Event
Overview
Connections
to Contracts is a procurement-focused event connecting women-owned businesses
with corporations and each other. This virtual offering features a welcome
reception, corporate “roundtable” procurement discussions, a c-suite executive
keynote address, corporate industry-focused sessions, WBE success stories,
mindfulness moments, exhibitor booths featuring select sponsors, small group
networking, and one-on-one networking. All are welcome to attend.
The goal of this virtual event is to provide access to business
opportunities between our members that eventually lead to contracts, therefore
helping women-owned businesses achieve parity.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact WBCS Programs Manager, Elizabeth Garner.
Agenda
Monday, April 19
3:00 – 4:00 … Pre-Event Welcome Reception
Tuesday, April 20
8:30 – 9:15 … Welcome and Small Group
Networking
9:15 – 9:45 … Corporate Industry
Insights (attendees choose 1)
9:45 – 10:00 … Break
10:00 – 11:10 … Corporate Roundtable
Discussions (attendees choose 3)
11:10 – 11:20 … Break
11:20 – 12:30 … Keynote Address and
Small Group Networking
Wednesday, April 21
8:30 – 9:10 … Mindfulness Moment and
Small Group Networking
9:10 – 9:45 … WBE Success Stories Round
1 (attendees choose 1)
9:45 – 10:00 … Mindfulness Moment
10:00 – 11:10 … Corporate Roundtable
Discussions (attendees choose 3)
11:10 – 11:25 … Mindfulness Moment
11:25 – 12:00 … WBE Success Stories
Round 2 (attendees choose 1)
12:00 – 12:30 … Closing and Small Group
Networking
Registration
Your registration includes access to the pre-event welcome
reception on Monday, which will be held in Zoom, and all components on Tuesday
and Wednesday, which will be held in the Boomset virtual platform.
Boomset
Access
Starting Wednesday, April 14, you’ll be able to access Boomset to
register for specific sessions and start networking with others. We’ll have a
live dummy session available for testing video and sound on Wednesday, April 14
from 2:00 – 4:00pm CST and on Thursday, April 15 from 11:00am – 1:00pm CST. You can join
anytime within either window, and testing will only take a few minutes. That way,
we can troubleshoot any accessibility issues ahead of the actual event. Check out this video
tutorial explaining how to navigate Boomset.
One-on-One
Networking
While the above agenda reflects specific periods
dedicated to small group networking, you can one-on-one network at any time with
others via direct message and video chat. You can even network outside of event
hours.
Exhibitor
Connection
At any time, you can visit the Exhibitors tab to view an exhibitor’s profile
and request a connection with them. If you click to connect with an exhibitor,
they immediately receive that request and will receive your contact info for
follow up after the event as well.
Pre-Event
Welcome Reception
This
is a come-and-go opportunity to network on Monday, before the event officially
begins. It features multiple rounds of small group networking via Zoom. There's
no formal programming. This is simply time to make connections. Join and exit
at your own pace.
Session
Details
The week before the event, all Connections to Contracts registrants will have access to the virtual meeting platform, Boomset.
In order to access session content/activities, you will need to register for
the desired session(s) in Boomset.
The only sessions that have a capacity are the Corporate “Roundtable”
Discussions. Spots for the discussion sessions are open on a first-come,
first-served basis. For all other sessions, you can register at your leisure.
Small Group Networking
There is no capacity limit.
At
the beginning and end of each day, you’ll have the opportunity to video network
in small groups of 8 or less. There's no formal programming. This is simply
time to make connections. To participate in small group networking sessions, simply register for sessions that include "small group networking" in the title once you have access to Boomset (the week before the
event). Once in the session, we’ll be
able to mix and divide attendees up into small groups (like a Zoom session).
Corporate
Industry Insights (attendees choose 1 out of 2)
There is no capacity limit per session.
During these sessions,
panelists from corporations will provide insights into industry trends and what
consumers and vendors can anticipate. The featured industries are Energy and
Transportation. Since Corporate Industry Insights sessions occur concurrently on day one, attendees are
only able to engage in one session. To participate in the session of your choice, simply register for it once you have access to Boomset (the week before the event).
Energy Industry Panelists:
- Centerpoint Energy
- Oncor
- Vistra
Transportation Industry Panelists:
- Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit
- DFW International Airport
Corporate "Roundtable" Discussions (attendees choose 3 per day)
There is a capacity limit per discussion
session.
A corporate representative leads WBEs in a discussion on his or her company’s
procurement process and shares insights on how potential suppliers can
differentiate themselves.
How It Works
Sized to facilitate discussion, each "roundtable" is a small group video chat limited to 8 WBEs plus the host. WBE spots are open on a first-come, first-served basis. To participate in the discussion session(s) of your choice, simply register for them once you have access to Boomset (the week before the event).
Timeline
Each discussion is 20 minutes followed by a 5 minute transition. Discussions take place from 10:00 - 11:10am CST each day.
- 10:00 - 10:20 ... Discussion round 1
- 10:20 - 10:25 ... Transition
- 10:25 - 10:45 ... Discussion round 2
- 10:45 - 10:50 ... Transition
- 10:50 - 11:10 ... Discussion round 3
List of Roundtable Hosts* (as of 4-7-21)
Alcon
AT&T
Bank of America
BNSF Railway
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Capital One
Celanese
City of Dallas
City of Fort Worth
Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
Communications Test Design,
Inc. (CTDI)
Dallas College
Dallas County
Dallas Independent School
District
Dell Technologies
DFW International Airport
Ericsson
Fluor
IBM
JPS Health Network
Lockheed Martin
Nokia
North Texas Tollway Authority
Oncor
Parkland Health and
Hospital System
PepsiCo
Southwest Airlines Co.
Texas Instruments
Toyota Financial Services
Toyota Motor North America
Vistra
Walmart
*Some corporations
may host roundtable discussions only on one of the two days. Prior to the
event, the full roundtable host schedule will be shared.
Keynote Address
There is no capacity limit.
Lori Ryerkerk, CEO of
Celanese, will provide insights on leading a diverse team while driving
inclusion and innovation. To participate in the keynote address, simply register for the session that includes "keynote address" in the title once you have access to Boomset (the week before the event).
WBE Success
Stories (attendees choose 2 out of 3)
There is no capacity limit per session.
During these sessions, WBEs
will provide insights on what has worked well for them in doing business with a
particular sector. The featured sectors are corporate America, the federal
government, and public entities. Since WBE Success Stories are featured twice
on day two, attendees can engage in two out of three offerings. To participate in the session(s) of your choice, simply register for them once you have access to Boomset (the week before the event).
WBE Success Stories with Corporate America Panelists:
- Molly Sandlin, CAET Project Management Consultants
- Kelly Roberts, Ricochet Fuel Distributors
WBE Success Stories with the Federal Government Panelists:
- Victoria Stevenson, Allied Supply Chain Support & Services
- Andrea Tsakanikas, CrewFacilities.com
WBE Success Stories with Public Entities Panelists:
- Royalyn Reid, Consumer & Market Insights (CMI)
- Sharmila Polavarapu, Numbers Only
Mindfulness
Moments
There is no capacity limit.
These sessions are intentional, brief breaks scattered
throughout day two. They will be guided by a WBE and allow the mind and body to
reset and re-energize. To participate in the session(s) of your choice, simply register for them once you have access to Boomset (the week before the event).
