May 26, 2022 | 12-1pm

About this event

B Local Illinois is proud to sponsor this webinar featuring a panel of distinguished, mission-driven leaders that will be speaking to the power and value of establishing a supplier diversity program within your company or organization.

Business has the power to be a force for good. And good businesses are those that are best prepared to win in a global marketplace that places increasing importance on companies' social and environmental performance.

About the speakers

Omar Brown

Omar Brown (he/him/his) is Senior Vice President, People & Culture Officer for Big Ten Conference. In this role, he drives diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout the conference, such as the Equality Coalition and the Advisory Commission. Brown leads all people ops efforts for conference staff including talent acquisition, professional development and performance management. Prior to joining Big Ten, Brown was an organizational transformation leader in Deloitte’s Human Capital Consulting practice.

From 2012 to 2015, Brown was part of the leadership team at the Chicago Transit Authority, including more than two years as vice president of human resources (HR).

Brown has amassed a great deal of practical experience in benefits consulting, finance and diversity throughout his career through his service with organizations such as City of Chicago, University of Illinois System, Illinois Housing Development Authority, General Board of Pension, and Aon Hewitt.

Robyn Lustbader

Robyn (she/her/hers) is the Senior Engagement Officer at Cara Collective and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Chair at B Local Illinois. Robyn's passion for JEDI issues starts with her diverse family, and celebrating her Pacific Islander heritage. She started her career as a musician, with a Music Education and Performance degree from Ithaca College. She is currently a rising Baumhart Scholar MBA at Loyola University's Quinlan School of Business and a member of the Chicago Chamber Choir.

Ralph G. Moore

Ralph G. Moore, CPA, is the founder and president of Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA), a Chicago-based consulting firm recognized as a global leader in supplier diversity strategies and minority business development.

Mr. Moore has earned numerous awards during his career. He has been recognized as "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Inc. Magazine and Ernst & Young. In addition, he has received the "Ron Brown Award" from the Minority Business Committee of the Chicago Minority Business Development Council, the "Minority Advocate Award" from the Illinois Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED-Week) Committee, the Governor's "Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year Award" from the State of Illinois and the "Illinois Minority Small Business Advocate Award" from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2010 Mr. Moore received the coveted NMSDC Leadership Award, the organization's highest honor awarded to a CEO of a minority business enterprise. The capstone of his career was receiving the Harriet R. Michel Award at the 2021 NMSDC National Conference, recognizing his three decades of contributions to the organization.

Averi Thomas-Moore

Averi Thomas-Moore is a Senior Consultant at Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA), a Chicago-based consulting firm recognized as a global leader in supplier diversity strategies and minority business development.

Ms. Thomas-Moore has global experience building systems of financial inclusion and supporting the growth of entrepreneurial ecosystems—including in Nigeria. She has mentored aspiring entrepreneurs in areas as diverse as financial services, technology, and user design. Ms. Thomas-Moore collaboratively co-creates new ideas on how to address inclusive entrepreneurial opportunities, validate these solutions with customers in the field, and helps build innovative startups from scratch.