New York, May 21, 2024 - The fourth edition of “The Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit” (EAS), jointly presented by the Metro New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NYBLACKMBA) and bccelerator, Inc., convened at Morgan Stanley’s New York City Financial District Offices on Friday, May 10, marking a transformative milestone in the entrepreneurial landscape. This summit, endorsed by prominent sponsors such as S&P Global, The Estee Lauder Companies, and Moody’s, in association with National Black MBA Association® chapters including San Francisco, Washington DC, Detroit, and Dallas-Fort Worth, brought together trailblazing entrepreneurs, industry experts, and business resource partners under one roof to inspire, educate, and accelerate the growth of startups as well as small business owners.
In addition, Morgan Stanley’s Small Business Academy featured Shendora Pridgen, Executive Director, Global Head of Supplier Diversity of Morgan Stanley focused on how small businesses can “Magnify Their Competitive Advantage”, while Shawn M. Graham CPA, Chief Administrative Officer & Executive Vice President of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) prepared businesses for “Operational & Financial Readiness to Scale Effectively”. Additional sessions featured Port Authority of the New York and New Jersey, The Export-Import Bank of the United States, Members of the The BOW Collective, Chase for Business, The New York City Department of Small Business Services, and remarks from Michael J. Garner, Chief Business Diversity Officer of the City of New York, as well as Martin Vergara II, MBA, Managing Director, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Morgan Stanley. Please see the full lineup of speakers below of the 2024 Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit.
Since 2019, The Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit not only served as a platform for learning and collaboration but also as a catalyst for driving innovation and economic growth. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and providing access to resources, the EAS aims to cultivate the next generation of disruptors and changemakers.
As the entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like the Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit play a pivotal role in shaping the future of business and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality.
Lookout for announcements on our next Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit including the “EAS Caribbean Business Retreat 2025” and “Regional EAS” initiatives".
For more information about the next Entrepreneur Accelerator Summit including the “EAS Caribbean Business Retreat 2025” and “Regional EAS” initiatives, please visit your "events" on this website.
Opportunity for diverse businesses to grow within our supplier diversity ecosystem, including scaling business operations, RFP strategies & financial resources
Key considerations and opportunities businesses interested in pursuing federal government contracting including procurement strategies & upcoming RFP‘s
Expanding into the Caribbean, West Indies and Africa including market research, capital & financial considerations; strategic planning, and contract opportunities in each region
Shawn D. Rochester, MBA
Managing Director
Trident Capital Group
CEO, Good Steward LLC.
LaToya Wilson
Managing Director
Americas Head
Inclusive Ventures Group
Morgan Stanley
Nic Cober, Esq
Founder
The BOW Collective
Joy Butts
VP. Sr. Business Consultant
Chase for Business
Chase
Frank Holland, MBA
Anchor
Worldwide Exchange
CNBC
Nada Allie
Business Development Specialist
Export–Import Bank of the United States
Jason Grove
Sr. Policy Analyst
Inter-governmental Affairs
Port Authority
of New York & New Jersey
Shendora Pridgen
Executive Director
Global Head of Supplier Diversity
Morgan Stanley
Shawn M. Graham, CPA
Chief Administrative Officer & Executive Vice President
Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
(RICE)
Martin Vergara II, MBA
Managing Director
Global Head of
Talent Acquisition
Morgan StAnley
LaToya Niles, MPA
Director
Business Development
NYBLACKMBA
LauRyn A. Williams
MBA, MSF, CFP
Chapter President
Detroit
National Black MBA Association
Myisha Roberston
MBA, MPA
Chapter President
San Francisco
National Black MBA Association
Demetrius Washington
MBA
Chapter President
Dallas Ft. Worth
National Black MBA Association
Dr. Carletta Hurt
Chapter President
Washington, DC
National Black MBA Association
Kecia Palmer-Cousins
MBA
CEO, Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc.
Member, The Bow Collective
Michael J. Garner
Chief Business Diversity Officer
City of New York
Jessica Johnson-Cope
President & Principal
Johnson Security Bureau, Inc.
Member, The Bow Collective