PROGRAM HOST: JENEE OSTERHELDT

8:00 AM — Breakfast & Registration

9:00 AM — Welcome & Remarks

• Akua Hill, Director of Arts and Culture, Gilbert Family Foundation
• Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, President, PLC Detroit
• Portia Blunt, SVP Global Product, Creative Direction & Social Impact at Reebok; Black Footwear Forum Chairwoman

9:15 AM — Introduction of 2024 Theme

• Jeneé Osterheldt, Deputy Managing Editor for Culture, Talent, and Development, Boston Globe

9:25 AM — The "Unstate" of DE&I — Exploration of the current state and undoing of diversity, equity, and inclusion. What does this mean for our industry and the future of access to opportunities?

• Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, President, PLC Detroit
• Jarvis Sam, CEO and Founder, Rainbow Disruption

10:00 AM — More Than an Athlete

• Moderator: Mistie Boyd, VP of Player Operations, Detroit Pistons
• Melanie Harris, President of Business Operations, Detroit Pistons
• Jarett Jack, Assistant Coach, Detroit Pistons
• Janae Lodewyk, Miss Michigan  

10:30 AM — The Business is Personal: Cultivating Beauty in the Face of Challenges — A focus on PR & Communications in the Black footwear community

• Moderator: Jeneé Osterheldt, Deputy Managing Editor for Culture, Talent, and Development, Boston Globe
• Les Green, Strategic Advisor for FCTRY LAb
• Jasmin Francis, Global Marketing Manager | Collaborations & Energy
• Ricky Shoebio, Creative Director, Photographer, & Founder of KYD
• Ludlow Dawes, Senior Brand Manager, BACARDÍ Rums 

11:15 AM — BREAKOUT SESSION: Reset to Rejuvenate, a BEAM Moment powered by lululemon — Enjoy a moment of rest that includes a guided meditation and healing sound bath - a holistic health practice that uses the combination of mindful presence, sound, and meditation to effect positive changes in one's mind, body and spirit. We will use crystal sound bowls to create vibrational harmony that helps balance the brain, lower stress levels, and reduce tension in the body.

• Nakia Reeves, lululemon ambassador  

11:15 AM — BREAKOUT SESSION: Legacy – Past, Present, and Future with Wilson Smith — A one-on-one with design legend Wilson Smith.

Location: Wilson Smith Studio

• Wilson Smith, Footwear Design Director, Nike

11:15 AM — BREAKOUT SESSION: More than a Collaboration, a BEAM Moment powered by StockX and the Detroit Pistons — Understanding how brand partnerships bridge the gaps between community, culture and education

• Moderator: Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX
• Alicia Jeffreys, EVP Chief Marketing Officer, Detroit Pistons
• Jerry Gaines, Global Brand Marketing, StockX 
• Dion Walcott, Director of Partnerships, PLC Detroit

12:00 PM — Lunch & Networking Break

*Lunch will be available for purchase from a variety of local and top-rated food trucks 

12:00 PM — The Law Lab with Kenneth Anand - attorney and Sneaker Law author Kenneth Anand will be giving free legal consultations and advice, courtesy of Jayaram Law - Lawyers for Innovators™️. Consultations will be first come, first served, and limited to 10 minutes.

1:30 PM — BREAKOUT SESSION: How the 'Wrong' Path Led to the Paris Olympics, a BEAM Moment powered by Brooks Running — Join Pensole Alum Jon Guisbert, Footwear Designer for Elite Athletes at Brooks Running, as he dives into his career journey from being an accountant to designing footwear for world class athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jon will be joined by Brooks professional athlete and Olympian, Brandon Miller, to discuss his own journey as a professional athlete, his dream, and the obstacles he navigated to get to the Paris 2024 Olympics, and how the intersection of their stories led to the creation of the footwear that supported Brandon’s success.

• Jon Guisbert, Advanced Footwear Designer, Elite Athlete Product, Brooks Running
• Brandon Miller, 2024 Olympic Athlete

1:30 PM — BREAKOUT SESSION: Better Together —  When Black women come together with a common goal, they make things happen down to the detail. In this panel, women will discuss their wants, their needs, and how they're fostering collaboration among one another, crushing tokenism, and taking the stigma away from those who work in the same fields or hold the same roles.

• Moderator: Sonya Harris, Designer and Founder, IAM.ECCENTRIC and Homegirls Club
• Kia Davidson (Notorious K.I.A.), Stylist & Creative
• Channing Beumer, Founder, CNK Daily
• Breeana Walker, Designer, Storyteller; Social Media Producer, Complex Networks
• Jasmine Humphrey, Director, Campus & Cultural Engagement, LVMH Inc. North America

1:30 PM — BREAKOUT SESSION: But Are You Good At It? — 'But, are you good at it?' is more than a question—it's a challenge. Join us as we help beginners and professionals find their superpowers, sharpen their skills, and own their value.

• Moderator: Ty Mopkins, Lifestyle Manager, The Mopkins Group
• Tiffany Hardin, CEO & Founder, Gild Creative Group
• Lanny Smith, Founder, Actively Black
• Angelique Joseph, SVP, Product Design & Development, Global, Naturalizer
• Chanerica Evuen, Strategy Executive, PepsiCo Design and Innovation  
• Jason Brown, Co- Founder, JBRC Co. Consultancy & Idea Studio, Context Projects, & Art Gallery

1:30 PM — BREAKOUT SESSION: When Dreams Come True But Look Different Than You Imagined.... , a BEAM Moment powered by ROCK and PLC — D'Wayne Edwards and Allen Largin share how their encounter 14 years ago led to the creation of the 1st Design focused HBCU and a new creative career that did not exist. Learn insights on how to follow your dreams, how to dream bigger and be open to your vision for success being better than you dreamed.

• Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, President, PLC Detroit
• Allen Largin, Creative & Innovation Director of ROCK 

2:30 PM — The Black Standard —This panel will unpack the complexities of the 'Black Standard' in products and services, questioning whether being labeled 'Black-owned' is a benefit or a limitation. Throughout the discussion, we'll spotlight Black-owned footwear and apparel brands, amplifying their stories and brands as we navigate the nuances of being a black-owned business.

• Moderator: Téjahn Burnett, Owner & Designer, Téjahn Burnett
• Kendall Reynolds, CEO & Creative Director, Kendall Miles Designs
• Sunni Dixon, Founder & Designer, SUNNI SUNNI
• Ahriana Edwards, CEO, Vaila Shoes

3:15 PM — Threaded — Raw conversation with entrepreneurs who started their brand and made it into the doors of Foot Locker. Explore the real challenges of launching your brand and the strategic roadmap for scaling your business. From navigating initial hurdles to devising actionable growth plans, entrepreneurs share their insights and missteps.

• Moderator: Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, President, PLC Detroit
• Erwin Hines, Owner, Future is Color
• Shakir Goodrich, Owner, Campus Remix
• Drew Sanders, Founder, The Aware Brand  
• Tai Neal, VP of Strategy Foot Locker, LEED

3:45 PM — Afternoon Session powered by Reebok

4:10 PM — Blacklight Awards

4:30 PM — Amplifying Black Brilliance: Culture, Community, and Design, powered by PepsiCo

EXPLORE DETROIT – This year we encourage attendees to get out and explore Detroit on Friday night. Check out our suggestions here and support local Detroit businesses.