Exhibits Summit Schedule

 7:00 AM — 3:00 PM Registration & Exhibits

8:00 AM — 9:00 AM Breakfast: Keynote Speaker: Jerome Miller, VP and Head of Diversity for Toyota U.S.A. Verizon Wireless / Belk Ballroom

9:00 AM — 10:00 AM Managing & Motivating a Cross Generational Workforce Verizon Wireless Supplier Diversity Program: Extreme Makeover Belk Room How Diverse Communities Work Together: Different Missions…A Common Cause (Part I) Advocate Room

10:30 AM — 11:30 AM HR and Finance: Selling the Diversity ROI Concept to “C-Level” Executives Using Metrics Verizon Wireless Ballroom Diversity Means Big Business for Small Business: How Small Companies Reap BIG Rewards Belk Room How Diverse Communities Work Together: Different Missions... A Common Cause (Part II) Advocate Room

11:30 AM — 12:00 PM Break/Exhibits Marketplace

12:00 PM — 1:30 PM Lunch Keynote Speaker/Belk Diversity Innovation Awards: Nicole W. Dean, CPA, VP of Corporate HR and Chief Diversity Offcer of Belk, Inc Verizon Wireless / Belk Room

1:30 PM — 2:30 PM Recap and De-briefng – Topic: Implementation of Diversity ROI for Organizational Success –  Room B & C

2:30 PM — 3:00 PM Break/Exhibits Marketplace

Limited Amount of Booths are Still Available
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Dear Readers,

The theme of the 2009 Diversity Summit is Diversity Return on Inclusion (“ROI”): Investing in Diversity for Revenue Growth and Sustainability.

Since the inception of the Summit, I have observed three cause and effect elements of diversity and inclusion: Opportunity; Opposition; and Outcome. By evaluating these “Three O’s”, we can gain an understanding of where we have come from, where we are now, and where we need to go next.

Let’s consider the first O – Opportunity. We have worked hard to get the right people to the table.

Once in place, there were challenges. Companies were unable to find enough diverse talent to meet their workforce and supplier diversity demands. As diversity became more widely accepted, people began to realize that we must embrace the opportunity. At this point, it was critical to conquer the second O – Opposition to diversity. After employees and diverse companies got their foot in the door, that did not end opposition to diversity efforts. Yet, with continued efforts, opposing attitudes were diffused—though not eliminated. We can now reap great benefits from the final O - Outcomes: greater innovation in products and service offerings; collaboration among all parties; a fully engaged workforce; increased sales; lower costs; and greater profits.

The topic Return on Inclusion is not just a “corporate program”. The concept is imperative for corporations, for business development, and for the growth of our overall community. We look forward to seeing you at the 2009 Birmingham Diversity Summit, where we will continue to make progress on a journey that will certainly lead to greater revenues and profitability.

Tim Lewis, Co-founder, Birmingham Diversity Summit, Kaleidoscope Productions, Inc.

Breakfast Keynote Speaker – “Return on Inclusion”

Jerome Miller is Vice President of Diversity and Social Responsibility for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Miller is responsible for oversight and direction of the company’s far-reaching diversity strategy. As the company’s most senior advisor on diversity issues and its principal liaison with outside diversity organizations, Miller administers the integration of TMS’ diversity initiatives into its overall business strategy.

Before joining Toyota in January 2006, Miller was Vice President of Global Diversity and Community Affairs for Delta Airlines and President of the Delta Airlines Foundation. Prior to that, he served as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of the InterContinental Hotels Group, as well as positions at Coca-Cola, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Allstate Insurance Company and Ford Motor Company.

Lunch Keynote Speaker/”Belk Diversity Innovation Awards”

Nicole W. Dean is currently Vice President of Corporate HR and Chief Diversity Officer of Belk Inc. Belk is the largest privately held department store retailer in the U.S. operating over 300 stores in 16 states. Nicole joined Belk in 2006 as Vice President of Internal Audit. She is a licensed CPA.

As Chief Diversity Officer, she has expanded Belk’s inclusion programs to include the creation of the Women’s Leadership Network and Black employee Resource Group and increased diversity in management levels at Belk.

Currently, Nicole W. Dean is an Executive Committee member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Charlotte Advisory Council and Charlotte’s Chamber of Commerce Diversity Officer’s Roundtable. When not spending time with her husband and two sons, she volunteers with Junior Achievement, and actively mentors youth in the community.

A special thanks to this year's sponsors: