ANKENY, Iowa – The 18th annual National Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the FFA Enrichment Center here at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
The annual event rotates this year to DMACC’s center at 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway.
Go here to register for the event.
A regional summit was held in August in Moline. That event brought together about 200 people seeking advice and tips for improving businesses and conquering the many challenges they face in the business world. Many of the featured workshops included “Power of Capital,” “Building a Better Brand,” “Six Steps to Building the Business of Your Dreams” and more.
This weekend’s event is a one-day summit and community gathering of businesspeople of all backgrounds and expertise. Like the Quad Cities event, leaders will gather together to highlight the important aspects of running a successful business.
Some of the summit’s features include:
- 21 seminars – Multiple tracks of workshops for people to gain practical knowledge that can be applied to their business, including ones in Spanish.
- Exhibitor Hall – A platform for networking and knowledge exchange.
- Luncheon awards – Discover role models in your community who are an inspiration for others to follow, showing the diversity of success.
- Underwriting exposed – Business pitch competition of small, immigrant-owned businesses in their startup business by offering a grant of $5,000 per winner and showing the thought processes of loan underwriters.
Some of the scheduled speakers at the event include:
- Tauseef Ahmed, founder and CEO of Grayhawk Consulting Group, where he helps small and mid-market organizations turn data & AI into measurable results.
- Rory Bidinger, vice president and Community Development officer for Stearns Bank. His focus is on bringing the bank’s vision of economic empowerment to life through business and economic development, community investment, financial mastery, and innovative partnerships.
- Emily C. Brown, founder and principal attorney of Elevate Justice U.S. Immigration Law. She brings extensive experience in business and family immigration law, including federal litigation.
- Jack Chimbetete, president of One Voice DSM, an all-African community development organization that uplifts African leaders, businesses, and organizations.
- Rafael Colon Cruz, senior vice president and business banking consultant at JPMorgan Chase, where he plays a pivotal role in empowering entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and strengthen their communities.
- Audra Fisher, manager of Customer Relations for America’s SBDC Iowa. She actively participates in community outreach to support small business resources and facilitates the Iowa State Small Business Credit Initiative.
