The next East Downtown Council Business Forum is scheduled for Thursday, February 18, at the 1010 Building – 1010 S. 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
The topic for this event is “Security Considerations for 21st Century Businesses.”
Registration, lunch and networking starts at 11:30 a.m., with the program starting at 11:50 a.m. The cost to attend the forum is just $20. Attendees can purchase lunches in advance (scroll to the bottom of the page), or pay by cash or check at the door. Please RSVP by sending an email to [email protected] by no later than Monday, February 15, at Noon.
FORUM DESCRIPTION
The EDC February business forum will tackle an important concern for businesses in the 21st century: security. Whether small or big business, we live in a time where new considerations must be engaged to be relevant to emerging perceived and potential challenges facing all of society.
This forum will feature two guest experts in the area of security. Hamse Warfa is founder and principle of TAYO consulting, and will speak to how businesses on the West Bank and in the Somali community are engaging topics of security. Glenn Sanders is Protective Security Advisor for the Minnesota District of Homeland Security and will explore key topics such as Information sharing, business continuity in the face of disruptions, general preparedness, public and private partnerships in the realm of security, and resources that most people aren’t aware of.
DEVELOPMENT SPOTLIGHT
The February District Development Spotlight will feature George Sherman, President and Owner of Sherman Associates discussing the “East End” mixed use development.
AGENDA
- 11:30 am – 11:50 am Networking
- 11:50 am – 12:00 pm Introductions and EDC Update (Paul Mellblom and Dan Collison)
- 12:00 pm – 12:10 pm District Development Spotlight: “The East End” project (George Sherman)
- 12:10 pm – 12:20 pm Business Connections and Security Concerns for West Bank Businesses and the Somali Community (Hamse Warfa)
- 12:20 pm – 12:55 pm “Security Considerations for 21st Century Businesses” (Glenn Sanders)
- 12:55 pm – 1:00 pm Closing Announcements (Dan Collison)
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Glenn Sanders is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Protective Security Advisor (PSA) for the Minneapolis (Minnesota) District. In this capacity, Glenn is responsible for representing DHS within the State of Minnesota serving as a liaison between DHS and the private sector as well as federal, state, local, and tribal mission partners. In his capacity as DHS’ on-site critical infrastructure specialist, Glenn provides assistance and support as appropriate to federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners for all-hazards preparedness efforts as well as during designated special events. Glenn has worked very closely with the State of Minnesota over the last 10 years to further the mission of protecting our Nation’s and Minnesota’s critical infrastructure.
Hamse Warfa is the founder and Principal of TAYO Consulting Group LLC, a professional services firm comprised of cross-sector experts with broad and deep experience in human development and poverty solutions. Hamse is connected to local, national and global networks of human development professionals, thought-leaders and policy experts.
Hamse brings the unique experience of being displaced by war as a child and then living as a refugee in East Africa and as an immigrant to the United States. Born in Somalia, Hamse escaped Somalia’s civil war and spent three years living as a refugee in Kenyan camps before having the opportunity to move with his family to the United States in 1994. He documented his experiences as the author of American Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest for Hope (Sunshine Publishing, 2014). His zeal to turn adversity in his life into growth opportunities for others is a direct result of these experiences.
Arriving to the U.S. with no knowledge of English, Hamse’s journey to integrate into U.S. culture was a challenging one.Today, Hamse serves as trusted advisor in philanthropy working until recently with Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Philanthropies, as a Program Officer managing the foundation’s global and domestic children & families and health grants. He also brings his experience to the benefit of others as a conflict resolution and peace-building strategist, serving as a board and executive committee member for Alliance for Peacebuilding, a global membership association of more than eighty peace-building organizations, over 1,000 professionals, and a network of more than 15,000 people developing processes for change in the most complex and chaotic conflict environments around the world. Hamse is an internationally requested motivational speaker on conquering adversity and building resilience. He regularly speaks on the importance of education and academic success for low-income children and youth. To refugees and new immigrants in the U.S., Hamse serves as a great role model for successful immigrant integration info mainstream America.
Hamse is a part-time doctoral candidate for Public Administration at Hamline University. He earned a B.A. in Political Science at San Diego State University and M.S. in organizational management and leadership from Springfield College. Hamse also holds graduate-level certificates in Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Preventing Deadly World Conflicts that he earned from the United States Institute of Peace, a congressionally funded institution working to prevent and end conflict. Hamse is fluent in English and Somali.
