Ann Sullivan is the President of Madison Services Group, Inc., a DC firm providing government relations services to corporate and non-profit clients. She brings many years of government relations experience in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, serving in key advisory roles. Ms. Sullivan works with the United States Congress as well as the United States government agencies to bring her clients’ issues national attention. Her expertise includes government procurement, health care and tax issues affecting small businesses. She currently represents the largest national association of women business owners and women in business, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), as well as the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). In the corporate sector, Ms. Sullivan represented the Fortune 500 natural gas pipelines for the leading natural gas pipeline association in the United States and was at the forefront of government deregulation of the energy industry. As Vice President in a government relations firm, her expertise included environmental issues such as air emissions, water purification, alternative fuel vehicles and energy policy. Ms. Sullivan possesses six years of experience in the information technology field as the owner of a technical placement services firm serving the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Ms. Sullivan has lectured and conducted career transition training in the technology arena for both the public and private sector. She serves on the GSA Small Business Advisory Committee and the Department of Energy Small Business Advisory Committee.

Anthony W. Robinson is the President of the Minority Business Legal Defense and Education Fund (MBELDEF); a national organization serving as legal advocate and watchdog for minority and women businesses nationwide. The MBELDEF supports and coordinates the development and support of legally defensible MBE/WBE programs addressing ongoing racial and gender discrimination in the public and private marketplace. MBELDEF comprehensive activities include litigation, testimony before legislative bodies, and the provision of legal guidance and technical assistance to local, state and federal agencies. Through the MBELDEF’s National Lawyers Panel, Mr. Robinson has participated as an Amicus (Friend of the Court) in dozens of court cases addressing affirmative action in contracting. His testimony includes appearances before the Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and General Services Administration. Mr. Robinson was instrumental in mobilizing public and private sector (i.e. majority corporations) to work in a collaboration to address issues impeding capacity development in minority enterprises. He has advised international business organizations including the African National Congress’ Constitutional Committee, the Department of Transportation for the State of Tanzania, the Indigenous Business Organization of Zimbabwe and the Integrated Supplier Diversity Program in Brazil. He additionally serves as Co-Chair of the Industry and Commerce Sub-Committee, Liberia / State of Maryland Sister State Committee, and chairs the Economic Development arm of his church, The Economic Empowerment Coalition of the Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Robinson also serves as the chair of the new “Unity Council”, a national multi-member coalition of minority and women business organizations seeking a consistent statistical and legal predicate approach to recent legal and/or administrative challenges to existing affirmative action programs.

MBELDEF
(Minority Business Enterprise Legal
Defense and Education Fund)
1100 Mercantile Lane
Suite 115-A
Largo, MD 20774

Denise is the Managing Member of the Farris Law Firm, L.L.C. a commercial construction and constitutional law attorney who has developed a national reputation in the legal parameters of affirmative action over the past 22 years.  Rated among the Missouri Bar’s Top 25 Presenters she is a frequent speaker and author.  She has a long and distinguished career as an advocate for M/W/DBE issues.  Denise recently chaired a minority and women business coalition contributing to Kansas implementing its first minority/women business program in June 2008.  She was Kansas City’s first female appointee to the City’s Fairness in Contracts Board (appointed by Emanuel Cleaver); a KC 150 Hero (appointed by Mayor Kay Barnes); and  currently serves on: (a) the Advisory Committee to the Honorable Senator John Kerry, Small Business and Federal procurement; (b) the National Board of Women Impacting Public Policy, WIPP  (c) the Unified Government  Wyandotte County/ Kansas City Kansas Fairness in Contracts Board; and (d) the National Unity Group, a multi member coalition group working with federal, state and local agencies on secural of reliable disparity studies.  Denise’s testimony before the US House of Representatives can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21WJgZEWrAQ She has taught, drafted, reviewed and/or otherwise provided  detailed information on certification programs at all levels. She regularly publishes the reference materials on affirmative action in government contracting for the American Bar Association and is considered a national expert in the field.

Farris Law Firm LLC
1600 Genessee, Suite 433,
Kansas City, MO 64102

20355 Nall, Stilwell, KS 66085