Tuesday, October 13, 2020 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Building Effective Banking & Lender Relationships

This webinar is an initiative of the Chicagoland Chamber’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Task Force.

Many minority-owned businesses and independent contractors struggled to access federal grant and loan programs available through the CARES Act in the wake of the pandemic because they lacked the necessary business banking relationships.

This session will focus on helping businesses develop the relationships they need to position them for future success, especially as more government and private resources are deployed to support minority-business enterprises (MBE’s). Our speakers include:

Melissa Donaldson

MODERATOR

Melissa Donaldson is the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation. Melissa is a trailblazer, strategic change agent and a staunch advocate for leadership, equity, inclusion, and reinforcing humanity in business. She is the first to be appointed Chief Diversity Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation, a commercial banking and specialty financial service company with over $30 billion in assets. Melissa reports to the CEO and partners with senior leaders and other key stakeholders to establish diversity and inclusion priorities aimed at driving business success, enhancing employee engagement and positioning Wintrust as an employer of choice and responsible corporate citizen. She coined the masthead “One Wintrust Diversity & Inclusion Roadmap”, and launched an annual Executive Diversity Forum with senior executives, instituted D&I Business Unit Action Plans, engaged a myriad of Board Directors, and implemented initiatives to accelerate multicultural and co-ed leadership pipeline development.

Dr. Kwesi Nduom

Dr. Nduom is the Chairman of GN Bank in Chicago.  He is also the President & Chairman of Groupe Nduom, a multi-national business group.  The group’s businesses and social enterprises include entities in the Hospitality; Banking; Insurance; Media; Technology; Manufacturing; and Investment.  The group’s independent companies across operate in Africa, Europe and the USA.

He became a partner of Deloitte & Touche, USA in 1986 and later, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Africa Region.

Dr. Nduom holds a Certificate in Management, Marquette University, a Certificate in Insurance from the Life Office Management Institute in the USA, and is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC).  He obtained a BA in Economics, MS in Management and a PhD in Service Delivery Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Daryl Newell

Daryl Newell became President of Seaway, a division of Self-Help Federal Credit Union, effective August 1, 2018. Daryl manages strategic organizational planning for Self-Help’s development and growth in the South and West Sides of Chicago and parts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He will also ensure the division meets member service, lending, operational, and financial performance goals across the Seaway footprint. Daryl’s leadership and accomplishments in the financial services industry have garnered him national and local recognition, including: the 2006 Friend of the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce US Award; a 2003 Monarch Award in the Business category; an inclusion in Who’s Who Among African Americans, 15th Edition; and an Illuminati Award from the Institute for Positive Living’s Open Book Program.

Ronald L. Milsap

Ronald L. Milsap is VP of Mission Banking and Community Reinvestment Act Officer at Providence Bank & Trust where he oversees the Bank’s lending, services, and investment into low-to-moderate income communities. Over the past 20 years of his career he has recruited millions of dollars of capital from foundations, non-profits, small business, and individuals for the development of black and brown neighborhoods. Ron received his B.A. in Business Administration from Morehouse College and is a 2018 graduate of the Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Leadership Development Program. Ron serves on the board of My Block, My Hood, My City, and volunteers with several youth-based organizations.

Event hosted by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and our Illinois SBDC. Learn more about our small business services here.

Additional Information

Questions regarding event or having trouble registering? Contact Events at events@chicagolandchamber.org.

Interested in joining the Chamber? Prospective members interested in joining, please contact membership@chicagolandchamber.org.

Virtual Event

This event is free to attend. Registration is required to join.