• 2023 National Black Footwear Forum

    Agenda

  • Event Schedule

    DAY 1

    Thursday, September 21 | PLC Campus

     

    4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Sponsored by Pepsi

    7:00 - 10:00 PM   Opening Night Mixer by Bacardi and Art Community Engagement Panel- Open to ALL registered attendees

     

    Art Community Engagement Panel featuring:

    • Moderator: Dion Walcott, Founder of MARTK'D and Director of Partnership for PLC
    • Tracey Allsbrook, Asst Brand Marketing, Champion
    • Gary Bushrod, Global Head of Diversity Equality & Inclusion, Amazon Music
    • Micah A. Shumake, Detroit Artist Dictator of Taste

    Networking Mixer feat. Special Guest DJ Kawan Prather

    DAY 2

    Friday, September 22 | PLC Campus

     

    8:30 AM Breakfast & Registration Check-in

    9:30 AM Welcome & Remarks

    • D'Wayne Edwards, Founder, Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design 
    • Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA 
    • Astor Chambers, Host/Co-Founder of Culture Raises US

    9:45 AMOpening Keynote // Culture is Currency with Grandmaster Caz

    • Moderator: Astor Chambers, Host/Co-Founder of Culture Raises US
    • Grandmaster Caz, Hip-Hop Legend & Pioneer

    10:15 AM50 Deep: Examining the history of hip hop, design, & culture with Hidden Figures

    • Moderator: April Walker,  CEO, Walker Wear & A. Walker Group
    • Elena Romero, Assistant Chair and Assistant Professor, Marketing Communications at FIT
    • Shara McHayle, Co-Founder and President of Hoop 88 Dreams
    • Kianga "Kiki" Milele, Creator of K. Milele
    • Sybil Pinnex, Owner of GR8FULLGIRL, Zeitgeist of the 90’s

    11:00 AMJEMS by PENSOLE Spotlight: Highlighting the first black-owned shoe factory in the U.S.

    • Moderator: Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, Founder, Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design 
    • Bill Jordan, President, Designer Brands

    11:30 AM Black Genius Conversation with Rupert Campbell

    • Moderator: Sheena Butler-Young, Senior Correspondent, The Business of Fashion (BoF)
    • Rupert Campbell, President, Adidas North America

     

    12:00 PM — Break Out Sessions: 

    Break Out Session 1: The State of Self Care - Importance of mental, physical, spiritual health (women focused)

    Reserve your seat

    • Moderator: Katara McCarty, Public Speaker, Coach, and Founder of Exhale App 
    • Monique Shekarchi, Key City Marketing Manager, Lululemon
    • April Dinwoodie, Head of DEIB, Steve Madden
    • Daziah Green,  Assistant Footwear Designer, Adidas

    Break Out Session 2: Black In Action- Highlighting black leaders in other industries

    Reserve your seat

    • Moderator: Darrell Booker, Corporate Affairs Specialist, Microsoft
    • Michael Ford, Hip Hop Architect and Educator
    • Merrie Dudley, Owner & Creative Director, merriexmas toys & merried xo
    • Brian Thompson, Senior Journeyman Banknote and Product Designer   

    1:00 PM — Lunch/Networking Break

     

    Sessions with the Sneaker Lawyer - Stop by attorney and Sneaker Law author Kenneth Anand's table during the lunch break for free legal consultations and advice courtesy of Jayaram Law - Lawyers for Innovators™️. Consultations will be first come first serve and limited to 10 minutes. 

     

    2:15 PMWomen In… : Highlighting women in leadership

    • Moderator: Carmen Andrade Hardaway, Global Director, Energy Collaborations & Social Purpose Product, Reebok
    • Jennifer Ford, Founder & Owner, Premium Goods
    • Tamra Lewis, VP, Merchandising, Planning & Inventory Management Caleres
    • Deirdre Roberson, Founder and Creative Director of EUMELANIN and Cofounder of The Lab Drawer and Motor City STEAM Foundation
    • Reham Habib, VP, Brand Partnerships, Target

    3:10 PM The Brand of Culture: Conversation about how our identity, expression, & culture sets the trends and consumer behaviors for brands

    • Moderator: Jazerai Allen-Lord, Consultant, Founder, True to Size
    • Alexander-John, Designer/Creative Director, Alexander-John Design
    • John Wiggins, VP, Organizational Culture and Inclusion, Toronto Raptors
    • Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson, adidas / Director - Design Education & Growth, S.E.E.D
    • Kris Wright, VP, Jordan Footwear, Product & Merchandising, Nike

    3:50 PM Keynote Session // The Real DEIL (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Leadership): Raw discussion about the struggles of DEI at corporations featuring former and current position holders  

    • Moderator: Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, Founder, Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design  
    • Jarvis Sam, Founder and CEO, The Rainbow Disruption and former Chief DEI Officer at Nike
    • Amber Cabral, Inclusion Strategist, Author  
    • Michelle Marshall, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, PUMA
    • Todd Corley, SVP, Inclusion, Sustainability & Community, Carhartt

    5:00 PM — Bacardi Presentation

     

    5:30 – 7:30 PM — Networking Mixer

    DAY 3

    Saturday, September 23 | PLC Campus

     

    8:30 AM — Breakfast & Registration Check-in

    9:30 AM — Welcome & Remarks

     

    9:45 AMBlack Genius Conversation with Larry Miller

    • Moderator: Jason Mayden, Chief Executive Officer & Creative Director, Trillicon Valley 
    • Larry Miller, Chairman, Jordan Brand

    10:15 AMThis is the Remix: Reinventing yourself and the art of the pivot

    • Moderator: Charis Marquez,  Vice President, Global Fashion, eBay
    • Darius Billings, Vice President, Marketing and Community Engagement, The Athlete's Foot
    • Chris Dixon, Senior Footwear Designer, Timberland
    • Jessica Smith, CEO & Founder i.e. & Co-Founder adidas S.E.E.D.
    • Angela Medlin, Founder, FAAS

    11:30 AMBlack Genius Conversation with Ruth Carter

    • Moderator: D'on Lauren Edwards, Footwear Designer, Michael Kors
    • Ruth Carter, Academy Award-winning costume designer

    12:15 PM — Break Out Sessions: 

    Break Out Session 1: Black Owned Everything- Providing tips, tools, & resources for black entreprenuers

    Reserve your seat

    • Moderator: Stephen Green, Founder, PitchBlack and Angel Investor
    • Donald Dudley, Senior Manager of Marketing LEED, Footlocker
    • LaToya Williams-Belfort, Executive Director, Fifteen Percent Pledge
    • Kenneth Anand, Co-Founder & Author, Sneaker Law

    Break Out Session 2: TappedIn- Navigating corporate while Black; rules of engagement & professionalism

    Reserve your seat

    • Moderator: Damien Hooper- Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX
    • Sharifa Murdock, Entrepreneur, Chief Impact Officer, Kith
    • Amy Hunter, VP, Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Caleres
    • Daniel Cherry, SVP, General Manager, Adidas  
    • Tai Neal, VP, Strategy, Foot Locker

    1:15 PMLunch/Networking Break

     

    Sessions with the Sneaker Lawyer - Stop by attorney and Sneaker Law author Kenneth Anand's table during the lunch break for free legal consultations and advice courtesy of Jayaram Law - Lawyers for Innovators™️. Consultations will be first come first serve and limited to 10 minutes. 

     

    2:15 PM Music Fuels Culture: Exploring & discussing the intersection between Music, Art, Sneakers and Design

    Sponsored by: Amazon Music

    • Byron Merritt, VP of Design & Creative for Amazon Music
    • Kelley Walton, Global Head of Brand and Integrated Marketing for Amazon Music
    • Karim Wazani, Director of Partnerships for Amazon Music
    • Hosted by Blacklights Podcast Hosts, Dion Walcott & LaShae Boone-McCray

    3:00 PM — Claim A Seat: Emerging leaders in Sneakers: Providing a platform for the new generation of industry leaders to share their story and POV

    • Moderator: Bimma Williams, Co-Founder, Claima Stories
    • Jae Tips, Designer & Artist

    3:45 PM — Blacklight Awards

     

    4:15 PMFree Game: Generational Purpose - A conversation and reflection on heritage vs. legacy

    • Moderator: James Whitner, Owner of streetwear boutiques: Social Status, A Ma Maniere, and A.P.B.
    • June Ambrose, Creative Director & Designer
    • DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ, Producer, & Hip-Hop Icon

    5:00 PM — Bacardi Presentation

     

    5:30 – 9:00 PM Networking Mixer feat. Special Guest DJ Jazzy Jeff

    DAY 4

    Sunday, September 24 | PLC Campus

     

    Cultivating the Dreamer Within – a day for Her sponsored by adidas & i.e. [industry education] 

    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM — Adidas Community R&B Yoga: a unique and inclusive yoga experience that combines music with beginner friendly techniques hosted by Lauren Spearman 

    Register Here

     

    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM— Sisters in Sole Brunch Sponsored by Adidas & i.e.: break bread with your sisters in sole.

    Register Here

     

    1:00 PM- 2:30 PM — Adidas Community Leadership Workshop powered by i.e.: Dismantling Perfectionism & Reframing Failure for Women in Footwear is a leadership development workshop focused on reframing our missteps as powerful tools that drive creativity and innovation.

    Register Here

     

    Men's Leadership & Wellness Workshop – The Game Behind the Game

    9:00 AM- 11:30 AM — Men only session hosted by Jason Mayden, Kenneth Anand, Sneaker Law and Trevor Edwards, former Nike President. This session will unpack nuanced topics that impact the mental well-being of Black and Brown men in the industry. This session will also provide free legal guidance for topics such as: employment law and protections, IP, negotiating employment agreements, documenting and reporting wrong doing as a person of color in corporate America, and more.

    Register Here 

  • Thanks to our 2023 Event sponsors!

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