Harriet Michel to Speak at the 2008 Katrina Economic Development Summit in New Orleans, LA

Harriet Michel, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), based in New York, will address participants at the "Business Opportunities in the Gulf Breakfast" during the 2008 Katrina Economic Development (KED) Summit, February 6-8, at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place, New Orleans, La. Michel will deliver the Keynote Address at the Breakfast on Friday, February 8, at 8:00 a.m., and will focus on the Summit's theme entitled, "Teaming to Rebuild the Gulf Coast."

Hampton, Va. (Issues Wire / PRWEB) January 28, 2008 -- Harriet Michel, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), based in New York, will address participants at the "Business Opportunities in the Gulf Breakfast" during the 2008 Katrina Economic Development (KED) Summit, February 6-8, at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place, New Orleans, La. Michel will deliver the Keynote Address at the Breakfast on Friday, February 8, at 8:00 a.m., and will focus on the Summit's theme entitled, "Teaming to Rebuild the Gulf Coast."

For over two years, the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast Region of the United States remains catastrophic and long-lasting -- the rebuilding efforts continue. The 2008 KED Summit, hosted by the National Community Development Organization (NCOD), in collaboration with various external public- and private-sector agencies, will provide a forum for officials from the federal, state and local governments, as well as representatives from the corporate and private sectors and small-, minority-, veteran- and women-owned businesses, to interact with respect to the Gulf Coast recovery effort.

Michel has been the President of the NMSDC for 17 years. The NMSDC is a private non-profit organization that expands business opportunities for minority-owned companies and encourages mutually economic beneficial links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors, and helps to build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. The NMSDC Network, which includes 39 affiliated Regional Councils, matches more than 15,000 certified minority businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with its more than 3,500 corporate members who want to purchase their goods and services. In 2006, NMSDC member corporations' purchases from minority-owned businesses were $1.3 billion.

Additional key highlights of the Summit will feature other nationally known keynote speakers from various public, private and corporate entities. Confirmed speakers include: Steven Moret, Louisiana Secretary of Economic Development; Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans; Jovita Carranza, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration and Lurita Doan, Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration. Invitations have also been extended to U.S. President George W. Bush; Alphonso Jackson, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Brigadier General Robert Crear, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Oprah Winfrey, Supervising Producer and Host, The Oprah Winfrey Show; and Brad Pitt, Actor and Coordinator, Make it Right and The Pink Projects for the Ninth Ward. Workshops have been designed by leading industry experts to acquaint attendees with a national level of access to capital and markets, as well as business development and entrepreneurial training in starting or expanding a business.

Note: For additional information on the 2008 KED Summit, as well as registration and hotel information, please visit www.postkatrinasummit.org.

# # #