Celebrating the Legacy & Future of Minority Entrepreneurs

Welcome to the Celebrating the Legacy & Future of Minority Entrepreneurs event! Join us at Hempstead Town Hall for a day filled with inspiration, networking, and empowerment. This in-person event will bring together minority entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to celebrate their successes and discuss strategies for the future. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from industry leaders, and be a part of a supportive community.

New York State Local, Regional and Statewide Government Agency Representatives in New York State to Headline Minority Enterprise Development Month (MED) on Long Island on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, at this year’s Minority Enterprise Development Month event at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion. Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Minority Enterprise Development Month 2025 2.0 will consist of multiple activities scheduled throughout the month of October, focused on delivering content, tools, and resources aimed at supporting small and midsized businesses across New York State.

At last year’s event the chamber in a historic ceremony unveiled its newly designed lapel pin, and commemorated Founder’s Day by presenting its Vice President Rose Ward its 1st Founder’s Day Award.

The events that compose MED Week are meant to raise awareness among minority business owners, and the larger business community and support these businesses in their efforts to grow to scale. “Minority Enterprise Development Month will continue to fuel the growth of small business in New York State well into the future.

“The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.’s insight and knowledge of resources in New York State gives the chamber a unique advantage of helping its small business owners who are members of the chamber, and its wider network grow to scale.”

This year’s speakers include: Senior VP of Small Business Capital Access, Empire State Development (ESD) Rafael (Ray) Salaberrios. He heads up a team of economic professionals responsible for developing and implementing state programs that leverage private capital. These initiatives include establishing collateral support, state and loan guarantee programs, and directing New York State investments in public-private economic development projects.

ESD launched the New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) in May 2020 in the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic crisis to assist small businesses with affordable working capital loans. In one-year NYFLF has disbursed over 1,282 loans for $70 million with 91% of loans received by businesses with 10 or less employees and 65% of loans received by MWBEs.

Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, MTA NYC, Christine Norman - Christine Norman serves as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for the MTA's Department of Diversity and Civil Rights (DDCR), where she leads key initiatives including Technology, Operations, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Program, and MWDBE/SDVOB Outreach. Throughout her career at the MTA, Christine has held titles including Assistant Deputy Chief of Supplier Diversity and Director of Supplier Diversity, focusing on compliance and initiatives in procurement.

NYSDOL's Business Advocacy Office (BAO), Department of Labor - Business Advocacy, Michael Thiemann - Michael is the Business Advocate for the New York State Department of Labor. Michael builds and coordinate relationships that support businesses and organizations in New York State to engage beneficially with the NYS Department of Labor; and to help them to embrace and continually evolve solutions that develop a strong and reliable workforce, and a thriving business climate.

Small Business Development Center, Farmingdale SBDC, Assistant Director - Lauren Linakis - The SBDC at Farmingdale State College plays a key role in economic development by providing free, high-quality, technical and management assistance to start-up and existing small businesses. Lauren created and implemented programs designed to increase economic impact within the local business community. Her subject matter expertise is government contracting.

Stony Brook University, LI Manufacturing Extension Partnership - Amy Erickson, Executive Director, LIMEP - Amy brings 20 years of manufacturing experience to Stony Brook. Erickson is an engineer who has expertise in process optimization and lean manufacturing principles, having worked with various manufacturing sectors on Long Island throughout her career.

CHASE Bank – Vice President, Communications Manager, Amy Flores - Amy Flores is a Vice President, Community Manager at JPMorgan Chase. The firm provides services in investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, financial transaction processing, and consumer and small business banking under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands.

Vice President, Sr. Business Consultant, Akim Jones - Akim support business owners in growing their businesses through 1:1 consulting and executive coaching, accessible on-demand education, and banking solutions.

PSEG Economic Development Specialist - Christine Bryson is the Economic Development Specialist at PSEG Long Island for Nassau County and the Rockaways. She has 13 years of experience at the utility including quality assurance, customer experience and emergency planning. As part of the Business First team, she assists small business customers with grants, energy efficiency rebates and bill credits, and partners with business associations to help make communities thrive. She is also a licensed architect in New York State for over 30 years.

Let's come together to celebrate diversity, innovation, and the power of entrepreneurship. See you there!

Host or Publisher Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce