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FEATURED INDUSTRY EXPERTS: CLICK FOR BIOS
Greg Bush, Jr.
President | CEO | Innovator at B.I.G., Inc.
Greg Bush Jr. serves as the Owner, President and CEO of Bush Infotech Group, Inc. (B.I.G.), previously known as KFA, Inc. B.I.G. is a firm specializing in management and information systems consulting and services. Boasting over a quarter of a century's experience in computer software and support services, Bush holds a master’s degree in information technology and a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. Currently, he is diving into the world of Artificial Intelligence, seeking to apply his knowledge to the development of innovative technology products and services.
Quentella Enty, MBA
Vice President at B.I.G., Inc.
Quentella Enty holds a Master of Business Administration degree and is also a Harvard Business School Alum. Enty’s extensive twenty years of experience in procurement, business development, community service, and bringing diverse organizations to the table with Fortune 500 companies, government, business technical assistance agencies, Ivy League Universities Executive Business Programs and Lenders, has made her a very sought-after business executive and entrepreneurial advisor across the Chicago and national business ecosystem. Enty is pivotal to the preparation and success of the Bush Infotech Group 2023 Summit.
Peter Urban
Vice President at B.I.G., Inc.
Peter Urban is Vice President with B.I.G., Inc. and a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP). With a degree in architecture and over twenty (25) years’ experience, he is a specialist in software solutions for design, construction, and facility management, with a focus on program and project management solutions for large and complex capital programs.
Donald Alford II
World-Renowned Renaissance Tour Bass Guitarist
With his 20 + years of experience as a bassist, Donald has gained notoriety which landed him significant recognition as a professional musician. Not only has Donald published his own albums, Donald has extensive success performing studio session work, live recordings, and tours with musical greats such as The Isley Brothers, Agnez Monica, and Gospel greats like Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Smokie Norful, Donald Lawrence, and Walter Hawkins.
Dr. Makeba Butler Phinn
Deputy Director | Strategic Initiatives | Cook County | Bureau of Finance​Office of Contract Compliance | Keynote
Dr. Makeba Butler Phinn is a distinguished educator, scholar, and author, as well as a dynamic speaker known for her engaging communication skills. Originally from Florida and now based in Chicago, she is recognized for developing some of the most innovative and effective business development and educational programs utilized in both nonprofit and government sectors.
Lynda Applegate
Baker Foundation Professor
Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita
Lynda M. Applegate is a Baker Foundation Professor at HBS and is Chair of the Advisory Committee for Harvard University’s Masters Degree of Liberal Arts in Finance and Management at the Harvard University Extension School.
She has also played a leading role in developing and delivering HBS Executive Education Programs for entrepreneurs and business owners, most recently as Faculty Chair of the Entrepreneurial Management Unit and Faculty Chair of the HBS Executive Programs for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs.
Tonya Fourte’-Lyles
Assistant Director, Supplier Diversity
Tonya Fourte’-Lyles serves as the Assistant Director of Supplier Diversity, bringing a wealth of experience in performance and project management, compliance and vendor management, and financial analysis. With a strong academic background, she holds a Master's degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Chicago. Additionally, she has completed corporate project management training, further enhancing her ability to lead and execute high-level initiatives.
Dr. Makeba Butler Phinn
Deputy Director | Strategic Initiatives
Cook County
Bureau of Finance
Office of Contract Compliance
Dr. Makeba Butler Phinn is a distinguished educator, scholar, and author, as well as a dynamic speaker known for her engaging communication skills. Originally from Florida and now based in Chicago, she is recognized for developing some of the most innovative and effective business development and educational programs utilized in both nonprofit and government sectors.
Donna Beasley
Director of Government Contracting Services and the IL APEX Accelerator at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)
Donna Beasley is the Director of Government Contracting Services and the IL APEX Accelerator at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC). She advises clients on how to do business with the government at the city, county, state, and federal levels. She provides hands-on technical assistance to small businesses that either want to become government contractors or are government contractors in need of technical assistance.
Donna facilitates both the GovCon Beginner’s Bootcamp and the federal FEDCon cohort for established businesses.
Bruce Eric Montgomery
Commissioner, Illinois Commission of Equity & Inclusion
Bruce Montgomery is a widely recognized and active contributor to Chicago’s Business, Technology and Cultural communities. He is the Founder and President of Montgomery & Company, a digital media, information and communications technology company. Bruce is also the Founder, executive producer and host of Technology Access Television and Bruce on Business, Chicago’s long running TV news and radio shows covering Business, Technology and Innovation.
Kwang Jun (KJ) Lee
Senior Systems Analyst at BIG, Inc.
KJ holds a Ph.D. degree in Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) Management, along with a Master of Science in Architecture for Facilities Planning and Management. During his Ph.D. studies, he conducted research on Building Information Model (BIM) to improve data interoperability and handover throughout a building's lifecycle, participating in multiple NIST projects.
Jordyn Bush
Multimedia Producer at B.I.G., Inc.
Bush is a talented Multimedia Producer at B.I.G., Inc. with over 14 years of experience in the film and editing in the industry. Since joining KFA in 2020, she has developed deep expertise in podcasts, on-location streaming, virtual gala, graduation productions, and TV commercials.
Danielle Gran
Senior Project Manager at B.I.G., Inc.
Gran has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and over eleven years’ experience applying information technology to design, construction, and facility management. Gran has served on multiple B.I.G. e-Builder implementation teams. She has assisted in every aspect of implementation from documenting and analyzing business process requirements to configuration and providing quality assurance of configurations. She facilitates user acceptance tests, develops user manuals, and provides end-user training and support.
Dr. Terrence Roberts
Director of Technology Innovation & Business Development at B.I.G., Inc.
With over 35 years of experience in various domains such as business intelligence, data analytics, web technologies, enterprise application integration, application development, enterprise infrastructure support, and program management, Roberts possesses a wealth of expertise. Currently holding a position at B.I.G., Roberts takes charge of designing innovative strategies that harness the potential of technology in both established and emerging markets, including data management, internet-of-things, business process automation, and cloud services.
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Patricia Hanes
Pat Hanes & Associates
Director – Former IL & Chicago MBDA Export Center
As Director of the Export Center Ms. Hanes is focused on helping minority owned companies grow their business through exporting. Ms. Hanes helps clients to identify contract opportunities, access capital and navigate the resources needed to export products globally. The Chicago Export center works to introduce clients to markets in Africa and China but as part of a network of export centers around the country clients can expand their reach around the globe. Ms. Hanes years of expericence in Supply Chain Operations, Diversity and Business Development make her well suited for this position. ​
Joshua Chism
Consultant& Software Engineer at B.I.G., Inc.
Joshua is B.I.G.’s senior software developer and holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems from Purdue University’s College of Business. Josh has been involved with software development, consulting, and IT for 4+ years at B.I.G.
Rosalyn Putman
Supervisor, Business Opportunity Specialist
Illinois District
Rosalyn Putman serves as the Supervisory Business Opportunity Specialist at the Illinois District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA is a federal agency that helps small businesses start, grow, expand, and recover. SBA aids small businesses through the guaranty of loans, surety bonds, certification, advocacy, and business development assistance.
Jose M. Robles-Michelena
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council
Mr. Robles-Michelena is a Bi-Cultural Executive with extensive experience orchestrating successful strategies in Minority Supplier Development, Business Advising, International Trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Development. He has thirty years of experience in operations management playing progressive roles with Non-Profit, Public and Private Companies; and Government Organizations.
Teena Lorie Harris
Chicago Public Schools, Executive Director of the Office of Business Diversity
Teena Lorie is the steward of the Office Business Diversity for the district's remedial policies and programs for Construction, Goods and Services. She is the executive for the contract compliance of Prime Vendors and Suppliers partnerships with Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).
James Parker
CEO at 1921 Coworking, Inc. & 1921 Incubator, NFP
James Parker is CEO and founder of 1921 Coworking and Incubator, located in the heart of the Roseland Community on the far Southside of Chicago.
The Roseland community, and it’s neighboring community Pullman has a long tradition of excellence in Chicago. Michigan Ave., which runs down Roseland, was once a thriving street of economic growth and strength decades ago.
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Richard L. Martinez, Jr.
Acting Diversity Administrator of the Diversity Section of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Richard L. Martinez, Jr., is the Acting Diversity Administrator of the Diversity Section of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. He has nearly 29 years of governmental service and experience. This includes stops at the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and Cook County government. During his tenure he has monitored over $1 Billion in public construction contracts for compliance.
Adrian Rodriguez
IHCC
Adrian is dedicated to public service, leveraging data, technology, and social science to design effective policies. He focuses on microeconomics and entrepreneurship, developing strategies to help Latino business owners thrive. Adrian holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, a bachelor’s degree in law from the Autonomous University of Baja California, and completed the Leading Economic Growth Program at Harvard's Kennedy School. He is also certified in econometrics, digital marketing, and integrated communications.
Dale J. Morrison, Esq.
Leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Dale J. Morrison, Esq. is an expert and charismatic leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with decades of knowledge and experience with supplier diversity programs. He currently serves as Director of the Office of Procurement Diversity at the University of Illinois System, one of the nation’s largest and most renown institutions of higher education.
Jason H. Bullock
Projects Administrator – Compliance with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA)
Jason H. Bullock is dedicated professional, with several years of experience in government contracting and compliance. He recently just started a new role as Projects Administrator – Compliance with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). Prior to joining CDA, Jason was a Diversity Officer for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. In 2023, Jason received an Advocacy Award from Black Contractors, Owners and Executives (BCOE).
Christina Castillo
Deputy Programs Director at HACIA
Christina Castillo is the Deputy Programs Director at HACIA. Christina focuses on leading the Programs Department alongside the Senior Director of Impact and Innovation. She provides oversight to all programs offered by HACIA while working to identify new training opportunities to offer.