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Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the agenda for the conference? We have built an agenda at a glance and will continue to update this as additional sessions and speakers are confirmed.
What are my login credentials? What to do if I forget my password? If your email has stayed the same, you can click the link on the GoMembers site to recover your login and password.
How do I register my staff? We do not currently have a group registration option. Each staff member will need to create an account and register via the registration portal.
How many people are attending the conference? We are anticipating 3,000-4,000 onsite attendees with another 400-500 virtual attendees.
Will NMSDC make the attendee list available? While do not make the attendee list available, we have a couple of ways that attendees can view who is engaged with the conference. Attendees can view the interactive Exhibitor List/Map to view which companies will be available at The Exchange. Additionally, the conference app will be available a couple of weeks ahead of the conference, available to both in-person and virtual attendees, and attendees can interact and engage with other attendees via the app.
I've been contacted by an attendee list reseller and/or a hotel reservation company, is this legit?

NMSDC does not sell or share your attendee data with any third-party list reseller.  If you are contacted by someone claiming they have the NMSDC 2022 attendee list or that they are working on behalf of the NMSDC conference hotel reservations, they are unauthorized, and please report them to marcom@nmsdc.org. 

Currently, we are aware of the unauthorized use of the NMSDC name with the following list resellers and hotel reservation companies:

  • Aim Global Expo Groups
  • Attendees Guide
  • Attendees Info
  • B2B1 (using a Gmail account)
  • Conf-Data
  • Contacts Lists
  • CHE in Vegas
  • Direct Leads Hub
  • Email on Bizz
  • Eon Tec
  • Event Delegates
  • Event-Hosting LLC
  • Exhibition Leads Pro
  • Exhibitor Services, AAT
  • Expo Emails
  • Expo Key
  • Expos-Care
  • Get B2B Contact Info
  • Get Direct Contact
  • Get Leads For Event
  • Get Unique Contact
  • The Globe Tech Service
  • Industry Bizz
  • Informatic (using a Gmail account)
  • Leads Global Hunt
  • Leads Insides
  • Lists Event Cart
  • MetrixFox
  • RX Event Data
  • Sales Lead Provider (using a Gmail account)
  • Show Visitor US
  • SoftTech Biz
  • Teamintys
  • Techno eHub
  • The Trade Show Planners
  • Trade Lead Global Hunt
  • Vibrant Lead Care
  • Xpo Optin Contacts

Onsite Attendees

Where is the conference being held? The conference will be held in New Orleans with sessions and The Exchange being held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. We have negotiated discounted hotel rates for attendees at a variety of hotels.
Which hotel is the host hotel? The host hotel is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and is listed as such on the hotel and flights page of the website.
What is the dress code for the conference?

Generally, the conference has a dress code of business casual.  However, we have a few events with varying dress codes:

  • Expanding Beyond Our Borders Pre-Conference Program Reception - Business Casual
  • NMSDC "Bon Temps" Welcome Reception - Casual
  • President's Reception (invite only) - Business Casual or Festive
  • NMSDC 50th Anniversary Concert - Casual
  • 50th Anniversary Awards Ceremony - Evening Attire, Black Tie Optional
Who is performing at the Tuesday night concert? Sheila E. and BBD will headline the NMSDC 50th Anniversary concert.
What is the Cancellation Policy? Cancellation refund requests must be received in writing at least 30 days prior to the event start date, and there is a $100 cancellation processing fee. Requests for cancellation made less than 30 days prior to the event start date are not eligible for refunds. There are no refunds for no show, late arrival, or early departure. Beginning on October 1, 2022, if you are not able to attend due to a positive COVID test or exposure, we will provide you with login credentials to attend the event virtually - a refund will not be issued.
What is your COVID-19 protocols for the conference? The well-being of all attendees is our #1 priority. We have an updated Wellness Protocols page that we urge all attendees to review prior to arriving onsite.
When does Matchmaker registration open?

Full conference registrants and attendees that have purchased a one-day or two-day pass, can now register for the NMSDC Business Connection Matchmaker in New Orleans. You will need your registration confirmation code to zero out the fee when registering.

NMSDC certifications that have expired or will expire within 30 days will not be able to connect with Corporates only other MBEs. Corporate members who have lapsed in membership payment will not be able to participate. Non NMSDC Certified MBEs can only connect with other MBEs.
When will I be approved to schedule Matchmaker appointments?

NMSDC member status and MBE certification status will be confirmed within 48 hours of registering for the NMSDC Business Connection Matchmaker and uploading your NMSDC certification.

NMSDC certifications that have expired or will expire within 30 days will not be able to connect with Corporates only other MBEs. Corporate members who have lapsed in membership payment will not be able to participate. Non NMSDC Certified MBEs can only connect with other MBEs.
Is there transportation from my hotel to the conference and events?

Please check our Bus Schedule for date and time of  pick up and corresponding drop off locations.

Virtual Attendees

What is the virtual agenda? Main stage sessions will be streamed for virtual, and three premier sessions will be available on-demand post-conference. View the agenda at a glance for virtual attendees for more information.
Will the NMSDC Business Connection Matchmaker be available for virtual attendees? Unfortunately, matchmaking will only take place onsite in New Orleans. If you would like to upgrade from a virtual attendee to onsite, full conference registration, please email us at events@nmsdc.org. 

Exhibits & Sponsors

Can I exhibit at The Exchange if I am not NMSDC-certified? While we value all minority-owned businesses, The Exchange is a chance for NMSDC-certified minority-owned businesses to showcase their services and connect with NMSDC corporate members. Therefore, exhibitors at the Exchange must be NMSDC-certified or an NMSDC corporate member.
Can booth personnel attend sessions? Booth fees do not include conference registration, meal or event tickets, which are available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional quick facts are listed on the Exhibitor Fees page of the website.
What is the pre-recorded podcast option? NMSDC has started its own podcast channel.  This option allows a sponsor to host a pre-recorded company podcast on our channel to reach our broader network, but more specifically we will also share your podcast with attendees ahead of the conference.
What is the 30-second video shout-out option?

These are short commercials that will play during points in the conference, like when we are transitioning from one session to the next and need time to reset the stage.  The specific specs for the video are the following:

  • Size: 1920 x 1080
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Format: h.264 mpeg4 AVC1
  • File type: .mov
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps
  • Audio: 48k AAC
Where do I find more information regarding the ads that are a part of my sponsorship package? You can find more information about the digital program ads on the Advertise page, including how to submit the ad by the September 30 deadline.