From Sunday, September 13th through Friday the 18th, the Chamber's Business Diversity Committee is presenting the 27th Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. Themed Energizing the American Economy with Minority Business Enterprises, the week features seven events over six days, beginning with Celebración del Grito de Independencia on Sunday, September 13th and culminating with the Little Rock Regional Minority Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 18th at Philander
Smith College.
MED Week is presented in partnership with Arkansas Capital Corporation, Bank of the Ozarks, City of Little Rock, and Metropolitan National Bank.
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce has been a partner in the area's MED Week since its inception in 1983. In 1990, the Chamber assumed responsibility for all local programming. The Business Diversity Committee is chaired by Joffrey Clark (Regions Insurance).
All MED Week events, even if free, require reservations, which must be made/purchased separately and in advance by registering online below. Chamber and Chamber Member events include (in chronological order):
Sunday, September 13th
Celebración del Grito de Independencia (Member Event)
Presented by Consulado de México
4:00 pm, River Market
Admission: Free
Monday, September 14th
MED Week Business Opportunity Brunch
Presented by Little Rock National Airport
In Partnership with Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency
10:00 – 11:30 am, Chamber Building
Admission: Free with Business Card (reservation required)
All woman and minority business owners, professionals and executives in the region are encouraged to attend to network with each other and learn of the benefits of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Register
¡Hola! Arkansas Expo (Member Event)
September 14th – 15th, Grand Ballroom, The Peabody Little Rock
For more information, www.hola-arkansas.com
Tuesday, September 15th
MED Week Hispanic Business Opportunity Brunch
Presented by Little Rock National Airport
In Partnership with Verizon Wireless
In Conjunction with ¡Hola! Arkansas Expo
9:00 – 10:30 am
Grand Ballroom, The Peabody Little Rock
Admission: Free with Business Card (reservation required)
All Hispanic business owners, professionals and executives in the region are encouraged to attend. Each will have :30 seconds to introduce themselves and their respective businesses (in English or en Español) to the group, then adjourn to networking and learning the benefits of membership in the state's largest business organization over a continental brunch.
Register
MED Week Speed Networking
Presented by Verizon Wireless
Networking-to-go Bags Presented by Apartment Hunters
4:00 – 5:30 pm, Chamber Building
Admission: $10 (reservation required; limited to one representative per business/organization)
Modeled on speed dating, where singles have the opportunity to meet one another in a structured, low pressure environment, the event enables up to 30 member businesses/organization representatives to meet 30 others, one-on-one, in less than an hour.
Register
Wednesday, September 16th
MED Week Success Series
Presented by Centennial Bank
Featuring Ronald F. Mathieu (Executive Director, Little Rock National Airport)
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Chamber Building
Admission: $15 Members; $25 Prospective Members (reservation required)
In addition to fostering networking and business development among its participants, the event features a first-person account of one of the area's most compelling minority small business success stories.
Register
MED Week Empowerment Session & Reception
Presented by Design Group Marketing
Featuring The Power of Diversity Panel
Myron Jackson (The Design Group)
Gregg Herning (The Peabody Little Rock)
Shannon Fleming, Ed.D. (Philander Smith College)
4:00 – 5:00 pm (Panel)
5:00 – 6:30 pm (Networking Reception)
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
Admission: $10 (registration required; no tickets will be sold at the door)
Forge and deepen business relationships over live entertainment, food and beverages from one of the region’s finest minority-owned caterers.
Register
Friday, September 18th
MED Week Little Rock Regional Minority Business Awards Luncheon
Presented & Hosted by Philander Smith College
Featuring Rodney E. Slater
Partner, Patton Boggs, LLC; Former United States Secretary of Transportation
12:00 – 1:00 pm, Philander Smith College
Kendall Nugent Conference Center
Admission: $25 Chamber Members, $35 Prospective Members
$250 reserved, priority-seating table of ten (10), with business/organization sign
Celebrate the conclusion of MED Week while honoring deserving minority businesses, entrepreneurs and supporting businesses/organizations.
Register
MED Week Registration
For more information, contact Carmen Parks (Manager, Small Business), 377.6013 or visit www.LittleRockChamber.com.