC) at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif). Marisela is a passionate and experienced community and program specialist with a demonstrated history of working in public health, the food & beverage industry, and the local small business community. Throughout her career and as a business owner for over a decade, she has played a central role in facilitating strategic and organizational development and systems development and implementation for both for- and non-profit organizations.
Acting Director
ROSEMARY SUGGS-EVANS
Featured Speaker
As Acting Director for the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), Rosemary Suggs-Evans is a passionate advocate for the small business community and stays true to the agency's mission to support the development, economic growth and retention of District-based businesses, and promote economic development throughout the District's commercial corridors. With a diverse executive background spanning the for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental sectors, Rosemary Suggs-Evans brings a wealth of experience to her role.
Special Assistant to the CEO
linda mireille umulisa
Featured Speaker
Linda serves as Special Assistant to the CEO at Wacif. In this role, she ensures all aspects of internal and external communications, supports the day-to-day administrative, collaborates closely with the broader executive team, serves as a liaison with CEO and Board Chairs on board meetings, planning, and logistics.
With over 6 years of experience as an Executive Assistant and Relationship Manager, Linda has a track record in leading the execution of successful client relationship building and retention, business strategy, and administrative functions in the financial services industry. Her career started in the banking industry where she offered financial solutions to customers through a wide range of products and services.
Concurrent Programming Speakers
madia brown
Founder & CEO, Brandire
Speaker
Former Washington Post visual journalist Madia Brown created her own communications firm on the side in 2006. Now, her passion project has launched into a creative powerhouse. Brandireprovides brand services, creative development and campaign strategies — with a specialization in projects that advance equity. Notable partners include Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Ward Infinity program at Sibley Memorial Hospital, a program focused on improving health in vulnerable communities, and Capital Impact Partners’ Nourish D.C. initiative to improve access to food and encourage food entrepreneurship in underserved neighborhoods.
samira cook gaines
President & Principal Consultant, Purposeful World Strategies
Speaker
Samira Cook Gaines has leveraged her knowledge and experience in public service and entrepreneurial leadership to support policies and initiatives that insure fair and equitable access to wealth creation and community economic development. Samira is the President of Purposeful World Strategies, which helps cities and countries identify, incubate, and ignite their entrepreneurs and small business owners by creating structures for inclusive entrepreneurship support.
emilia cortes gomez
Senior Compliance Specialist, D.C. DSLBD
Keynote Speaker
Emilia began working as a Business Certification Specialist at the Department of Small and Local Business Development in 2020. During her time in this role, she gained extensive knowledge about the benefits of CBE certification, contracting laws, regulations, procedures, and policies at the local and federal levels. Emilia's work was focused on supporting the business development, job creation, economic growth, and retention of DC-based businesses.
ANNA MCCORVEY
Senior Equitable Development Manager
Building Bridges Across the River
Speaker
Anna is a licensed architect in DC who believes strongly in the power of design to shape our lives for the better. She currently serves as the Senior Equitable Development Director for the 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Building Bridges Across the River.
Danette Nguyen
Speaker
Keynote Speaker
Danette Nguyen assumed the role of Managing Director at the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) in November 2022. In this capacity, Danette oversees operations across two women's business centers, managing both the Maryland Women's Business Center and the Bowie State University Women's Business Center. She has led significant growth, expanding the MWBC Shop Local retail incubator program from one to three locations.
deena parker
Certification Manager, WBEC Greater DMV
Speaker
As Certification Manager at WBEC Greater DMV, Deena Parker manages the processing of WBE and WOSB application files for WBENC certification, conducts site visits, and helps applicants through the certification process. Upon graduating from Marymount University in Arlington, VA, Deena worked as the Assistant Program Manager for The After School Kids Program at Georgetown University prior to starting with WBEC Greater DMV (formerly WPEO-DC). Deena has become an expert in the standards and process to validate businesses as women-owned.
emmyrich "richie" vicente
Vice President, PNC Bank
Speaker
Emmyrich “Richie” Meneses Vicente, currently Vice President, PNC Bank Minority Business Development Officer, covering all DC, MD, VA Markets, Richie is Greater Washington Area (GWA) In-Market Chair for PNC Supplier Diversity (that is for Western Maryland market, All of Virginia and All Washington DC).
LEEANN WHITE
Executive Director, Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce
Speaker
LeAnn White's career trajectory exemplifies a dedicated professional with a passion for both banking and community engagement. Starting as a teller over two decades ago, she demonstrated her commitment and capability by progressively climbing the ranks within the banking sector, ultimately reaching the position of AVP, Business Development Officer.
marcus williams
Principal Consultant and Owner, MW Consulting
Speaker
Mr. Marcus A. Williams is an executive who has led business development, organizational strategy, performance management, standard operational procedures, and corporate partnerships thus far in his career. He has over a decade and a half of experience holding senior-level and executive positions, serving as the trusted primary liaison between the organization's top leadership and internal and external stakeholders. More specifically, Mr. Williams has communications experience in the areas of public relations, media relations, crisis management, broadcast and print media as well as serving as a spokesman for public and private organizations, high-level senior officials, politicians, and public figures.