Corporate Member Forum – Building Blocks of a Robust Supplier Diversity Program

**Please note that this event is for CAMSC Corporate Members Only**

Tune in on January 12th at 12:00noon EST for CAMSC’s first 2022 Corporate Member Forum: “Building Blocks of a Robust Supplier Diversity Program”. It’s about getting the right buy in, resources and strategy to build a sustainable program.

Staples’s Celso Afonseca, Manager, Merchandising Team, Dr. Fred McKinney, BJM Economics and Element Fleet Management’s, Sheri McGrath, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, will guide you through the best practices to build a Supplier Diversity program. This session will be moderated by Cynthia Dorrington, President, Vale & Associates.

They’ll take you through real-life case studies and answer your questions in a live Q&A segment.

If you’re looking to start your Supplier Diversity program or looking to improve its engagement and efficiency, this event will help you get started.

Click HERE to Register

**Please note that this event is for CAMSC Corporate Members Only**

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Dr. Fred McKinney earned his Ph.D. in economics from Yale University in 1983. His dissertation, Market Determinants of Access and the Quality of Physician Services was one of the early contributions to understanding how third-party payment impacted physician behavior and healthcare in general. While at Yale, Dr. McKinney spent a year as an economist at the White House, Council of Economic Advisers (1978-1979). After completing his graduate work, Dr. McKinney worked at the Heller School at Brandeis (1983-1987), where he was supported by the Commonwealth Fund to investigate access to the nursing and allied health professions. In addition to teaching at Brandeis, Dr. McKinney served on the faculties of the University of Connecticut School of Business (1987-2000), and Quinnipiac University (2018-2021). Between these academic appointments, Dr. McKinney served as the President and CEO of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (2001-2015) and as the Managing Director of Minority Business Executive Training Programs for the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (2015-2018). In 2017, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency presented Dr. McKinney with its highest honor, the Ronald H. Brown Minority Business Leadership Award. Dr. McKinney is a founding partner of the economic consulting firm BJM Solutions (founded 1999). Dr. McKinney has served on numerous for-profit and not-for-profit boards of directors. In 2020, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont appointed Dr. McKinney to the Minority Business Initiative Advisory Board. Dr. McKinney writes a bi-weekly column for Hearst Publications on economics and public policy.

As Manager, Account Services & Program Operations / Supplier Diversity Business Partner at Staples Promotional Products, Celso is a leader and role model for diverse suppliers who are just starting out or currently working with Staples Promotional Products as innovative and trusted suppliers.

Sheri McGrath is a passionate champion for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace serving as the Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Element Fleet Management. She has more than 20 years of experience in Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Experience, Communications and Human Resources. She is committed to driving positive change in the community serving in leadership positions including the Women’s Leadership Council at United Way Worldwide and serving on the Allyship committee for the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity in Minneapolis. McGrath holds a master’s in Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas and bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Benedict.

MEET Our MODERATOR

Established in 2004, Vale & Associates is a boutique consulting firm specializing in providing strategy and advisory services as well as customized training and development for organizations. As President, Cynthia undertakes consulting work with small to medium-sized organizations across various industry sectors from start-ups, to businesses undergoing growth, to mergers/acquisitions with an emphasis on strategic positioning of its human resources and managing change. Expertise in areas such as organizational strategy, people strategy, equity, diversity and inclusion, supplier diversity, change management, governance, performance management, as well as HR advisory services has allowed Vale & Associates the opportunity to provide consulting services to a number of clients locally, nationally and internationally.

Cynthia is currently the Chair of the Black Business Enterprise and Chairs of the Governance & Nominations Committees for Halifax Hospice and Canadian Urban Institute. She is a board member with VON Canada and sits on the Governance and Finance & Audit Committees. Cynthia is a Life-Time Member of the Board of Governors for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.