The World Trade Center has launched its inaugural Global Diversity Advisory Council (GDAC), comprised of distinguished leaders in the Philadelphia business community and in supplier diversity who are dedicated to advancing economic growth opportunities for minority and women-owned business enterprises. (MWBEs).
Brian Oglesby, Interim President and CEO of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) and Elizabeth Walsh, President of the Women’s Business Enterprise Center – East (WBEC) are Co-Chairs.
Brian Oglesby, Interim President and CEO of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) and Elizabeth Walsh, President of the Women’s Business Enterprise Center – East (WBEC) are Co-Chairs.
GDAC Members include:
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Brian Oglesby, Co-Chair
President/CEO Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council Elizabeth Walsh, Co-Chair President Women’s Business Enterprise Center - East Kenneth Anderson Vice President Civic Affairs Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia Bridgett M. Battles Director of Community Engagement and Supplier Diversity Thomas Jefferson University Steven Scott Bradley (former Chair African American Chamber of Commerce) Principal, Senior Client Executive One Digital Norman Bristol Colón Chief Diversity Officers, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development L. Jay Burks, PhD Director of Supplier Diversity Comcast Corporation Regina A. Hairston President & CEO African American Chamber of Commerce Iola Harper Senior Executive Vice President The Enterprise Center Casey McCourt Sr. Economic Development Specialist PECO, An Exelon Company |
Michelle Morin
Global Procurement Leader - Supplier Diversity & Sustainability Corteva Agriscience Sundari Pai Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity Bristol Myers Squibb Beth Pomper Director, International Business Development State of Delaware Maria Prince Global Procurement ESG Leader DuPont Christina Renna President Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey Natily Santos Vice President Responsible Sourcing Aramark & Avendra Group Zachary Wilcha Chief Executive Officer Independence Business Alliance Industrious Workspace Lawrence Wooten Senior Manager, National Supplier Diversity American Water Thomas Young Associate Bellevue Strategies Khine Zaw Arthur, PhD President and CEO Asian American Chamber of Commerce |
GDAC Members hold quarterly meetings to support the implementation of the Selling to the World initiative: Selling to the World: Growing a Vibrant, Inclusive, and Connected Economy for Greater Philadelphia. The COVID19 pandemic significantly impacted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including MWBEs. Selling to the World is a transformative public/private sector initiative to generate sustainable and inclusive economic growth and family-sustaining jobs. The initiative is designed to restore and expand the growth of SMEs with a feature program to increase the capacity to transact business globally for MWBEs. The Selling to the World program will provide qualified MWBEs with export training and mentorship and will introduce a global supplier diversity program, a ground-breaking strategy for MWBEs to generate exports by selling into the global supply chains of international corporations.
A Global Diversity Advisory Council meeting in session.
Increasing the capacity to trade strengthens the overall competitiveness of these businesses, both as exporters and as reliable and resilient suppliers to corporations. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, SME exporters grow faster, enjoy higher productivity, pay higher wages, and become more innovative two years after starting to export. Exporting allows these businesses to diversify their client base and expand profitability - 95% of the world’s consumers and 84% of spending power reside outside of the United States.
“Engaging in the global marketplace is no longer a luxury for businesses seeking a greater level of opportunity and inclusion, it is an imperative for growth as a supplier both locally and globally. The GDAC serves as a bridge to the marketplace and convener of partners in an ever-shrinking world to elevate minority businesses who have traditionally been shut out of the market. In collaboration with our regional stakeholder, we will accelerate the movement of the needle,” says Brian Oglesby, GDAC Co-Chair, Interim President and CEO, Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council.
“The state of the world economy and the global pandemic negatively impacted women owned businesses disproportionately these past three years; but it has also provided an opportunity to rethink and reinvent business strategies. This program, as presented by the World Trade Center of Philadelphia, will allow women owned businesses the opportunity to expand their business to the world’s stage. WBEC-East is excited to be a part of ensuring the ability of women-owned businesses become more resistant and competent in the face of any future global challenges,” says Elizabeth Walsh, GDAC Co-Chair and President, Women’s Business Enterprise Center – East.
GDAC members will provide guidance on the implementation of the MWBE program and help to promote and recruit companies to participate in the first cohort and training in the “Fundamentals of Exporting,” an in-person program in a dedicated learning community.
“Engaging in the global marketplace is no longer a luxury for businesses seeking a greater level of opportunity and inclusion, it is an imperative for growth as a supplier both locally and globally. The GDAC serves as a bridge to the marketplace and convener of partners in an ever-shrinking world to elevate minority businesses who have traditionally been shut out of the market. In collaboration with our regional stakeholder, we will accelerate the movement of the needle,” says Brian Oglesby, GDAC Co-Chair, Interim President and CEO, Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council.
“The state of the world economy and the global pandemic negatively impacted women owned businesses disproportionately these past three years; but it has also provided an opportunity to rethink and reinvent business strategies. This program, as presented by the World Trade Center of Philadelphia, will allow women owned businesses the opportunity to expand their business to the world’s stage. WBEC-East is excited to be a part of ensuring the ability of women-owned businesses become more resistant and competent in the face of any future global challenges,” says Elizabeth Walsh, GDAC Co-Chair and President, Women’s Business Enterprise Center – East.
GDAC members will provide guidance on the implementation of the MWBE program and help to promote and recruit companies to participate in the first cohort and training in the “Fundamentals of Exporting,” an in-person program in a dedicated learning community.