Opportunity Accelerator 2026 Program

Sunday, October 25^th • 1–4 PM

Los Angeles Convention Center

Session 1 – Welcome and Keynote
1:00 - 1:55 PM

Welcome

• Carlton L. Oneal, President, LightSpeedEdu, and Chair, National MBE Input Committee

Greetings

• Donald “Don” R. Cravins, Jr., President and CEO, NMSDC

Keynote

• Dr. Berkley Baker, Professor of Practice of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Georgia State University – J. Mack Robinson College of Business, and Founder and CEO, CIMI Solutions

  • Keynote details will be released soon.

Session 2 – Panel and Workshop
2:00 - 2:55 PM

Panel – Beyond Certification: Are You Ready?

The opportunity is there—but is your business ready for what comes next? Getting the opportunity is one thing. Being ready for it is another.

Cybersecurity, sustainability, compliance, and industry-specific assessments can determine whether a supplier advances or gets stopped at the gate. Requirements may include CMMC in the defense sector, EcoVadis sustainability assessments, programs such as Blue Wave in oil and gas, and other market-specific readiness standards.

Hear from corporate leaders, subject matter experts, and suppliers about what readiness really looks like, what buyers are looking for, how suppliers are navigating the requirements, and what steps you can take now to uncover gaps, prepare earlier, and position your business to qualify, compete, and close. Access creates opportunity. Readiness creates momentum. Preparation helps close the deal.

• Heather Herndon Wright, Director of Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability, Vistra Corporation

• Cathy Hsieh, Founder & CEO, Kambrian Corporation

• Shabana Siraj, CEO & Founder, Trident Consulting

• Allison Weinberg, Senior Manager, Membership & Development, American Petroleum Institute

• Carlton L. Oneal, President, LightSpeedEdu, and Chair, National MBE Input Committee – Moderator

Workshop – Shift Happens: From Visibility to Viability

The visibility of Supplier Diversity may be changing. The viability of Supplier Diversity has not. If corporations cannot support us visibly, how do we help them continue to make an impact invisibly, through access, contracts, development, and opportunity. Together, we can move from uncertain times to unstoppable impact. Let's choose hope. Let's choose action.

• Pam Isom, President & CEO, ICE Safety Solutions

Session 3 – HotOpps
3:00 - 3:55 PM

HotOpps is back— fast-paced, high-value, and always a favorite. In just 55 minutes, you'll hear rapid-fire opportunities directly from organizations actively seeking to engage new suppliers. Come ready to move, because in this room, opportunity doesn't wait.

NOTE: HotOpps presenting companies to be announced closer to the event.