We’re having a candid conversation with Michelle Rice, President of TV One and its new sister network, CLEO TV. Learn how Rice has successfully leveraged relationships to expand distribution of CLEO TV and how she manages all business, operational and creative aspects for both networks.

Under her leadership, TV One solidified its first vMVPD distribution deal with Philo TV and has continued to grow its distribution footprint. She continues to play a pivotal role in working with strategic partners to create linear and digital content campaigns in response to a myriad of political and social issues that profoundly impact communities of color.

We hope you enjoy HERStory on HotChat Minority Business Connections

https://tvone.tv/

https://mycleo.tv/

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

WHO SAID IT’S A MAN’S WORLD › WOMEN WHO WEAR HARD HATS

Necole Parker | Principal/CEO, The ELOCEN Group

Since forming ELOCEN, Necole Parker, Principal/CEO, has expertly managed/overseen project lifecycles from start to finish, comprised primarily of new construction and renovation projects. This has resulted in securing numerous notable clients, growing the company in both scale and capacity, and achieving significant revenue gains.

Join us as this groundbreaker shares her experience as a woman who’s leading the way in the construction industry.

We hope you enjoy HERStory on HotChat Minority Business Connections

https://elocengroup.com/

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, meet Germaine Bolds-Leftridge, the woman behind today's multimillion-dollar black hair & beauty startups.

We hope you enjoy HERStory on HotChat Minority Business Connections

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Germaine Bolds-Leftridge | Founder, GBL Sales, IKNOW Skincare & The Ubiquitous Women’s Expo

Germaine Bolds-Leftridge is the “Queen Midas” of multicultural beauty brands. Whatever she touches turns to gold as she launches, sells, and represents products and brands in the retail marketplace as their premier beauty broker. She is a thirty-year veteran of the Black & Brown beauty space turning brand founders into multi-millionaires via her company GBL Sales, Inc., and The Ubiquitous Women’s Expo.

Now legendary brands such as Ambi Skincare, Annie International, Bronner Bros., CURLDAZE, Curls Dynasty, Kenya Moore Haircare, Makeup Bullet, Luster Products, Mielle Organics, ORS Haircare, Oyin Handmade, Renpure, Taliah Waajid, and Universal Beauty, just to name a few, have all gone gold with Germaine’s diligent sales & brand building efforts. Germaine’s, credo is reflected in GBL Sales philosophy, “Every client deserves and will receive quality, professional, courteous service, without exception.” This sincere “can do” attitude has made her the success she is today.

www.ubiquitousexpo.com

www.iknowskincare.com

www.gblsales.com

Follow on Instagram: @Ubiquitous_expo, @iknowskincare, @gbl_sales

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

In this episode, Senator Cardin stops by to share with us the state of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation and the importance of MBDA being codified as a permanent agency. You’ll also learn about his role in ensuring access to PPP & EIDL loans for non-profits and minority-owned businesses.

As we celebrate Black History Month, he shares how the late Congressman Parren J. Mitchell drafted legislation for MBEs to participate in federal contracting opportunities, laid the foundation for NMSDC and advanced opportunities for MBEs to do business across the country within the private sector.

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A third-generation Marylander, Ben Cardin has been a national leader on health care, retirement security, the environment and fiscal issues while representing the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate, and before that in the House of Representatives. He has worked across party lines to further U.S. national security and to ensure that good governance, transparency and respect for human rights are integrated into American foreign policy efforts.

First elected to the Senate in 2006, Senator Cardin currently serves as Chair of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, which is on the forefront of rebuilding our economy. He is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Finance, and Environment & Public Works committees.

Read More about Senator Ben Cardin:

https://www.cardin.senate.gov/about

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

From the Peace Corp to Chief Procurement Officer, Arnold Sowa shares his career path and lessons learned while building teams, reengineering procurement and demanding accountability to supplier diversity. Plus, tips on how to navigate larger organizations.

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Arnold Sowa is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for MetLife

In this role, he was responsible for overseeing MetLife’s global procurement, travel, third-party risk management, and supply chain social responsibility programs.

He currently is on the board of directors at the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC).

He has won numerous awards for his support of supplier diversity initiatives including the NMSDC’s CPO of the Year Award in 2018 and ISM’s Supplier Diversity Advocate Award in 2016.

As Chief Procurement Officer at MetLife, Arnold built a global organization of over 300 professionals in almost 50 countries who managed $5 billion in annual spend.

He was also responsible for putting in place global third-party risk management and travel policies and programs and was behind the largest ever global implementation of Ariba OnDemand, which covered over 95% of MetLife’s spend.

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

Gain insights into how to grow sales from an executive who leads the US Field Sales organization of a $2.5B minority-owned business enterprise. Quentin Gayles, Vice President of National Solution Sales for Zones, shares how they help clients accomplish their IT objectives with a global network of experts and partners that provide strategic planning, integration and logistics, supply chain management, project management, and best practices methodology. Also learn how MBEs can connect with Zones to find opportunities.

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As Vice President of National Solution Sales for Zones, a $2.5B Information Technology & Services company, Quentin Gayle’s primary focus is enabling client success. He leads the US Field Sales organization and is responsible for executing company strategy and the recruitment of top sales and management talent. He also provides cross-functional leadership and fosters executive collaboration with OEMs and Partners.

Quentin is a practiced sales leader with demonstrated ability to earn client trusted adviser status through reliable delivery of technology and business solutions to satisfy quantifiable business outcomes. Able to combine innovative sales, business, and technical acumen to overachieve large sales quotas as an individual contributor and leader.

www.zones.com

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

Maryland’s Comptroller, Peter Franchot, ensures that our tax dollars are spent wisely and has been a champion for improving schools and strengthening our communities which is vital to economic development where we live, work and play. So sit back, relax and listen in to this great discussion.

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The Honorable Peter Franchot has served as Maryland’s 33rd comptroller since 2007. First elected to his current post in 2006, Comptroller Franchot has been re-elected three times; most recently in 2018, during which he received 1.6 million votes – the highest number of votes casted for any candidate for state government office in Maryland history.

As Maryland’s chief fiscal officer, Comptroller Franchot is a tireless champion for working families and small businesses, and is a stalwart advocate for fiscal policies that strengthen our state’s economy. As chief executive officer of a 1,100- person state agency, Comptroller Franchot is focused on delivering respectful, responsive, and results-oriented taxpayer service, and the Maryland Comptroller’s Office, under his leadership, he is considered one of the most effective and efficient Comptroller’s Office in the nation.

www.marylandtaxes.gov

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

Our guest on this episode is one of our distinguished MBE’s April Richardson, Esq., President & Co-founder of DC Sweet Potato Cake. April shares with us how her bakery had to pivot during the pandemic, how she and her staff have been coping and the new ventures she has underway. This is a continuation of our special series showcasing MBE’s and their “Untold Stories.”

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• President & Co-Owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake

• Managing Member, Food Opportunity LLC

• Attorney, The Private Practice Law Group

• Deputy Chief Investigative Council, Trouble Asset Relief Fund

www.dcsweetpotatocake.com

www.iamaprilrichardson.com

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

One of our distinguished MBE’s, Mercedita Roxas-Murray, joins us for HotChat. As Founder & CEO of Montage Marketing Group LLC, she brings a unique perspective on how a marketing services agency navigates the new normal internally and for its clients. This will be a great discussion about how she got started and how she’s managed through this pandemic. This is a continuation of our special series showcasing MBE’s and their “Untold Stories.”

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Mercedita Roxas-Murray is the founder and CEO of Montage Marketing Group, LLC a marketing services agency. With over 20 years in the marketing industry, Mercedita is a recognized leader in the integrated marketing space.

Montage Marketing Group, LLC., is a marketing outreach, engagement, events and communications agency that empowers clients to achieve goals and engage audiences.

Montage specializes in work that leaves a positive impact on community and the audiences it engages on behalf of clients. Montage and its team have created strategic marketing communications solutions and implemented programs that deliver results, positive outcomes, and impact for clients in the government and commercial sectors.

Some of their clients include the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Homeland Security, Montgomery County Volunteer Center, the Department of Environmental Protections, and the National Park Service.

www.montagemarketinggroup.com

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram

Today Dr. McConnell will discuss how his organization is coping during this pandemic and how they’ve had to pivot. This is a continuation of our special series showcasing MBE’s and their “Untold Stories.”

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Dr. Irving W. McConnell is Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The McConnell Group; a health sciences company. The McConnell Group, has dedicated more than three decades of his professional life conducting and overseeing R&D facilities.

Dr. McConnell has managed numerous multidisciplinary research staff and held multiple positions at Schering Plough to include toxicologist, veterinary ophthalmologist and laboratory animal veterinarian. He has also served as Senior Staff veterinarian for SmithKline Beecham and has held several senior management positions within Johnson & Johnson to include Director of Toxicology and Laboratory Animal Medicine.

He served active duty at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Naval Medical Research Institute; and the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory in Fort Rucker, AL. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves for over twenty years in Special Operations serving on multiple OCONUS (oversees) assignments to include Iraq. He was later appointed to the DoD Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System Division where he was the Assistant Deputy for Influenza and Zoonosis.

Dr. McConnell was recognized as a Top 100 MBE by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council in 2017 and received the Minority Business Development Agency Center Award in 2019.

www.themccgroup.com

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About CRMSDC | It is our mission to feature dynamic one-on-one conversations with CEOs, contracting officers, minority businesses, supplier diversity professionals and procurement leaders from some of the leading companies in America via our Hotchat Podcast discussions. We will highlight the challenges, success stories, resources and opportunities that exist for our vast network of MBEs, and we will spotlight our corporate partners who share our vision to help drive economic development, equity and inclusion within their organizations across the country.

Sharon R. Pinder, President & CEO, CRMSDC

www.crmsdccares.com

www.crmsdc.org

Stay connected & follow us @crmsdc on all of our social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram