{"511181":{"#nid":"511181","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Minority business enterprise manufacturers to meet in Atlanta March 24 for inaugural National MBE Manufacturers Summit","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAmerica\u2019s manufacturing sector is undergoing rapid change and innovation, incorporating hi-tech advancements across all sectors of the industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat do these changes mean for minority-owned manufacturers? How are they meeting the demands and partnering with other manufacturers and customers to incorporate innovation into their operations?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose factors and others comprise the central focus of the inaugural National MBE Manufacturers Summit 2016 scheduled for March 24 in Atlanta. The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and its MBDA Business Center Network are hosting the Summit, which is sponsored in part by BMW, the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Grady Health System, Ingersoll Rand, and Novant Health. It will take place at the Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s Global Learning Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are focused on ensuring that attendees maximize their day by meeting one-on-one with corporations and original equipment manufacturers seeking to do business with MBE manufacturers,\u201d said Donna Ennis, MBDA Business Center-Atlanta\u2019s director. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing all of these parties together in this first-of-its-kind national forum to get those conversations started in a real, substantive way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MBE manufacturing community is often overlooked by the broader manufacturing community and, in general, does not access the myriad national and local resources and expertise available to them, Ennis said. The Summit\u2019s breakout sessions are designed to address that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong the key discussion topics and event highlights:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBusiness-to-business matchmaking and one-on-one fast pitching to multinational and major corporations.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA \u201cPoster Walk\u201d showcase of companies that will feature projects in the areas of innovation, productivity, and sustainability.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturing trends in health care and cybersecurity.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAccess to technology transfer opportunities and information.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOpportunities in the global marketplace.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProcurement and supplier diversity trends.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is an excellent opportunity for our MBE Manufacturers to collectively dialogue and share information that will support their success now and in the future,\u201d said Alejandra Y. Castillo, MBDA\u2019s national director and one of the Summit\u2019s featured speakers. \u201cWe hope everyone will join us in Atlanta.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther featured speakers at the Summit include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EG.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson\u003C\/strong\u003E, Georgia Tech president.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDerreck Kayongo\u003C\/strong\u003E, co-founder of the Global Soap Project and CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo register for the Summit and for more information, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.mbemanufacturersummit.org\u0022 title=\u0022www.mbemanufacturersummit.org\u0022\u003Ewww.mbemanufacturersummit.org\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the MBDA Business Center-Atlanta:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of a national network of 44 centers, the\u0026nbsp;MBDA\u0026nbsp;Business Center-Atlanta\u0026nbsp;helps MBEs access capital, increase profitability, create jobs, and become sustainable. It\u0026nbsp;is part of Georgia Tech\u2019s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI\u003Csup\u003E2\u003C\/sup\u003E), the nation\u2019s largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization, and economic development. For more information, please visit\u0026nbsp;mbdabusinesscenter-atlanta.org.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Summit is designed to focus on incorporating innovation into minority-owned manufacturing enterprises, network with major corporations, and highlight the resources available."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2016-03-09 13:01:31","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:21:01","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-03-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2016-03-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"511211":{"id":"511211","type":"image","title":"Alejandra Y. Castillo,  National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA","body":null,"created":"1458923712","gmt_created":"2016-03-25 16:35:12","changed":"1475895273","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:33","alt":"Alejandra Y. Castillo,  National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA","file":{"fid":"204977","name":"alejandra-castillo-official-picture.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/alejandra-castillo-official-picture_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/alejandra-castillo-official-picture_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":63479,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/alejandra-castillo-official-picture_0.jpg?itok=Hl1gxqwu"}},"511191":{"id":"511191","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech President G.P. \u0022Bud\u0022 Peterson","body":null,"created":"1458923712","gmt_created":"2016-03-25 16:35:12","changed":"1475895273","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:33","alt":"Georgia Tech President G.P. \u0022Bud\u0022 Peterson","file":{"fid":"204975","name":"hiresbudpetersonformal.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/hiresbudpetersonformal_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/hiresbudpetersonformal_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":80766,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/hiresbudpetersonformal_0.jpg?itok=DMQfHccv"}},"511201":{"id":"511201","type":"image","title":"Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights","body":null,"created":"1458923712","gmt_created":"2016-03-25 16:35:12","changed":"1475895273","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:33","alt":"Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights","file":{"fid":"204976","name":"headshot.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/headshot_1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/headshot_1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":162579,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/headshot_1.png?itok=V8kUw0NA"}}},"media_ids":["511211","511191","511201"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.mbemanufacturersummit.org\/","title":"National MBE Manufacturers Summit 2016"},{"url":"http:\/\/mbdabusinesscenter-atlanta.org","title":"Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center-Atlanta"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[{"id":"215","name":"manufacturing"},{"id":"170010","name":"MBDA Business Center Atlanta"},{"id":"171811","name":"Minority business enterprise"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFor information about MBDA\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBusiness Center-Atlanta, contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERolanda Powell\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E404.894.8150\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Erolanda.powell@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte.paul@comm.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}