Date: April 12th 2008
Location: Long Island University, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY
Time: 8:30am to 6:30pm
Keynote Speaker
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez
“Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez is currently serving her eighth term as Representative for New York’s 12th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Congresswoman Velázquez has made history several times during her tenure in Congress. In 1992, she was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Most recently, in 2006, she was named Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, making her the first Latina to chair a full Congressional committee.
As a fighter for equal rights of the underrepresented and a proponent of economic opportunity for the working class and poor, Congresswoman Velázquez combines sensibility and compassion as she works to encourage economic development, protect community health and the environment, combat crime and worker abuses, and secure access to affordable housing, quality education and health care for all New York City families. As the Chairwoman for the House Small Business Committee, which oversees federal programs and contracts totaling $200 billion annually, Congresswoman Velázquez is a vocal advocate of American small business and entrepreneurship.
Although her work on the Small Business Committee and the House Financial Services Committee (where she is the most senior New York Member on the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity) keeps her busy, Congresswoman Velázquez can often be found close to home, working for the residents of her district.”
Keynote Speaker
Council Member Charles Barron
Council Member Charles Barron of the 42nd District has been a community activist for 25 years. He has extensive experience on the local and national levels. In 2001, Barron was elected to the New York City Council. He serves as Chair of the Higher Education Committee and is a member of the committees on Land Use, Consumer Affairs, Women s Issues, Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses. In this role, he has sponsored and cosponsored significant pieces of legislation that have impacted the quality of life of all New Yorkers.
Keynote Speaker
Carmen Wong Ulrich
Author, Generation Debt: Take Control of Your Money
Carmen Wong Ulrich is the author of the under-40 guide to personal finance, GENERATION DEBT: Take Control of Your Money (Warner Books).
An advice columnist, speaker, blogger and former editor at MONEY magazine, Carmen is a regularly televised money expert and has been featured on The Rachael Ray Show, CNN, CNBC's Millionaire Inside , and Weekend TODAY as well as over three dozen radio shows nationwide including Oprah’s XM radio network and Wall Street Journal Radio. Her book has appeared on the recommended reading list of The Wall Street Journal and her advice has been highlighted in The Washington Post, Glamour, Redbook, Bankrate.com, Women’s s Day, MSNBC, BusinessWeek.com, TheStreet.com, Yahoo!Finance, and About.com. Carmen’s blog premiered on Qvisory.com and her advice columns appear monthly in Men’s Health and Latina magazines as well as online. She is also a contributor to ESSENCE and Diversity Woman magazines.
Carmen has a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University, a B.A. from Fairfield University and lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter. Visit her website: www.gendebt.com.
Keynote Speaker
Terrie Williams
Public Relations Professional, Author
Terrie Williams, a clinical social worker by training, became a successful public relations professional back in 1988 when she launched her public relations and communications agency. The company would become one of the country’s most successful public relations firms—handling through the years the biggest names in entertainment, sports, business, and politics. Clients included Miles Davis, Eddie Murphy, Johnnie L. Cochran, Essence Communications Partners, Time Warner, HBO and dozens of other notable personalities and corporations.
Terrie’s triumphs have been chronicled in numerous publications such as Adweek, Jet Magazine, The Boston Globe, New York Daily News, Washington Post, Crain’s New York Business and People Magazine. She is a highly sought-after speaker and has shared her unique talent with many Fortune 500 companies and diverse organizations, from New York University to the National Hockey League.
Terrie is the author of three successful books: The Personal Touch: What You Really Need to Succeed in Today’s Fast-Paced Business World; A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance and Harmony through the Seven Living Virtues; and Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens. Terrie is currently promoting her fourth book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting (January 2008).
Speaker
Jennifer Shaheen
eMarketing and Technology Therapist
The eMarketing and Technology Therapist®, Jennifer Shaheen, is an expert at helping small and mid sized companies leverage technology to capitalize on current and future marketing objectives. Her business, The Technology Therapy Group, empowers small businesses to market their products and services through software training, eMarketing and web design. Through years of experience, Ms. Shaheen has developed an understanding and an awareness of how technology can be applied to practical business applications and how it can generate an increase in sales, garner a greater market share and lead to enhanced employee productivity.
The Technology Therapist’s business blog was nominated for a Blogger’s Choice Award in 2007 and 2008, ranking in the top 20 for Best Business Blog in 2007. Ms. Shaheen serves on the board of the American Marketing Association’s Southern New England Chapter, and helps to develop and promote their eMarketing strategies. Ms. Shaheen is also an active contributing author for womenandbiz.com and Women’s Radio and is currently an adjunct professor in the Marketing Department of the College of Business at Johnson and Wales Univerity in Providence, RI. Jennifer Shaheen is a graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in Business and a concentration in marketing and business computers.
Panelist
Jennifer C. Stevens
eBay Education Specialist
Jennifer C. Stevens, an Education Specialist trained by eBay, teaches students to buy and sell safely and effectively on eBay. Active on eBay since 1999, she has sold over 5,000 items to buyers in 38 countries. An eBay PowerSeller, Ms. Stevens is also an eBay Trading Assistant and Certified eBay Store Designer. A former corporate trainer, Ms. Stevens was featured in SmartMoney.com’s eBay Buyer’s Guide video and received an Honorable Mention award in the Brooklyn Public Library’s 2007 PowerUP! Business Plan Competition.
Her website is www.jennifercstevens.com.
Panelist
Laura Allen
Co-Founder, 15SecondPitch.com
Laura Allen's passion in life is helping people market themselves more effectively while having fun getting the word out about what makes them the best at what they do! She has over ten years of experience in industries such as: book publishing, advertising, online marketing, and sales. Ms. Allen is most proud of a 5.5 million dollar deal she closed from a cold call. She also likes to talk about the time that she sent a 3 foot tall steel pyramid to Star Wars director George Lucas. The stunt got his attention and resulted in approximately 50 million in sales for Laura’s client. Since co-founding 15SecondPitch.com in 2002, Laura has been written about in Adweek, The Financial Times, Crain’s New York Business, and The Wall Street Journal. Laura has been a guest speaker at "Networking Nights", Co-Sponsored by The New York Times and Starbucks; The M.I.T. Women’s Alumni Group; Pace University; Downtown Women’s Club and New York City Women in Technology. She was also interviewed for the ABC News program HomeWork.
Her website is www.15SecondPitch.com.
Panelist
Latisha Daring
Pieces, Inc.
Latisha Daring is co-founder and CEO of Pieces Inc., a boutique retail chain with locations in Brooklyn, New York and Silver Spring, Maryland. A graduate of Albany University with a bachelors degree in Political Science, Daring has always been a purveyor of style with a discerning eye for identifying fashion trends.
Daring embarked on her career by working in management positions with mass retailers Old Navy and Kenneth Cole. While climbing the corporate ladder Daring remained true to her entrepreneurial spirit and nurtured personal client relationships by hosting private fashion soirees throughout New York City. She later found herself working as a highly sought after fashion stylist, collaborating on high profile projects with some of the most talented photographers, models and make-up artists in the country.
After several years of juggling a full-time job while hosting exclusive fashion events, Daring took a leap of faith with her husband and business partner, Colin Daring. Pieces Boutique's flagship store was launched in June of 2000 in Brooklyn, New York and continues to be a highly-respected name in the fashion industry. With a signature namesake clothing line that has been embraced by even the most discriminating fashionista, the possibilities are endless for Pieces Boutiques and this “Daring” duo!
Panelist
Maud Andrew
Manager of Programs and Outreach, Brooklyn Business Library
Throughout her career as a librarian, Maud Andrew has worked in corporate and public libraries as well as publishing. She has been at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business Library since 1999 where, as the specialist in Small Business, she relied on her background in market research and business to assist aspiring entrepreneurs and promote economic development. Her responsibilities included instruction to the public, web site development, materials evaluation, public programming and developing partnerships with business assistance organizations. She was involved in planning the PowerUP! Business Plan competition and currently administers the program. Recently Maud has assumed the position of Manager of Programs and Outreach and now develops all the programs at the Business Library and is in charge of its marketing and outreach functions. She has worked on and managed a number of grants; she has spoken on website design, and represented the library on the boards of community based organizations in Brooklyn. She received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley and her MLS from Pratt Institute.
Panelist
Laura Sanzel
Sales and Business Expert
Laura Sanzel is the former director of the Brooklyn Enterprise Center at the Local Development Corporation of East New York and was the Retail Business Specialist at the Center for 2 years.
Laura has more than 15 years experience in the retail market and has held positions ranging from Sales Associate to Area Manager, most recently overseeing 12 high volume retail locations for a cosmetics and personal care company.
Laura’s entrepreneurial experience includes Four Color Images, a gallery of original art she co-founded and operated with her husband, Ken.
Panelist
Priscilla Frey-Incorvaia
Branch Manager and Vice President of HSBC Bank
Priscilla Frey-Incorvaia grew up on Long Island and attended C.W. Post College where she studied Elementary Education and Training Development. After an internship at Republic National Bank, she was offered a job in their management-training program. During the next fifteen years, Priscilla rapidly moved up the ranks and presently is the Branch Manager of the Starrett City Office in Brooklyn.
Priscilla sits on many advisory boards, including Junior Achievement, the YWCA, the Queens Botanical Gardens, and The Noel Pointer Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides music lessons for gifted underprivileged children where she served as treasurer. She has been awarded the Bronze Leadership Award for Leadership and Support and the Above and Beyond Service Award for her work in Junior Achievement.
Panelist
Lisa Torres
Business Banking Specialist of HSBC Bank
Lisa Torres, born and raised in Toronto Canada started in the banking industry in 1995. She began as a bank teller and has worked at various capacities in different banks. Her current role is as Business Banking Specialist, with HSBC at the Brooklyn Heights branch. Her experience is in Residential and Commercial Lending and has worked in emerging markets specifically in the Hispanic Community for 5 years. She became actively involved in Community Lending Programs in Miami Florida where she lived for 12 years. She recently moved to New York from California where she was actively working with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Women in Business Association.
Lisa believes that living abroad helped her grasp the true essence of women in the business world. Their grace and ability to look at the bigger picture is a dominant force that elevates women to achieve overall business success.
Panelist
Lisa Delaney
Editor of Spry
Lisa Delaney has spent the majority of her 20-year journalism career covering diet, fitness, nutrition, and health for women’s consumer magazines. As Executive Editor of Health magazine from February, 2001-May, 2005, she shared her passion for and professional expertise in all aspects of the healthy lifestyle with the publication’s 1.35 million paid subscribers and 7.3 million readers.
Lisa is currently editor of Spry, a new health and wellness magazine that will launch in September 2008. Billed as the “largest health magazine launch in history,” Spry will debut to an audience of 9 million people.
Her book, Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes—and Find Yourself Along the Way, was published in April 2007 by Hudson Street Press, and in paperback in February 2008.
Panelist
Clara Lipson
New Start Fund
Clara Lipson heads up the New Start Fund at FEGS. Ms. Lipson has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years as a loan officer and developed financial programs for nonprofit organizations. Previously, Ms. Lipson directed the volunteer program for the Financial Planning Association and advised the Women’s Venture Fund on loan policies. Currently, she also serves on several boards of microfinance organizations.
Panelist
Verman Bedessee
Bedessee Imports
Mr. Verman Bedessee, after emigrating with his family in 1972 from Guyana, started a small trading business from his new home in Ontario, Canada. In 1977 he opened a small retail store where he started to import and distribute a variety of Guyanese seafood and other household items. In the 1980's the business grew significantly, extending into a larger retail store. At that time, Mr. Bedessee introduced sporting goods. He leased a warehouse facility in Brooklyn, New York and a larger warehouse in Canada. In 1984 Mr. Bedessee closed all the retail stores and decided to operate on a wholesale basis.
Bedessee Imports is not only an importer, but is also a manufacturer of several products, including chow mein and cream soda. In addition to the Caribbean market, the company currently caters to the Asian, British, Latin American and South American markets.
Panelist
David Román
Harlem U.S. Export Assistance Center
David Román served the Long Island U.S. Export Assistance Center from 1999-2005, working closely with small and medium sized firms in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties. David was quite active in outreach activities and conducting seminars in the region. He also served on the Information Technology and Automotive teams. In June 2002, as part of the New York USEAC team, David was a recipient of the “Charles Meissner Memorial Award”
David is currently an Export Assistance Specialist with the Harlem U.S. Export Assistance Center. He covers Queens County, and is a member of the Education and Training Services, Trade Americas, and Asia Pacific teams. In 2005, he was chosen as the U.S. Commercial Service’s Export Assistance Specialist of the Year.
Panelist
Gary Brooks, CMC, CTP
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allomet Partners, Ltd.
Gary Brooks, CMC, CTP is nationally recognized as a family business and crisis management professional. He has over 40 years of diversified executive management and consulting experience. Currently, he serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allomet Partners, Ltd. He has personally counseled and provided interim management services to more than 200 companies. Clients are referred principally by those who may be at financial risk (e.g. lenders, investors, directors, etc.) if an enterprise fails to meet performance expectations and by members of the professional community. In addition to restructuring and interim crisis management services, Allomet offers extensive pre-transaction due diligence services to facilitate loan and investment decisions and post transaction integration and performance enhancement support.
