Obama Administration Hosts White House Forum on Entrepreneurship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions
The Small Business Administration and Department of Education join forces to promote services to underserved communities; host pre-event conference call to brief reporters
(WASHINGTON, DC – April 18, 2012) - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Education (ED) hosted a forum on entrepreneurship at the White House on Monday. The event brought together a mix of business owners, government experts, and leaders from a variety of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to discuss opportunities and facilitate solutions to challenges in underserved communities.
Prior to the event, SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns and ED Deputy Assistant Secretary Dr. Debra Saunders-White participated in a conference call to brief reporters on the Obama Administration’s efforts to engage HBCUs/MSIs and increase entrepreneurship opportunities in underserved communities.
To say the least, the event brought out some of the best and brightest in black America to the Obama White House for an afternoon of unprecedented networking. The topic, introduced by the White House’s John Brown and U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Marie Johns, was entrepreneurship and the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The day featured two powerful panel discussions – as well as break-out groups at the White House’s Eisenhower Building.
The first panel, moderated by Attorney and Radio Host Warren Ballentine, included:
*Ron Stodghill, Director of Diversity. Workforce and Small Business Development at Johnson C. Smith University;
*Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President, Bennett College;
*Dr. dt. ogilvie, Professor of Business Strategy & Urban Entrepreneurship, Rutgers Business School;
*Dr. Laurel Jones, President, Mission College; and
*Cassius Butts, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration.
The second panel featured:
*Ron Busby, President, U.S. Black Chamber, Member of the SBA Council for Underserved Communities;
*Terry Clark, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Business Development, National Urban League;
*Valerie Moseley, Senior Vice President and Partner, Wellington Management Company;
*Deborah Thomas, President and CEO, Data Solution Technology; and
*Luis Borunda, President and CEO, US Hispanic Youth Entrepreneurship Education.
Closing remarks were made by Dr. Debra Saunders-White, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
