GMEN 25th Anniversary Conference 2022 will present the past, present and future of GMEN growing businesses in the southeast region. Sessions during the conference will provide GMEN history, microenterprise development organization (MDO) and small business training, focus days on GMEN Women and RITES, as well as an anniversary gala. REGISTER TODAY!
The GMEN 25th Anniversary Conference will celebrate the organizations journey over 25 years, and the growth vision for the next 25 years.
Allen Thomas, SBA; Michael Julian Bond, Atlanta City Council, Terri Denison, SBA, Gourav Pani, GoDaddy, Dr. Randal Pinkett, BCT Partners, Clyde Higgs, Atlanta Beltline, and more.
GMEN 25th Anniversary Celebration and Conference is in-person and virtual for MDOs, start-ups, small businesses and non-profits with a closing gala.
We have an exception group of guest speakers for GMEN 25th Anniversary Conference, September 26-30, 2022. Register today!
GMEN 25th Anniversary Conference, September 26-30, 2022. Register today!
Welcome to GMEN's 25th Anniversary Conference 2022 celebrating our past, present and future. We are kicking off GMEN25 with breakfast featuring Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond as our keynote speaker.
30min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Elizabeth Wilson, Executive Director, GMEN Board, Staff
25mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
GMEN Partner and Entrepreneur Spotlight with Shakirah DeMeisier, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship NAV-GA Program Manager, Kimberly Lawson, Operation HOPE Financial Well-Being Counselor and Brandon Simpson, Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone Small Business Development Specialist.
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
GMEN25 Keynote Speaker - Allen Thomas, Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, Small Business Administration (SBA) | Lunch salads provided.
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
GMEN NAVGA Overview/Session
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap - a conversation with Ray Pennie, Chief of Business Advisory Services Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) and GMEN representative with their new Flex Fund.
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
03:30 pm
Opens with a GMEN spotlight video of an MDO that has worked with the organization for years. Training conducted by GMEN staff.
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
03:30 pm
Technology Series
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Whether you have a question business funding, marketing for your business, or how to build your social media presence, you will have 30 minutes to talk with an expert by appointment. Register today.
60min
In-Person and Virtual
Beginner
10:00 am
30mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10:30 am
GMEN25 Congratulations Videos
10mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Racial Economic Equity In Small Business Funding: A Playbook developed by LISC | Anikka King, Economic Development Program Officer, LISC
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Anikka King has joined LISC Jacksonville as Economic Development Program Officer, returning to what she calls “home” after having recently lived in Jacksonville for more than 16 years. King will lead economic development initiatives for LISC Jacksonville with a strong focus on enhancing the local network of Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs). As part of developing LISC’s strategic […]
ESG 101: What is Environmental, Social and Governance?
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
National Voter Registration Day - Why the Business of Voting is Everyone’s Business
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
How Does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Impact Entrepreneurship? A conversation with Cheryle Renee Moses, president of Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce with moderator - Katrina Mitchell, Chief Community Impact Officer, United Way of Atlanta | Lunch provided.
30mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
GMEN Session, Terri Denison, District Director, SBA - Small Business Administration (SBA) Equity Initiative
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
60min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Technology Series - Entrepreneurs and Social Media Marketing Strategy
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Whether you have a question business funding, marketing for your business, or how to build your social media presence, you will have 20 minutes to talk with an expert by appointment.
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Welcome to GMEN Women's Conference
600mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
30mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
30mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Identity and Wellness | Capacity Building for Success | Stephanie Kirkland, CEO and Founder, Identity Dynamics LLC Rachel Manggrum, OWNER, Space By Wholistic Grace Angela McTier, CEO and Founder, Harlem Zen
Entrepreneur SPOTLIGHT | Capacity Building for Success | Tonya Hicks, CEO, Power Solutions, Inc.
60mins
RICE
beginner
How to work hard for an idea, and even harder for a dream!
30mins
RICE
beginner
12:15 pm
Women Entrepreneurs Spotlight Video
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
GMEN Women's Luncheon with Keynote Speaker | Gourav Pani, President, GoDaddy US Independents
60min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
50mins
RICE
beginner
RICE
beginner
Closing gaps with tangible Solution through Technical Assistance Facilitator: Sonya Toomer-Bates & Elizabeth Wilson Introduce TAP2GMEN TA Team Spotlight TA Businesses Anna Taylor - Cute Shuttle LLC Mobile App, Thomas Andrews - Thomas Michael LLC Video Commercial “My pleasure... and thank you so much for saying that, Sonya! Our team is incredibly grateful for your team’s organization in this process and the quality of work, Khadijah Baynes - The Beauty Industry LLC Mobile App, David Walker - StarWalker Industries LLC .. Commercial .. Continued to work with TA after closing deliverable, Jennifer Price - The Atlanta Beer Boutique Accounting & Mobile App, Fredrick Reitz - Safesky Accounting Services.
30mins
In-Person
Beginner
Legal, Business Strategy, Accounting, Workforce/HR
60min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Branding, Website, GoDaddy, IT
60min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
04:00 pm
Facilitators: Sonia Booker, Sonya Toomer-Bates, Nikki Arsenault
120min
In-Person
Beginner
120min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
The Re-entry from Incarceration through Entrepreneurship Services (RITES) Project was developed to create tools, training sessions, roundtables and collaboration opportunities to assist Returning Citizens in starting and developing business enterprises.
390 mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10:00 am
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10:00 am
10mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10:10 am
50mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
11:00 am
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
12:00 pm
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
01:00 pm
10mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
20mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
30mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
03:30 pm
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
MDO training - Day #1 of the series.
60mins
In-Person/Virtual
Beginner
03:30 pm
60mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
10:00 am
15mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Panel/Discussion: Emerging Technologies: Entrepreneurs Digital and Financial Solutions for Tomorrow
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Panel/Discussion: From Solopreneur to Employer with Sherrie Philon, Founder/Principal | Philmore Academy for Science and Arts, Stone Mountain, Georgia and
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Sherrie Philon, Ed.S has served in the field of education for over 23 years, as an educator, educational leader, and mentor. Her career began in elementary school but transitioned after 3 years into teaching middle grades Math for 8 years. Her passion for teaching Math prompted her to pursue her Master’s degree in Mathematics where […]
Lunch and Learn - Keynote Speaker – Powering Entrepreneurs in the Future - Clyde Higgs, President, Atlanta Beltline
90min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
To democratize capital for underserve entrepreneurs, success in the future must include unconventional partnerships and tactics.
45mins
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Corey Brooks is the owner of Brite Bubbles Laundry. He owns the building and the land it sits on!
What are the plans for GMEN for the next 25 years? Dr. Randal Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, innovator, speaker, author, media personality and DEI expert who is leading the way in business, technology and equity for all. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a global, multimillion-dollar research, training, consulting, technology, and data analytics firm whose mission is to provide insights about diverse people that lead to equity. The company has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms, Ernst & Young as EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Manage HR Magazine as a Top 10 Firm for Diversity & Inclusion, the Black Enterprise BE100s list of the nation’s largest Black-owned businesses, and the Inc. 5000list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Dr. Pinkett is an expert in several areas relating to emerging technologies, “big data” analytics, social innovation, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and is a regular contributor on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox Business News. An international public speaker, he is the author or co-author of several books including Black Faces in High Places, Black Faces in White Places, Data-Driven DEI, Campus CEO, and No-Money Down CEO. He holds five degrees including: a B.S.in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University; a M.S.in Computer Science from the University of Oxford in England; and a M.S.in Electrical Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. from MIT. Most notably, he was the first and only African American to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship at Rutgers University; he was inducted to the Academic All-America Hall of Fame, as a former high jumper, long jumper, sprinter and captain of the Rutgers men’s track and field team; and he was the winner of NBC’s hit reality television show, “The Apprentice.” Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Pinkett is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and First Baptist Church in Somerset, NJ, where he resides with his family, including a daughter and two sons. Dr. Pinkett firmly believes that “for those to whom much is given, much is expected,” so throughout his endeavors, he places great emphasis on his responsibility to give back to the community.
60mins
Virtual
Beginner
GMEN VIP dinner, music, with founders, employees, board members and funders.
60min
In-Person - RICE
Beginner
Join us at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) at 504 Fair Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Joyce Littel, host, music provided by McClendon Performing Arts Institute, awards, light appetizers, anniversary cupcakes, guest speakers, gift bags, giveaways, GMEN25 Memory Lane – photos, videos and reflections | Past and present founders, employees, board members and funders to attend.
180mins
RICE
Beginner
Join us for the 25th Georgia Micro Enterprise Network (GMEN) anniversary celebrating building businesses in Georgia and the southeast region, September 26-30, 2022.
We invite you to support GMEN as we celebrate 25 years of building businesses and preparing for the next 25!