These Multicultural financial workshops aim to inspire, empower and educate the various communities on starting, sustaining and growing their small businesses. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to have industry professionals answer questions.
Each person making a RSVP will be allowed to bring one guest and that guests name must be entered when making a RSVP. A RSVP of 1 means you are not bringing a guest.
2016 Multicultural Business Forum Schedule*
LGBT Business Forum
6:00 PM-10:00 ...
These Multicultural financial workshops aim to inspire, empower and educate the various communities on starting, sustaining and growing their small businesses. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to have industry professionals answer questions.
Each person making a RSVP will be allowed to bring one guest and that guests name must be entered when making a RSVP. A RSVP of 1 means you are not bringing a guest.
2016 Multicultural Business Forum Schedule*
LGBT Business Forum
6:00 PM-10:00 PM
Speaker
Mitch O'Farrell
Councilmember, 13th District
Mitch O'Farrell has built a strong reputation of improving the quality of life for his constituents in the 13th District. Mitch is focused on creating good paying jobs that strengthen the local economy, preserving and building more affordable housing units, revitalizing the Los Angeles River, and enhancing the look, feel, and safety of the neighborhoods he serves
Moderator
Mekahlo Medina
Tecnology & Social Media Reporter
NBC4
Mekahlo Medina is an Emmy Award-winning technology and social media reporter for NBC4 Southern California who uses his news stories across multiple social media platforms in both the digital sphere and on television. He is also known for leveraging the 'second screen' experience by encouraging the station's viewers to engage on Twitter and Facebook.
Medina graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and speaks Spanish fluently.
Panel
Debbie Cabreira-Johnson
Chief, Small Business Services,
Department of Consumer & Business Affairs
Debbie Cabreira-Johnson is Chief of Small Business Services for the County of Los Angeles. Her mission is to connect businesses with government opportunities with the County, federal agencies, primes and sub-contractors. Her team offers technical assistance on County procurement, helps “start-ups” with opening a business in the County, and counsels business on the government bidding process.
Richard Corral
CEO and Principal Consultant
Corral Consulting
Richared Xavier Corral, MPP, brings over twelve years of professional experience along with a lifelong commitment to advancing social change to the nonprofit, for profit, corporate, community-based, government and philanthropic organizations with whom he consults. He seamlessly integrates his extensive formal studies, passion for building business know-how and big picture problem solving to craft win-win solutions around education, health and wellness, green economies, LGBTQ equality, place-based initative and supplier diversity.
Jason Lott
Attorney Advisor for Trademark Educational Outreach,
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Jason Lott works within the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia. Currently, he is the Attorney Advisor for Trademark Educational Outreach, assisting the effort for increased USPTO educational activities in the area of trademark fundamentals. For four years prior, he spearheaded the Pro Se Video Work Project, tasked with creating multimedia-based trademark educational materials. Mr. Lott has been with the USPTO since 2000, previously serving as a Law Office Examining Attorney.
Sam McClure
Senior Vice President
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Sam McClure serves as Senior Vice President at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Sam oversees the Affiliate Relations, External Affairs, and Supplier Diversity departments and is a member of the NGLCC executive leadership team. In 2014, Sam led NGLCC’s legislative campaign to pass the historic California Assembly Bill 1678, the first law of its kind in the nation which added certified LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) to the Supplier Diversity program of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Marquita Thomas
Executive Director
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Marquita Thomas joined the board of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in 2009, served as president for two years and became the organization's Executive Directir in 2011. In her role as ED, Marquita, along with the organization's oard, is responsible for increasing the economic strength of LGBT professionals through leadership, advocacy, business development and visibility and advocating for more LGBT businesses to be included in corporate and government procurement.