Thursday, October 16, 2025 // 8:30AM – 1:30PM // Zion Baptist Church
3600 N Broad Street // Philadelphia, PA 19140
Senator Sharif Street is hosting his Diverse & Minority Enterprises: Funders Forum on Thursday, October 16 from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Zion Baptist Church, 3600 N Broad Street, Phila., PA 19140.
We will unveil the newly designed and updated Grant Guide at this event. Supplies are limited. Those who register are guaranteed a copy.
Learn to do business with the City & State, PA Department of General Services, Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity and Temple University. Connect with prime contractors preparing to bid on infrastructure projects & engage with
purchasing departments in need of supplies and services!
GET YOUR BUSINESS CERTIFIED
Hear From 3rd Party Certifiers
Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) • NGLCC
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
ENGAGE WITH BUSINESSES WHO WORK WITH THE STATE
Philadelphia Port • SEPTA
CONNECT WITH PRIME CONTRACTORS PREPARING TO BID ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS & ENGAGE WITH PURCHASING DEPARTMENTS IN NEED OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES!
WATCH LIVE STREAM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
WELCOME – Senator Sharif Street
9:05 AM
Remarks
- Rep. Roni Green, PA-190
- Rep. Darisha Parker, PA-198
- Rep. Danilo Burgos, PA-197
- Councilmember Cindy Bass, 8th District
- Councilmember Jim Harrity, At-Large
- Dr. Erica Patterson, PA Deputy Secretary for Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities
9:15 AM
FUNDERS ROUNDTABLE
- Jill Fink, The Merchants Fund
- Michael Shorr, Department of Community & Economic Development
- Salim Wilson, City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
- State agencies
10:30 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION
PUBLIC CONTRACTING: CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
How to Do Business with the Commonwealth
- Audrey Smith, Outreach Manager, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO), Department of General Services (DGS)
- City of Philadelphia
11:15 AM
PRESENTATION
Introduction to COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program
- Isaiah Smith, PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Procurement
12:00 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION
Financing Your Enterprise
- Deborah Mason, Citizens Bank
- Pamela Rich-Wheeler, The Business Center
12:45 PM
PRESENTATION
DBE/MBE CERTIFICATIONS
- Rochelle Culbreath, SEPTA
1:15 PM
NETWORKING
1:30 PM
CLOSE PROGRAM – Aissia Richardson
LOCATION
Zion Baptist Church
3600 N Broad Street // Philadelphia, PA 19140
Zion Baptist Church
Zion Baptist Church // 3600 N Broad Street // Philadelphia, PA 19140
2025 Diverse & Minority Enterprises: Funders Forum
2024
2023
