“HOLA NEW JERSEY Conference”, a round table discussion and networking event

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey. October 12th, 2020 - The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and oldest regional chambers of commerce in the State of New Jersey, founded in 1888, announced the “HOLA NEW JERSEY Conference”, a round table discussion and networking event hosting professionals specialized in planning and executing strategies aimed at guaranteeing diversity and inclusion for firms.

The “HOLA NEW JERSEY Conference” is presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Suez, and will take place via zoom on Thursday, October 22nd between 9:30 am to 5:00 pm EDT. The discussions will provide a space to train and strengthen minority-owned companies through sessions with speakers specializing in Contracts and Procurement, Supplier Diversity, Social Impact, Entrepreneurship and Inclusion.

The event's keynote speaker will be Hester Agudosi, Diversity Director of the New Jersey State Office of Diversity and Inclusion; an official with recognized leadership and experience in community outreach through more than 20 years serving the State of New Jersey. She's taken real charge in assuring diversity through appointments, hiring, and executing diversity and inclusion strategies aimed at increasing involvement of minority, female, veteran and LGBT-owned businesses," said Maria Nieves, president and CEO of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, in charge of the opening remarks.

Maria Nieves shared that the first panel discussion, “Keys to a Successful Supplier Diversity Program,” will include Jermaine Pharmes, Director of the Office of Business Opportunity of Hudson County; and Carlos Lejniecks, Board Member of the Jersey City Medical Center - RWJ Barnabas Health. The second panel, “Doing Business With ...”, will be led by Diana Candelejo, Director of Anchor Strategy, Social Impact & Community Investment, RWJ Barnabas Health; and Marisol Ramirez, Supplier Diversity Manager, PSEG. At the closing of the event, the president of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will announce the winners of the “Power the Future Award” and “Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Award”. According to the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the federal agency charged with promoting the growth and competitiveness of minority businesses, the number of minority-owned businesses in the United States has grown nearly 40% since 2007. The U.S. Census Bureau, meanwhile, released data earlier this year showing that 1.1 million employing businesses were owned by women and one million were minority-owned.

Despite this positive trend, minorities continue to be underrepresented in the entrepreneurial spirit of the United States, therefore, the “HOLA NEW JEREY Conference” will analyze and discuss alternatives for the participation of minority, women, and veteran business owners across the country in procurement and contracts, ensuring greater opportunities in this critical sector for local economies through fairer access to contracts and procurement; even more so in such challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It should be noted that African Americans represent about 40% of the population nationwide, but make up only 20% of the 5.6 million business owners with employees in the United States; while women make up 51% of the United States population, but are only 33% of business owners with employees in the country, according to a recent analysis by the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. "Is your company ready to acquire contracts? Are you certified as a minority, female, or veteran-owned business? Is your company prepared to face the disruption caused by COVID-19? Not sure where to start? Join us at the HOLA NEW JERSEY Conference on October 22nd”, said Maria Nieves, while highlighting that the event will host Patricia Saporito, Certified Mentor & Outreach Committee member, Chair of SCORE Northeast New Jersey, who in the afternoon will lead Mentor Matchmaking & Networking. SCORE is a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping emerging and existing small businesses maximize their potential for success by providing free, confidential, professional business counseling. Likewise, the President & CEO of the Hudson Chamber invited all minority companies in the State of New Jersey to participate in the special seminar “Certification Readiness”, hosted by speakers Rafael Mata, Vice President of Business Development and Co-Founder of GAMBIT Services; and Rebecca Moll Freed, Member of Government Law Procurement & Contracts, Genoa Burns, LLC.

For more information related to the HOLA NEW JERSEY Conference, please visit www.hudsonchambers.com or call 201-9574904