Long Island, NY - May 17, 2017 - LIAACC’s MWBE Chair Charlene J. Thompson, Esq. Chaired Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.’s 1st Regional Leadership Conference geared to strengthen Chamber Leadership and increase the capacity of Chamber of Commerce on Long island. The conference was held at the Hofstra University Club in Hempstead on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.
Ron Busby, Sr. served as the keynote for the conference and shared how small business owners and chamber leaders could capitalize on “Seizing Opportunities In Changing Times”. Dignitaries who attended included Deputy Comptroller, Diversity Management Nancy R. Hernandez, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, Co-President Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers Gina Coletti , President Nassau Council Chambers of Commerce, President Francesca Carlow
Co-Host for the event included the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, and the Nassau Council Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
The conference coordinating committee was comprised of John L. Scott, Board Chair, Phil Andrews, President, Sharon Davis, Vice President, Germaine Auguste, Esq., Secretary, Charlene Thompson, Esq., MWDBE, Committee Chair, and Danielle Donaphin, MWDBE Regional Coordinator, Suffolk County
The sponsors for the event were US Black Chambers, Inc. Morgan Stanley, PSEG Long Island, Fidelis Care, Armand Corporation, Bank of America, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Prudential and LISBAC.
The Conference Agenda Program Included: Workshop 1: Blueprint for Chamber Success Raquel Hickey, President NYS Colombian American Chambers of Commerce Networking Break Workshop 2: I’m Certified: Now What Moderator: Charlene J. Thompson, Esq. Chair of LIAACC MWBE Committee, Shelley Brazley, Interim Executive Director Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs Panel Discussion and Neha Chatterjee, Project Associate Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development Empire State Development: Workshop 3: Building Sustainable Wealth Through Our Religious Institutions Moderator:
Reverend Malcolm J. Byrd, Senior Pastor Jackson Memorial Dr. Isma Chaudhry, President Islamic Center of Long Island Chaplain Humberto Chavez Race Track Chaplaincy of America Metropolitan New York Division Keynote Speaker: Ron Busby President, U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce Networking/Business Exchange
“Conferences of this nature help to strengthen the economic fibers in the region and help to build sustainable chambers of commerce via elevating the capacity of chambers to operate at a higher level in their daily operations. Small Business Owners need strong chambers to help them navigate unchartered territories as they work to increase both the size and profitability of their perspectives businesses”. Phil Andrews, President, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Chamber Leaders, Regional Business Leaders, Small Business Owners, Professionals and Government Agencies attended LIAACC’s Regional Chamber Leadership Conference.
About: Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – LIAACC is New York State’s largest African American Chamber of Commerce. The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce has appeared on WABC Here and Now, NBC Positively Black,Push Pause FiOs1, and MYLITV just to name a few. LIAACC serves the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings. Visit www.liaacc.org.