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Olivier Kamanzi
Chairman at Africa Global Chamber of Commerce (AGCC)MC/Host
Olivier Kamanzi is a Capital markets expert, International Financial Sector Development Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, and Philanthropist. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Chicago. Mr. Kamanzi is the Founder and CEO of Globrock Group, a holding company of Globrock Financial, Globrock Trade, and Globrock Technologies. Globrock Financial is a global management consulting and investment advisory firm with its headquarters in Chicago and its subsidiaries both in the US and Africa. He is former Deputy CEO of Capital Market Authority of Rwanda, former Senior Investment Specialist of Citigroup (Citibank), and Executive employee at JPMorgan Chase. He is the Founder and Chairman of The Olivier Kamanzi Foundation – a public charitable organization. Also, he is President of the Board of Directors of Saint Sabina Academy an affiliate of Saint Sabina Catholic Church based in Chicago, United States.
Mr. Kamanzi assisted in the establishment of the Rwandan capital markets industry and the creation of the Rwanda Capital Market Authority and the Rwanda Stock Exchange. He initiated different policies including the East Africa Regional Financial Market Infrastructure Development and Regional Capital Markets harmonization and integration. He assisted in the development and implementation of the East African Central Depository Systems for securities and Securities Industry Training Institute (SITI East Africa).
Mr. Kamanzi is a current Doctorate Candidate in Philosophy Organizational Leadership and Entrepreneurship with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He holds MBA in Finance from Ashford University, the Forbes School of Business in Iowa, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Mr. Kamanzi’s hobbies are running, reading, and serving the community by mentoring youth, providing financial literacy classes, and he teaches Stock Market Program to 8th Grade. He appeared in various radios, TV, and written media including WVON Radio, BBC World Services, Voice of America, CNBC Africa, Reuters, Nation, East African, GhanaWeb, and many more. He has written multiples articles on financial and leadership matters.
Alyssa Swartzer
International Trade Director of SBDC at Greater Southwest Development CorporationModerator
Alyssa Swartzer is the International Trade Center Director hosted at the Greater Southwest Development Corporation in Southwest Chicago. The Illinois International Trade Center works to provide assistance with international trade and exporting to both existing and new-to-export companies. Illinois businesses that are interested in pursuing international trade opportunities can seek services such as international market research, counseling, and training on how to incorporate international trade into the overall business plan. The ITC is funded by both SBA and the Illinois Department of Commerce and therefore provides all its counseling sessions confidentially and at no cost.
Lataunya Darden
Business Development Officer at US EXIM BankSpeaker
Since joining EXIM Bank, LaTaunya has worked closely with exporters who applied for the Working Capital Guarantee Program as well as Export Credit Insurance. LaTaunya is a valuable asset and has a passion for guiding exporters and lenders through the process ensuring they understand and follow the policies and procedures of EXIM programs.
In her current role, LaTaunya manages a portfolio of minority business organizations throughout the country. LaTaunya is responsible for building awareness about EXIM Bank’s products and services to small businesses, particularly those that are the minority and/or woman-owned. The portfolio activity of organizations that LaTaunya manages has grown tremendously due to her diligence in educating the organizations and businesses that she serves. She is responsible for assisting businesses export around the world, focusing on exports to Africa.
LaTaunya holds a B.A. in Administration of Justice from the University of the District of Columbia.
Carole Harris
Lead Economic Development Specialist at US SBASpeaker
Carole Harris is the Lead Economic Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Illinois District Office. SBA provides advocacy, business, contracting, economic, financial, and technical assistance to small businesses. Ms. Harris is a project manager with auditing, lending, and underwriting loans, portfolio management, and government contracting. Carole is the project manager for SBA’s funded Resource Partners and leads the Economic Development Team in Illinois. Carole graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), 2013 Chicago REAP graduate, master gardener, and beekeeper.
Stephen Konkle
Economic Development Specialist/ Veteran Business Development Officer/ at SBASteve holds a BA in Economics from Western Michigan University and an MBA in Finance from Illinois Institute of Technology/Roosevelt University. He also has done graduate study in Economics at Western Michigan University.
Prior to joining the SBA in 1985, Steve held a variety of treasury
management and accounting positions in the manufacturing sector. He worked in the electronics components industry and the building
materials industry. His last position was as a division controller for a
Fortune 500 buildings materials manufacturer. Since joining the SBA, Steve has worked in the Liquidation Division, the Entrepreneurial Development Division, and the Finance Division.
Currently, he is an Economic Development Specialist Also, he is the
Veterans Business Development Officer and the International Trade Officer for the Illinois District Office.