FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Delora Hall Tyler
September 18, 2023
248.354.8705
delorahtyler@firstmediagroup.net
Entrepreneurs from Across the Midwest to Convene for Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference – “Scale Up For Success”
Women, minority, and other small businesses can pitch their companies and network with corporate buyers
LIVONIA, MICH. – The 2023 Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference will bring together more than 1,000 certified women-owned businesses from around the country to “Scale up for Success!” Tuesday, September 26, and Wednesday, September 27, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. The goal of the conference is to assist small businesses and startups with scaling their businesses – increasing revenues while containing costs. Corporate and government supplier diversity and procurement professionals will be on hand to forge connections, as the conference addresses the unique needs of emerging and established business owners.
Attendees will learn from industry experts, hear firsthand from leading women business owners, and network with major Great Lakes WBE corporate members. In addition to speakers and networking, programming includes educational presentations and technical skills-building workshops. For example, one workshop will expose attendees to new technologies that help find and fill operational gaps to streamline costs and increase production output. There will also be Coaching Labs; a WEpitch Competition with grand prizes including $2,500 and advancement to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) pitch competition; as well as WEmatch 1:1 buyers sessions.
Event resource partners include giants in public and private business development, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Improving operational skills will be addressed by representatives from partners such as the experts from Great Lakes WBC’s CEED Lending who can also assist with applying for the $4M loan fund that CEED has available to disperse to small and minority businesses in Oakland County in the next 90 days.
A pantheon of national experts will speak. Opening Session keynote Allison Maslan is CEO of Pinnacle Global Network and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Scale or Fail. Welcome Luncheon keynoter Monica DiCenso is a managing director and head of the Global Investment Opportunities Group at New York’s J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Day Two Supplier Diversity & Awards Program Luncheon keynoter Cathy Mott is CEO of CWC Leadership Development and coaches businesses in North America, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean. Corporate Members Session keynoter Lisa Mininni is the founder of the Business Innovation Lab Co-Working & Conference Center in Livonia, Michigan, and the best-selling author of Me, Myself, and Why?
Event registration is at https://na.eventscloud.com/website/52647/
Title Sponsors for the 2023 Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference are DTE and RIM. Other sponsors include Chase, Citizens Bank, GM, Stellantis, ICONMA, Kellogg Company, The Diez Group, Delaco Steel, Argent Tape & Label, MEDC, Pure Michigan, Connect Space, Aristeo and Unconventional Solutions, Inc.
The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council is a nonprofit champion for women and minority businesses, providing access to capital, certification for women-owned businesses, corporate contracting opportunities, and small business educational support.
