School of Chamber & Business Management

JULY 28-31 MARRIOTT MARQUIS

901 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW | WASHINGTON, DC 20001

2015

CELEBRATING OUR

5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCEMaximizing resources. Impacting growth.

U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. | 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20005202.463.8722 [p] | info@usblackchambers.org | www.usblackchambers.org

On behalf of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) Professional Development Committee, we invite you to join us for our 2015 USBC School of Chamber and Business Management. This is an exciting and highly enlightening profes-sional development conference for minority chamber executives and business owners. As we celebrate our sixth Year in Business, we ask that you participate in our national conference to learn more about who we are, and how we serve Black chambers of commerce and businesses nationwide. The USBC School is a premier educational summit, and your vehicle for building the skills needed to successfully manage and grow your chamber of commerce or business. This is the only event of its kind, and is one that brings together the best of chamber leadership, corporate partners and policy makers from across the country, all in one place, and at one time! This four-day convening will provide you with unprecedented educational and networking opportunities, including a host of dynamic speakers at plenary sessions and workshops. Information will be shared on successful approach-es and strategies towards empowering your chamber or business to make national connections and maximize busi-ness opportunities. On behalf of the USBC Board of Directors and USBC Professional Development Committee, we thank you for your continued support and hope you enjoy your time in Washington, DC.

In the Spirit of Success,

Ron Busby Kerwin BrownPresident & CEO Chair, Professional Development CommitteeU.S. Black Chambers, Inc. U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

ADVOCACYThe USBC fights for legislation that promotes small business growth, particularly policies that address the challenges of Black business owners. We understand the importance of maintaining a bipartisan approach to advo-cacy, and hence, collaborate with policy mak-ers from all political affiliations to advocate for policies that best serve the interest of the Black community.

ACCESS TO CAPITALCapital access remains the most important factor limiting the establishment, expansion and growth of Black-owned businesses. The USBC works with financial institutions, par-ticularly Black-owned institutions, to create avenues by which Black businesses can gain greater access to credit, capital and other fi-nancial instruments.

CONTRACTINGAt the USBC, our goal is to level the playing field by helping members gain access to busi-ness opportunities in private and public sec-tors. We accomplish this by educating mem-bers on contract opportunities, helping them increase their capacity to bid for large scale contracts, and offering resources and infor-mation that enhance Black owners’ ability to compete.

ENTREPRENEUR TRAINING The USBC is committed to helping Black busi-ness leaders achieve stellar performance and growth through entrepreneur and business management training. Hence, we deliver quality educational opportunities and profes-sional development resources that help our members manage and grow successful busi-nesses.

CHAMBER DEVELOPMENTThe growth and development of Black cham-bers of commerce is a core focus of the USBC. As such, we leverage our role as a national or-ganization, provide technical assistance and leadership training to member chambers, assist with the establishment of new Black chambers, and facilitate the sharing of best practices and industry data among our mem-bers. To do this, we utilize a variety of mecha-nisms including, training, web-based tools, peer networking, coaching, and information products. In addition, the USBC School of Chamber Management offers a broad range of courses, from basic chamber management courses for individuals new to the profession, to advanced level courses for experienced chamber managers and executives.

MISSION STATEMENTThe U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) provides committed, visionary leadership and advocacy in the realization of economic empowerment. Through the cre-ation of resources and initiatives, we support African American Chambers of Commerce and business organizations in their work of developing and grow-ing Black enterprises.

VISION STATEMENTUSBC is an association of over 100 self-sustaining, viable Black Chambers and small business associations nationwide whose collaboration with strategic partners increases our capacity to serve.

VALUE PROPOSITIONWe strive for excellence in our organizational operations by focusing on integ-rity, credibility, and adding value to our clients.

OUR NATIONAL FOOTPRINTThe infrastructure of the USBC allows for a quick mobilization of messaging and support in all 50 states. National policy positions are finalized in our Washington, DC headquarters, and then filtered throughout the country by five Regional Directors that ensure and support the delivery of messag-ing to our 115 Black Chambers and Business Associations. Our mobiliza-tion includes highly targeted communications from chamber leaders to local business, community leaders, elected officials and policy staff. We take pride in our ability to influence policy by generating letters of sup-port, calls, and face-to-face meetings with key decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels as it relates to Black businesses.

FIVE PILLARS OF SERVICE The USBC’s Five Pillars of Service are the cornerstone of our platform. They represent issues that greatly impact the growth of Black-owned businesses in America and consequently, form the foundation of the USBC’s agenda.

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 2 Growing Black Chambers and Businesses Nationwide! | 3

4 5

A November 7, 2014 article in Black Enterprise stated:

“African American population is an economic force to be reckoned with, with a projected buying power of $1.1 trillion by 2015.”This data comes from The Nielsen Company whose study was commissioned by the National Newspaper Publishers Association, entitled “African-American Consumers: Still Vital, Still Grow-ing,”

There are 43 million African Americans in the United States, 13.7% of the total population, the second largest racial minority in the country.

The median age is 32 and 47% are under 35 years of age.

45 % men 54 % women

Households earning of $75,000 or more grew by more than 60 %, faster than the rest of the population.

AfricanAmerican’saverageincomenationwide is $47,290

So what does this all mean in business terms? It means African Americans wield tremendous buying power.

The Nielsen study showed numerous shopping trends, mostly for household,healthandbeauty,travel,smartphonesandchildrelated items.

WHY A SCHOOL OF CHAMBER & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT?There are many conferences across the country all year long that include economic development and small business initiatives in their programing.

We are the ONLY conference whose focus is solely on providing access and opportunities to grow Black chambers of commerce and the businesses we represent nationwide.

Our intimate conference provides the opportunity to closely interact with national leaders and Black business owners who are committed to influencing economic impact in our communities across the country.

Our participants influence legislation. They create jobs.

It is intentional that our conference attendance is smaller than other national conferences. Our intimate setting creates the landscape for effective relationship building and connections of value which impacts growth.

It’s simple, in order for there to be a strong America, you must have a strong Black America. For there to be a strong Black America, you must have strong Black businesses. For there to be strong Black businesses, you must have strong Black chambers.

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 4 Growing Black Chambers and Businesses Nationwide! | 5

TUESDAY, JULY 2811:00am PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL & BOARD MEETINGS

5:00pm WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT & PRESS CONFERENCE

6:00pm WELCOME RECEPTION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 298:00am Plenary Session #1 - Wealth Gap

10:00am Workshop Session #1A Women in Business

Workshop Session #1B Franchising

Workshop Session #1C Millennial Entrepreneurs

11:00am Workshop Session #2A Health Care

Workshop Session #2B Chamber Marketing

Workshop Session #2C Accounting

12:00pm LUNCHEON2:30pm Plenary Session #2 - Technology Policy

3:30pm Workshop Session #3 - Hands on with Google Applications

5:30pm PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION

THURSDAY, JULY 308:00am CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS

Plenary Session #3 - PART 1 Taking your business to SCALE

9:30am Plenary Session #3 - PART 2 Taking your business to SCALE

10:30am CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS

Plenary Session #3 - PART 3 Angel Investments: The Responsibility of Closing the Wealth Gap

12:00pm LUNCHEON2:30pm CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS

Plenary Session #4 - Exporting

4:00pm Plenary Session #5 - Mergers and Acquisitions

6:00pm PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE MEETING

FRIDAY, JULY 318:00am Business Advocacy Forum & Brunch

1:00pm Business Leaders Briefing @ White House

7:00pm DINNER @ HOWARD THEATRE

2015AGENDA

at-a-glance

CONTACTS TO CONTRACTSOn Thursday, July 30, 2015 the “CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS” sessions will feature twelve (12) private meetings throughout the day where our partners will share insight about viable contracting opportunities. Suppliers will provide a list of projects and vendors they are seeking, making it easier for you to decide how to spend your time. Business owners will submit a profile application about their company to be invited by the supplier to their private contract meeting. With only ten (10) seats available in each meeting, these unique matchmaking sessions will create an intimate setting where both the supplier and business owners can truly develop lasting relationships and turn new contacts into contracts.

HOW IT WORKSSUPPLIERS

Looking for the right vendors to fulfill contract opportunities?BUSINESS OWNERS

Looking for the right opportunities that you can leverage now?

1) Commit to Hosting a “CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS” private meeting 1) Register now for the conference and select “CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS: Business Owner”

2) Provide us with a list of contract opportunities and vendors you are seeking

2) We will send you special notifications of the suppliers and their opportunities

3) We will send out special notifications to all businesses owners in our network

3) Fill out and return your Business Profile Application selecting which supplier meetings you would like to participate in along with your company capabilities statement (one sheet overview)

4) Review business applications and profiles that have been submitted

4) The supplier(s) will send you a personal invitation to attend their private meeting(s)

5) Select and invite (10) business owners that best match your qualifications

DEADLINES FEB 28 | Commit to being a Host JUNE 15 | Register for Conference

MARCH 2 | Deadline to send us your list of opportunities & ideal vendors

JUNE 15 | Deadline to submit Business Profile Applications

JULY 10 | Invite business owners to attend your private meeting JULY 17 | RSVP your attendance to the supplier meetings

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 6 Growing Black Chambers and Businesses Nationwide! | 7

SPONSORSHIPopportunities

BENEFITS $50,000 $35,000 $25,000 $15,000Exclusive branded sponsorship level

Corporate logo on all event marketing collateral

Corporate logo on USBC School banner

Corporate logo on USBC website with hyperlink

Pre-conference promotional email to USBC participants

Opportunity to deliver remarks during a specific conference event

Provide branded keepsake for (250) participants

Photo opportunity with keynote speaker(s)

Full page ad in conference program book

One and a half hour private meeting with (10) business owners of your choice

Branded sponsorship of a specific session of your choice

Opportunity to introduce and or serve as a speaker(s) during an additional specific conference event

$10,000 $5,000 $3,000 Recognition on USBC School marketing material

Branded sponsorship of a specific session of your choice

Opportunity to introduce and or serve as a speaker(s) workshop sponsor only

Half page ad in conference program book

One and a half hour private meeting with (10) business owners of your choice contacts to contracts

host onlycontacts to contracts

host only

TITLE SPONSOR [only one] $50,000

This exclusive level of sponsorship will include a variety of custom benefits that maximize exposure and multiple branding opportunities. These ben-efits range from premier ad placement in the conference program book, premier logo placement on all printed and electronic marketing media and collateral, to a one-on-one opportunity to meet with the top 100 Black Chambers of Commerce and business owners from across the country.

LUNCHEON SPONSORS[three exclusive] $35,000

WEDNESDAY | 7.29An intimate business luncheon with the opportunity to network with 250 chamber leaders and business owners nationwide. This luncheon will fea-ture a celebrity-packed panel discussion that will recharge and inspire our attendees to do the great work they do in our communities.

THURSDAY | 7.30An estimated 250 guests will attend this luncheon featuring a Fortune 500 Company CEO who will give the keynote address and present one of our highest awards, the Aubry Stone Advocate of the Year Award, to a quali-fied recipient.

ADVOCACY BRUNCH | 7.31This business advocacy brunch will feature presentations from the Depart-ment of Commerce, the Congressional Black Caucus, and USBC Advocacy Committee as we layout our agenda for the business leaders briefing at The White House Friday afternoon.

TECHNOLOGY SPONSORS [two exclusive] $25,000

WEBCASTING Conference highlights and featured speakers will be Webcast live during the conference and post-conference, giving non-attendees the opportu-nity to hear featured speakers. The sponsor’s logo will appear on the Web-cast page online.

VIDEO WALLReceive constant impressions of your company logo as attendees view live feeds from luncheons and plenary sessions during the four-day confer-ence.

RECEPTION SPONSORS [two exclusive] $15,000

WELCOME RECEPTION | 7.28 This reception with over 250 attendees will include chamber and business leaders across the country as well as networking opportunities with local and federal government officials.

PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION | 7.29This reception will follow our half day sessions focused on technology trends. Network with industry leaders and tech companies on the rise.

NEW!! --- DINNER @ THE HOWARD THEATRE | 7.31Align your brand with an unforgettable experience and engage with at-tendees in this one-of-a-kind dinner theatre.

PLENARY SESSION SPONSORS [exclusive sponsorship for each] $10,000

There will be five plenary sessions featuring highly acclaimed industry professionals and panelists.

WORKSHOP SESSION SPONSORS$5,000

Experts from the fields of millennial entrepreneurship; healthcare; franchis-ing; mergers and acquisitions; exporting; marketing and many more will provide lively presentations and discussions on timely issues.

“CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS” HOST [12 slots] $3,000 Government Rate | $5,000 Corporate Rate

Public and private partners will share insight about viable contracting op-portunities. This intimate setting will allow you the opportunity to really get to know the top businesses in our network. (Refreshments and audio visual needs will be billed directly from the hotel).

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 8 Growing Black Chambers and Businesses Nationwide! | 9

REGISTER NOW!Full conference registration fees include your attendance at the school; conference materials; and daily meals and receptions. We encourage all Chamber leadership from your organization to attend, from your Board Chair to your Program Director and especially the business leaders within your membership.

We’re confident that when you join us, you will agree that this is the only business conference that feels more like a family reunion where

work gets done and deals are made!

PAYMENT Registration fees are per person. Complete a registration form and enclose a check, money or-der, or credit card authorization and mail to ATTENTION: U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. | 1156 15th Street, NW | Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005. Full payment must accompany the registration form. Registration forms will not be processed without full payment. To save time, complete the registration form online or fax with credit card information to USBC at 202.872.8543. For registration questions contact: David Smith [david@usblackchambers.org]

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONSThe Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, [901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20001-4307, (202) 962-4482] is pleased to offer the use of their online group reservations sys-tem. All reservations can be made, modified or canceled by individuals on-line or by calling Marriott’s Reservations toll free number. Standard King and double sleeping rooms must be reserved by the cut off date of July 6, 2015 to receive the discounted rate of $199.00.

www.usblackchambers.org

This is a conference you can afford to attend but can’t afford to miss. Over the past five years, our chamber

leaders have seen significant growth and improvement in their operations, membership, programing, and ad-

vocacy agendas. Since the inception of our one-of-a-kind matchmaking event, over 20% of our business owners

who have participated have been awarded contracts on site!

PREVIOUS SPONSORS

PAST SPEAKERS

American Express OPENAT&TBlack EnterpriseBloomberg GovernmentCaesars EntertainmentCFSAClarity for ConsumersCoca-Cola DellDiageoFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Reserve System GoogleHilton WorldwideIBMIndustrial Bank

Madison Services GroupMerrill LynchMGM Resorts International Mobile FutureMorgan StanleyMyWireless.orgNational 8(a) AssociationNational GridNative American Contractors AssociationOak Ridge National LaboratoryOffice of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) PepsiPfizerPriceWaterhouseCoopers LLCShell

Southern California EdisonToyotaTravelers TV OneUnited AirlinesUniversity of PhoenixU.S. Department of Interior (DOI)U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission VerizonVisaWalmartWells Fargo

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 10 Growing Black Chambers and Businesses Nationwide! | 11

SPONSORSHIP & REGISTRATION FORM

Registration for this event must be completed and returned by Friday, July 13, 2015. Please fax completed form back to 202.872.8543 -or- scan and email to david@usblackchambers.org. Payments can be mailed to: U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. 1156 15th Street, Suite 1100, NW | Washington, D.C. 20005 | 202.463.8722 [p]

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR:

CHAMBER REGISTRATION

____ $495 | Member Registration

____ $695 | Non-Member Registration

Note: Deadline to register is July 13th, 2014. On-site registration will be assessed a $50 late fee.

BUSINESS OWNER REGISTRATION $400

____ Please send me notifications for “CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS”

DINNER & SHOW @ HOWARD THEATRE $75 (A-la-carte. Includes dinner, drinks and show ticket. Only 100 seats available)

LUNCHEON TICKET $50 each (for non-school registrants)

____ Wednesday Luncheon

____ Thursday Luncheon

TITLE SPONSOR $50,000

LUNCHEON SPONSOR $35,000

TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR $25,000

RECEPTION SPONSOR $15,000

PLENARY SESSION SPONSOR $10,000

WORKSHOP SESSION SPONSOR $5,000

“CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS” HOST $5,000 ($3,000 Government Agency Rate)

PROGRAM BOOK ADVERTISING

____ Full Page - $1,000 ____ Half Page - $750

____ Quarter Page - $500 ____ Eighth Page - $250

ORGANIZATION INFORMATIONKey Representative:

Organization Name: ___________________________________________

Prefix ______ First Name:_______________________________________

Last Name:___________________________________________________

Title:__________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

City:__________________________________________ State:___________

Zip:____________ Direct Phone___________________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________

Please submit a list of the other representatives from your organization you are registering for to attend the conference as well.

Registration information needed

Prefix ___________ First Name:____________________________________

Last Name:_____________________________________________________

Title:__________________________________________________________

Direct Phone:___________________________________________________

Email:_________________________________________________________

PAYMENT

PLEASE INVOICE ME AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS

ENCLOSED IS A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF

$ _________________________ CHECK # ____________________

CREDIT CARD

Card Type: VISA | MC | DISCOVER | AMEX

Card : ________________________________________________________

Expiration Date: _________________ Security Code: __________________

Signature: _____________________________________________________

Shouldyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactHeatherHolmes,ConferenceCoordinatorat:602.538.7500[d]-or-heather@usblackchambers.org.

RECEIVE $200 OFFif you register before Friday, Jan 30th

2015 USBC - School of Chamber & Business Management | 12