The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) will hold its 2020 Business Opportunity Exchange virtually from Monday, September 14 through Friday, September 18. For five days, corporate leaders, procurement executives, supplier diversity professionals and minority businesses will convene to strengthen and promote opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the global supply chain.

The annual Conference is the premier forum for supplier diversity and small business development. Themed Adjusting Your 2020 Vision, this year’s Conference will focus on stimulating opportunities for minority suppliers and helping businesses navigating through the new reality. With a global pandemic, an economic contraction and social unrest at center stage in society, the BOE turns its focus to the economic mobility that is necessary for historically disadvantaged communities to prosper. The focus of the week is opportunities. Opportunities are the key to bring in revenues that minority businesses use to create jobs, stimulate the economy and build wealth in local communities.

“In light of these challenging times, our mission is more important than ever,” said Stacey Key, President and CEO of the GMSDC. “The most important resource we have been able to offer minority businesses is access to opportunities. At the Business Opportunity Exchange, minority businesses can connect with corporate supply chain and procurement professionals to foster mutually beneficial relationships.”

The Business Opportunity Exchange features five power-packed days of workshops, panels, industry forums, matchmaking and virtual networking. Even though the presentation format may be different, the 2020 BOE is still poised to have a significant impact on the state of Georgia’s business development landscape. Some of the key sessions include:

• C-Suite Conversations – Told from the perspective of corporate executives, these short yet insightful conversations will explore how corporations are strategically responding to the public health and economic crisis.

• Industry Forums – These panel discussions will cover the trends, challenges and opportunities in five strategic market segments.

• Minority Business Enterprise Presentations – This by-appointment session will offer minority businesses an opportunity to provide overviews of their products, services and capabilities to procurement decision makers

• One on One Corporate Connections – These matchmaking opportunities allow minority suppliers an opportunity to have one-on-one face time with corporate members seeking potential business partners

• State of Minority Business Town Hall - This dynamic session will bring us up to speed on the current data and spur a dialogue on ways to support and sustain minority businesses.

• Supplier Diversity in the New Supply Chain - The public health and economic crisis have exposed vulnerabilities in the global supply chain. Procurement leaders will discuss how empowering diversity is the key to a more resilient and competitive supply chain.

On the final day of the BOE, there will be an announcement of the 2020 Spirit of Alliance Awards recipients. The Spirit of Alliance Awards honors outstanding individuals and businesses for their contributions to supplier diversity and minority business development.

The Business Opportunity Exchange coincides with the inaugural commemoration of Minority Business Opportunity Week, spearheaded by GMSDC. Minority Business Opportunity Week is a weeklong recognition of the rich history, achievements and contributions of the minority business community to the state’s economy.

Premier sponsors for the 2020 Business Opportunity Exchange are AT&T, Accenture, Aflac, Ampcus, The Coca Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, Fifth Third Bank, Georgia Power, Lockheed Martin, Metasys Technologies, Pyramid Consulting, Six Consulting, Southern Company, Trane Technologies, UPS and VDart.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit gmsdc.org/boe.