Speakers

5th Annual Small and Minority Business Conference
Accessing the new economy
Ready, Set, Go!
Confirmed speakers from across the Puget Sound Region include:

 

  

Bob Drewel
Executive Director
Puget Sound Regional Council
Bob Drewel is the Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. PSRC was formed in 1991 by the local governments in the central Puget Sound region as a forum for making key decisions on regional growth and transportation issues. The agency serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Planning Organization for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties and cities. PSRC supports the work of the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District through a merger that took effect in 2003.
Bob Drewel completed his third and last term as Snohomish County Executive in December 31, 2003. He was first elected to that position in November 1991.
Bob is well known for his leadership in promoting regional solutions to the many challenges facing the Northwest, including economic development, effective land-use regulation, transportation, and environmental enhancement. In his twelve years of public service, Bob has successfully worked to build partnerships between the often-contending interests of the private and public sectors … partnerships that are based on shared visions for a healthy and vigorous community.

Dow Constantine
Executive
King County
Dow Constantine was sworn in as King County Executive on November 24, 2009. He served as a King County Council member for seven years, and has held elected office in Washington state for 13 years.  Dow is working to instill a culture of performance that changes the way King County does business. His goal is to form partnerships with residents, cities, employees, and other county leaders to craft real, sustainable reforms.
A Seattle native, Dow graduated from West Seattle High School and the University of Washington. He earned University of Washington post-graduate degrees in law (1989) and urban planning (1992). Today, Dow lives in the West Seattle neighborhood where he grew up.
Dow became interested in politics at an early age and in college served as a legislative intern to 34th District State Sen. Phil Talmadge. After graduation he practiced law and worked on a number of community projects. While helping with efforts to preserve open space, he first worked with County Council member Greg Nickels, who later hired Dow as a legislative aide.
A two-term state representative (elected 1996 and 1998) before being elected to the 34th District’s senate seat in 2000, Dow was co-chair of the House Judiciary Committee and vice-chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee

Earl Overstreet
President
General Microsystems Inc
Earl is president of General Microsystems Inc. (GMI), a company he founded in 1983.   GMI provides systems and data storage solutions for public sector, health care, and commercial customers who consider information technology a strategic asset.  Partners include Oracle, HP, Hitachi Data Systems,  and Symantec.  Customers include The Boeing Company, Expeditors International, Starbucks, State of Washington, City of Tacoma, and Group Health Cooperative.
GMI received the received the 2008 William D. Bradford Minority Business of the Year Award and the 2006 Distinguished Business Achievement Award from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.  The company also received the 2007 and 2008 Supplier of the Year Awards for Class III from the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council.  GMI was on the Puget Sound Business Journal Washington’s 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies List in 2005 and 2006.
Earl has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

Ray Stephanson 
Mayor 
City of Everett 
He took office on Nov. 19, 2003.  As mayor of the largest city in Snohomish County, Stephanson has focused city resources on public safety, economic and downtown development, budget and finance and quality of life issues, including a strategic parks plan and redevelopment of the Snohomish Riverfront.  Stephanson serves as the president of the Puget Sound Regional Council, a municipal planning organization serving local jurisdictions in four counties.  He serves on the Board of the Prosperity Partnership. He serves as a co-chair of the Washington Aerospace Coalition. 

Marilyn Strickland
Mayor
City of Tacoma
Marilyn Strickland was elected to Mayor in 2009. She previously served two years in an at-large position and also served at the end of 2009 as Deputy Mayor.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Marilyn grew up in South Tacoma and has been a downtown resident for over a decade.  She is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Clark-Atlanta University.
Marilyn has professional experience in both the public and private sectors. She served as Development Officer for the Tacoma Public Library and has held management positions with American Cancer Society, Starbucks Coffee Company and JayRay Ads & PR.
Marilyn serves on the Government Performance and Finance Committee, the Public Safety and Human Services Committee and the Pierce County Regional Council.  Active in the community, she is a member of the Tacoma Urban League, the Black Collective and serves on the boards of KBTC Public TV Association, the Grand Cinema and Safe Streets.

Josh Brown
Commissioner, District 3
Kitsap County
As the senior member of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, Josh Brown represents the Central Kitsap District which includes the unincorporated communities of Silverdale, Tracyton, Seabeck, Illahee, Brownsville, Crosby, Holly, Rocky Point, among others.  He also represents the majority of the residents in the City of Bremerton.
The son of a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard worker, Josh graduated from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo and the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in City and Regional Planning.  After working as a commercial real estate broker for five years, Josh settled back home and has since dedicated himself to serving as County Commissioner.

Bruce Harrell
Councilmember
City of Seattle
Bruce Harrell and his family have been committed to community service in this region for over three decades. As an attorney and community volunteer, Bruce is known for his ability to create high performing teams and for resolving conflict. He has extensive experience in technology, strategic thinking and conflict management. Bruce began his public service in 1979 working for the Seattle City Council under Council President Paul Kraabel.
Bruce attended K-12 in Seattle Public Schools, graduating from Garfield High. He played football for the University of Washington (1978 Rose Bowl Champion, 1979 Sun Bowl Champion, 1st Team Academic All American and All Pac-10) and was subsequently elected to the UW Alumni Board of Trustees. He received the 2007 University of Washington Distinguished Alumni Award in Political Science and 2008 Husky Legend award.

Farayi I. Chiro
Founder & CEO
MasikaTech, LLC
Farayi Chiro is the founder and CEO of MasikaTech, LLC a Seattle based management consulting firm focused on delivering comprehensive business management and technology solutions.  We actively collaborate with clients to achieve measurable, long-term results.  Core service offerings include: CIO Services, CFO Services, Hybrid Resourcing and Portals & Collaboration.   MasikaTech, LLC is a certified State & Federal minority owned enterprise.
Farayi is also the President of Small Business Partners for Prosperity, a 501 C(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to create, develop, and promote sustainable growth and prosperity for small and minority business owners and entrepreneurs within the Pacific Northwest Region and strategically aligning small and minority businesses to focus on leading regional industry clusters with the highest economic growth for procurement.
Before founding MasikaTech and leading AAPP, Farayi worked as a Management Consultant at Accenture and CGI. He also worked as Project Engineer at Alstom (Energy Automation & Information) and Getty Images.
Farayi holds a BS, Electrical Engineering from University of Washington (’95).   Major area of study:  Power Engineering and Energy Management Systems.

Steve Klien
General Manager
Snohomish County
Steve Klein was appointed General Manager of Snohomish County PUD on April 10, 2006.  Before joining the PUD, he headed Tacoma Power.
Mr. Klein is recognized for his expertise and vision with SmartGrid and the integration of advanced telecommunications technology with the electric delivery system.  He is also a leader in the study and development of renewable energy, having been instrumental in the filing of the first permits for the study of tidal and geothermal power systems in the Puget Sound area.

Margaret McCormick, PhD
General Manager
Targeted Growth, Inc
Margaret McCormick is the General Manager for Bio-based Materials at Targeted Growth, Inc. (TGI).  She is also a partner at Integra Ventures, a life science venture capital firm.  She was formerly with BCM Technologies (the venture subsidiary of Baylor College of Medicine) and McKinsey & Company.  Dr. McCormick is a member of the Washington State Clean Energy Leadership Council, director on the board of the Algal Biomass Organization and the treasurer/ executive committee member of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association.  Dr. McCormick earned a Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Fernando Martinez
President and CEO
Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council
Fernando Martinez has over 29 years of experience in Sales and Operations.  Fernando has managed and led business units within various world class organizations such as Xerox, Starbucks, and Westin Hotels.  His leadership skills have successfully resulted in collaboration between operations and sales and have continuously delivered improved year-over-year efficiencies, revenue, and profit growth. 
Fernando Martinez is currently the President and CEO for the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council.  He is responsible for helping develop Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) into organizations that can support the specific needs of the Council’s Corporate and Public Agency Members.  In addition to helping develop MBEs, Fernando is responsible for helping Corporate and Public Agency Members identify opportunities and integrate Minority Suppliers into their strategic supply chain with the ultimate objective of improving customer value through increased improved customer satisfaction. 
Fernando has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

Steve Johnson
Acting Director
Office of Economic Development
As Acting Director of the Office of Economic Development, Steve Johnson shapes and guides the City’s dynamic economic development agenda.  This work includes attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses in Seattle; assisting businesses as they navigate government services; and investing in the development of a skilled workforce to meet the needs of industry and employers in a changing economy.  Steve manages every aspect of OED’s core services, which capitalize on Seattle’s established economic strengths, particularly in the areas of manufacturing and maritime, global health and life sciences, film and music, and the emerging field of clean tech.

Tim Strege
Executive Director
William Factory Small Business Incubator
Administers support for small startup businesses – focusing on specialty trade contractors, business service companies and technology enterprises.  Oversees the operations of a $3.3 million technology-sophisticated office building that is the center for over $30 million in annual commercial revenues earned by 30 client companies.  Arranges technical training, marketing and financial assistance for incubator firms; performs outreach, networking and advocacy functions benefiting client enterprises; ensures and maintains a construction contracting center; and directs revitalization activities within a federal enterprise community and state empowerment zone.

Eric Schinfeld
Program Manager
Puget Sound Regional Council /Prosperity Partnership
Eric Schinfeld is the Program Manager of the Economic Development Division.  He staffs energy efficiency, tourism, housing and small business policy for the Prosperity Partnership. Prior to joining PSRC, Mr. Schinfeld worked in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher, where he staffed the Congressman on telecommunications and healthcare issues.  He has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs and, during his undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, he double majored in political science and theater 

Erik Nilsson
President
Insilicos
Erik Nilsson is President of Insilicos, a biotechnology company developing diagnostics for cardiovascular disease. Insilicos is the second company Erik has headed as president, and his fourth startup.
Erik’s thirty years of professional experience at small and large organizations includes posts at Tektronix, Mitron, GraphiCode, and Mania Technology AG. In 1994, he worked as a database programmer for the Independent Election Commission of South Africa during the historic elections of that year. 
Erik’s educational background is in software. He received his BS from the University of Oregon. His interests include music and bicycle ultramarathons. Erik lives in Seattle with his family.

Silas Potter
Administrator
Regional Small Business Development Program (RSBDP)
Silas Potter, Administrator of the Regional Small Business Development Program (RSBDP), has been working alongside small businesses for over 20 years. Within the last 2 years, he has collaborated with other local public agencies to join efforts and provide small business education and technical assistance through RSBDP. As the RSBDP Administrator, Silas has formed lasting partnerships with Sound Transit, the Port of Seattle, the Tacoma Public Schools, the City of Seattle, the City of Tacoma and the WA State Department of Transportation to offer small businesses the education and training needed to cultivate relationships that lead to business opportunities.

Patrick L. Hughes Sr.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Hughes Group LLC.
Patrick L. Hughes Sr. is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Group LLC.  Hughes Group began operations in 1999 with Two (2) Divisions and in 2003 added an additional  Division for a total of three (3).  These three (3) Divisions make up the Core Business, they are Logistics Services, Supply Services and Facility Maintenance.  Hughes Group is an 8(a) Certified; Small Disadvantaged; Service Disabled & Veteran Owned; HUBZone;  Small Business.  
Mr. Hughes spent 28 years in the Military, performed progressive responsibilities in multi-functional logistics support, operations, and operations training and program management in the defense/military sector.  He was a Senior Logistics’ Manager as a military officer.  He accurately accounted for multi-million dollars of inventory that included acquisition, storage, material management and redistribution.  Mr. Hughes also managed transportation operations for a large organization.  Mr. Hughes is a member of ISSA and the International Executive Housekeepers Association and is a registered Executive Housekeeper (REH).  Mr. Hughes’ goal is to be your first choice when selecting a company to provide goods and services.

Donald King
Founder and President
D.K.A
Donald King founded DKA (originally Donald King Architects) in Seattle in January of 1985. With over 36 years of professional experience, Donald has led DKA in the planning and design of over 300 successful projects focusing on community-based facilities including Health Clinics, Schools, Libraries and affordable housing

Nate Miles
Manager of Government Affairs Northwest Region
Eli Lilly and Company
Currently Nate is the Corporate Director of State Government Affairs – Western United States for Eli Lilly and Company, one of the nation’s top pharmaceutical firms. In his current position with the “Fortune 500” corporate giant, Nate is responsible for oversight and management of all state government relations, public affairs and external relations activities in the nearly 20-state region. Total public sector sales in this region are nearly $500 million dollars annually

Mark Costello
Lead Lender Relations Specialist
Small Business Administration
Mark Costello has been with the Small Business Administration for 20 years. He serves as the agency’s Lead Lender Relations Specialist for the Seattle District. In this capacity he is responsible for working with over 100 lenders and Certified Development Companies to deliver SBA guaranteed financing to small businesses throughout the State of Washington and Northern Idaho. Mark graduated from Washington State University with a degree in finance.

Patrick D. Clark, RPA, CCIM
Director Federal Energy/Business Development Manager
McKinstry
Pat is the Director of Federal Energy/ Business Development Manager for McKinstry; focused on shaping the market delivery and execution of engineering, technical, energy, facility services and solutions for their federal clients. Prior to coming to McKinstry, Pat was Vice President of Property Management for Wright Runstad & Company from 2008-2009, overseeing the property management and value enhancement of 6.5M s.f. of office space, located in Seattle, Bellevue and Boise, Idaho.  From 1989-2008 he worked for the U.S. General Services Administration, serving as a senior leader from 2004-2008, overseeing 16M s.f. of federally owned and leasehold assets in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.

Michael P. Verchot
Director, University of Washington Business and Economic Development Center
University of Washington
Michael Verchot is the founding director of the University of Washington’s Business & Economic Development Center (BEDC) and a Lecturer in the Marketing and International Business Department at the Michael G. Foster School of Business.   The BEDC, founded in 1995, supports private sector development initiatives in economically distressed communities through consulting services to small businesses and research and analysis of economic development strategies. In its first 12 years, the BEDC has supported the growth of 200 minority-owned companies and small businesses in economically distressed/emerging businesses from across Washington. This work has created more than 600 new jobs and increased small business revenues by nearly $25 million. The BEDC has the largest group of researchers focused on diversity in business in the nation. The BEDC has established the nation’s first endowed scholarship for Latino MBA students (Ernest I.J. Aguilar Endowed Scholarship) and it is building the UW’s first endowed scholarship for African American MBA students.