Main Stage Panel: “Cultivating Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the Delta”
Monday November 14 10:00 am to 11:30 AM
Wally Allen Ballroom

Panelists:

  • Bill Bonan, II, President and Chairman of the Board, Peoples National Bank
  • Alejandra Castillo, National Deputy Director, Minority Business Development Agency, United States Department of Commerce
  • Ari Matusiak, Executive Director, White House Business Council
  • William Sabin, Chief Lending Officer, Acción Texas
  • Clifton Taulbert, President, The Building Community Institute



Small businesses and entrepreneurship are the backbone of the Delta economy. In fact, small businesses employ half of all private sector employees and pay 44 percent of the total U.S. private payroll. And that’s not the end of the story. Small firms produce thirteen times more patents per employee than large patenting firms do. That’s exactly the kind of innovation and leadership that will drive the U.S. - and the Delta - economy forward. The Delta Regional Authority is committed to supporting small business owners across the Delta region as they do what they do best - grow the economy and create jobs. Our opening panel will bring together leaders from every sector for a dynamic conversation on cultivating and supporting small business and entrepreneurship in the Delta.

State of the Delta
Monday November 14, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Before moving forward with the Conference, Chairman Masingill will take a moment to look backward at the Delta. Our communities face daunting challenges - too many of our friends are out of work, too many of our businesses have closed. And yet, in the face of these obstacles, our hard-working people fight forward. Our innovative small business owners develop new strategies to boost competitiveness. And our strong Delta values bring communities together to share resources and collaborate. Have no doubt: the future of the Delta is strong.

Speaker:
Chris Masingill, Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority

Introductions by:
Nikolai DiPippa, Director of Public Programs, Clinton School of Public Service
Rodney Slater, Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation

Main Stage Panel: “Building a Sustainable Bio-Economy in the Delta”
Tuesday November 15 8:30 am to 10:00 AM
Wally Allen Ballroom

Panelists:

  • Dr. Steven J. Bares, President & Executive Director, Memphis Bioworks Foundation
  • Michael Hart, President & CEO, Sierra Energy
  • Mario Hurtado, Executive Vice President, Cleanline Energy
  • Ronnie Bell, Division Director of Governmental Functions, Three Rivers Planning and Development District



The Delta region - from its access to a vast network of waterways to its vast supply of biomass - is strategically positioned to take advantage of the new energy economy. While many communities used to let farming by-products simply rot, Delta farmers are now leading efforts to turn wood chips and sweet sorgham into the bio-fuels of the future. And the Delta Regional Authority is working hand-in-hand with them, helping develop clean technology clusters across the Delta region. Tuesday morning’s main stage panel will bring together government and business leaders for an energetic discussion on the role of the Delta region in the future of the many sectors of our bio-economy.

Main Stage Panel: “Growing a Healthy Delta”
Tuesday November 15 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
Wally Allen Ballroom


Panelists:

  • Dr. Marcia Brand, Deputy Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Dr. Michael O. Minor, Director of the H.O.P.E. Health Initiative for the Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
  • Governor Ronnie Musgrove, Former Governor, State of Mississippi and Chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
  • Mark K. Shriver, Senior Vice President for US Programs, Save the Children




A healthy workforce is essential to growing the Delta economy and creating jobs. In fact, a recent Gallup poll showed that chronic health issues could cost the national economy more than $153 billion a year. Delta communities understand this challenge better than most: our people die from circulatory diseases, complications associated with diabetes and cancer at a much higher rate than communities across the nation. We can and must do better. That’s why the Delta Regional Authority is committed to improving health outcomes throughout the Region. This panel will convene leading advocates from every sector to tackle the basic challenge of providing quality, affordable health care, community-based program implementation and health education to our people so we can compete economically for generations to come.

Main Stage Panel: “Help Thy Neighbor: Developing Philanthropy in the Delta
Tuesday November 15, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Wally Allen Ballroom

Panelists:

  • Jim Caldwell, Executive Director, United Way of Southeast Arkansas
  • George Miles, Executive Director, MidSouth Delta LISC
  • Sarah Roberson, Executive Director, City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock
  • Sherece West, Executive Director, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
  • Kathy Smith, Senior Program Officer, Arkansas Education Reform Initiative, Walton Family Foundation



Helping your neighbor is a key Delta value. We don’t have to look far to see the powerful human success stories created by the Delta’s strong philanthropic and non-profit organizations. While funders face limited resources, they regularly develop innovative programs with celebrated successes. The closing main stage panel will bring together participants who understand how to turn challenges into opportunities.