Stacey Key is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) – the state of Georgia’s leading authority on supplier diversity and minority business development. Key has more than 20 years of corporate experience in sales, marketing, operations and customer service at global brands like IBM, AT&T, Schlumberger and Samsung Telecommunications.
Prior to joining the GMSDC, she was responsible for leading nationwide marketing efforts at Samsung Telecommunications as its Marketing Director. She also served as Vice President – Public Sector for Schlumberger, the world’s leading supplier of products and services to the oil and gas industry. She is an accomplished entrepreneur, with more than 15 years of experience at the helm of a successful family business.
Stacey has been recognized as a leader throughout the state for her career accomplishments and community service. Some of her awards and honors include: the 100 Influential Women to Know by Engineering Georgia, Who’s Who of Black Atlanta, the Business Advocacy Award from MARTA, the Atlanta Business League’s 100 Top Women of Influence, Diversity Plus Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity, the Black & Latino Council’s Global Commerce Award, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Apex Small Business Champion Award.
Key earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from Western Kentucky University, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. She holds a certificate in Mergers and Acquisitions from Kennesaw State University and is a graduate of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2014. Key is actively involved in the community and serves on numerous boards of directors, including the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Midtown Alliance and the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond Advisory Committee. She is the proud mother of one daughter who is a college student.
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn and follow GMSDC on Twitter and Facebook.
Reginald Phams is the Certifications Manager at the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC). He has held several positions with GMSDC including, starting as an Intern, Certification Specialist, and Operations Manager of the Georgia Mentor Protege Connection.
In addition to being an advocate to the small business community, He has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at Atlanta Technical College Since 2016. He has been a member of several Advisory Boards for Atlanta Technical College and Keller Graduate School of Management.
Reginald received an Associates Degree in Marketing Management from Atlanta Technical College, a Bachelors of Science in Business Management form Devry University, and Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.
He spend countless hours speaking to and encouraging emerging leaders and the small business community at large. Small business has been a large part of Reginald’s life, who has his owned his own businesses since 2006.
As the Assistant Director of Entrepreneur and Small Business and Regional Project Manager with the Department of Economic Development, Ryan Waldrep provides assistance to companies considering Georgia as a business destination and identifying and pursuing prospective companies with expansion and or relocation potential. He also assists local Chambers of Commerce and Development Authorities in their economic development activities and development of entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Ryan earned his Certification in Economic Development through the International Economic Development Council in 2006 and Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council in 2012. His membership affiliations include the Georgia Economic Development Association and the International Economic Development Council. Ryan is a member of several local organizations as well as a graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Telfair.
Prior to joining the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Ryan served as President of the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority and as an Economic Development Planner at the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission.
A native of McRae, Ryan holds a BFA in Speech Communication (Public Relations) and an MPA in Public Management, both from Valdosta State University. Ryan continues to reside in Telfair County with his wife, Amanda, and two sons, Adam and Ethan.
Melanie Watson is the Marketing Coordinator for Discover Dunwoody. Dunwoody, Ga. is a premier hub for shopping, dining, business, and culture located just 10 miles north of Atlanta. From boutique to crowd favorites, wine bars to patio dining, a fine art school to a theatre company and abundant green space to hiking trails, Dunwoody has something for everyone.
With easy access to mass transit and major highways, this city offers proximity to key Georgia tourist attractions, sporting events, and festivals. A little bit metropolitan chic, a little bit small-town escape, Dunwoody is above Atlanta and beyond the expected.
Follow Discover Dunwoody on Facebook.
Adam Moore is the Strategic Supplier Diversity Manager for SunTrust Banks, helping to promote the inclusion of small and diverse business in the supplier mix at the Bank. He is considerably active in the supplier diversity space as it relates to technology and the financial vertical. Adam is often sought as a speaker and moderator and he also writes for a blog on supplier diversity: diversitymanagementsourcing.com.
Adam is a true advocate for supplier diversity and works tirelessly to create opportunities for diverse business. Adam is also very involved in several mentoring programs to include the Emerging Young Entrepreneurs and the Georgia Mentor Protégée Connection. He also serves as a board member for TAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is an active member of the GMSDC’s Supplier Diversity Leadership Committee as well. In these roles, Adam works to create new and innovative ways to further the conversation on supplier diversity and how it positively impacts business and communities.
Adam is a member of the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity (FSRSD) and serves as Co-Chair on the Marketing and Communications committee. As Co-Chair he is also a member of the Executive Council for the FSRSD.
Walter Griggs is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at SquarePac LTD, a Material Handling Solutions Company based in Atlanta, GA. Griggs is a leader in the reusable packaging industry with an extensive knowledge in packaging and related processes. In addition to having years of experience in directing packaging operations, he revolutionized the packaging industry with new and innovative packaging techniques that have generated cost reductions and increased customer satisfaction.
Griggs brings a proven track record of success and a keen ability to align vital business components for customers and suppliers to maximize results and quality assurance. He has a “hands on” management approach and a broad awareness of Marketing and Operations strategies that has established Square Pac as a model company and trend-setter in the packaging industry. “We have a moral obligation to never design or build anything that would harm anyone” says Griggs.
Before founding SquarePac LTD, Griggs held a leadership position at Novyas Financial where he was in charge of its call center technical integration team. Entrepreneurial expansion is also a strong interest for Griggs, who has lead a variety of other businesses ranging from retail shops to technology integration.
Walter Griggs attended the prestigious Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and he has also attended Tuck school of business at Dartmouth Additionally, Griggs is Six Sigma certified, Osha certified and he holds memberships in a number of industry leading packaging organizations including: IOPP (International Organization of Packaging Professionals), GAMA (Georgia Automotive Manufacturing Alliance) and GMA (Georgia Manufacturing Alliance).
A strong community advocate, Griggs volunteers his time in a number of ways including serving as a mentor to young people through his work with the DANNY Center and Knights of Pythagoras; and supporting a variety of community based outreach programs including PHA Masons and Square Vision. Griggs attends industry trade shows, marketing conferences and business summits in order to remain current with industry updates and market trends to maintain his company’s high standards and customer satisfaction.
Under Griggs leadership , SquarePac has been honored with supplier of the year from GMSDC and the NMSDC. Innovations awards from the Atlanta MBDA. Griggs has also been honored to receive the MPC Eagle Award, MBE”S Who Rock!, and Who’s who is Black Atlanta.