2022 Speakers & Honorees

Over the last 30 years Ann McNeil has directly helped hundreds of people to achieve goals beyond their wildest dreams. She’s inspired thousands to recognize that clarity of intention is the beginning of success. Starting from nothing and becoming a construction business millionaire as an African-American woman is just the surface of how she inspires others. Her dynamic and personal style is a constant reminder that anyone with the courage to dream can achieve success. Nobody delivers a clear pathway to your success and the tools for the journey better than Ann McNeill. The only thing left to say is are you ready for success? Join with us today as we welcome the person with the building blocks of your success in hand and the tools to help you build your best life; The Master Builder, Ann McNeill.

Journalist Beatrice “Bea” L. Hines was born in Williston, Florida in 1938. At a young age, her parents separated and she moved with her mother to Miami, Florida. Hines graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1956.

Angela Washington is a National Business Development Specialist in the Office of National Director (OND) for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). She joined MBDA in January 1999, under the Clinton Presidential. Angela is an experienced government executive with a proven successful background in helping minority businesses gain access to capital, financing and federal contracts. She is a proactive team leader who excels in assisting Federal Agencies meet their procurement goals, by incorporating highly capable firms into various acquisition programs. She is an excellent communicator with firsthand operational experience as identifying over $50 billion public and private sector contract opportunities for minority business enterprises (MBEs). Angela has over eighteen years of Federal Government experience where she has served through four presidential administrations. Her career started in 1996 through an Internship Program. She has held various program level positions in several agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce. Angela has studied at the University of Maryland, majoring in Business Information Systems. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women and serves as a Project Director for the non-profit Travels 4 Luv, where she mentors at risk youth and educates them on the benefits of entrepreneurship.

Bernadette A. Morris is the company’s President/CEO. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida International University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Communications from Stetson University and the University of North Florida. Prior to forming Sonshine, Bernadette was the Associate Dean/Division Director of the Office of Public Affairs at Miami-Dade Community College. She also enjoyed a successful career in broadcast journalism where she worked as a publicist for PBS/NPR and a producer of children’s programming. She has over 30 years of professional experience in providing and delivering effective marketing, media, public and community outreach services.

Commissioner Daniela Jean was born in Paris, France and raised in North Miami Beach, Florida. A product of the North Miami Beach community, she attended grade schools in the district and thrived in every aspect of the word.

Betty Davis is the chief certified meteorologist for Local 10. She provides weather forecasts for South Florida Monday-Friday during the 4, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Alika Kumar is the Executive Director of the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, responsible for facilitating the exponential growth of minority-owned business enterprises through business development and capacity building. Alika has over 25 years of experience in business consulting, research, developing competitive business intelligence; market research; development of growth and market entry strategies. Her experience includes consulting for local and international businesses, teaching business courses, and working for the state and federal government.
Besides being an advocate for minority-owned businesses, Alika is most passionate about equality and equity nationally and globally, and about the empowerment of women and children around the world. The passion for equity for women and for minority-owned businesses drives her work at the Arizona MBDA Business Center, which focuses on preparing, advising, guiding and helping companies be more globally competitive and achieve exponential growth.
Alika earned a Master of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. She served on the Board of the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce; and, on the Executive Committee of the Metro Phoenix Export Alliance. She is also a Sister on the Planet for Oxfam America. Alika is an inspired artist and aspiring sculptor, the proud mother of three college grads, and happily married to a retired university librarian and avid reader.

Ms. Joann J. Hill, a native of Columbia, South Carolina is the Chief of the Office of Business Development for the United States Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Ms. Hill has served at MBDA for more than a decade and in her current capacity has oversight of the Office of Business Development. She also serves as the lead federal program officer for the nationwide network of more than 40 MBDA Business Centers that generate $6 billion in performance goals annually.

With more than three decades of banking experience to this top position, Diaz-Leal oversees all of Miami-Dade branch activities related to deposit and loan growth, and leads the implementation of strategic and annual plans. She joined BankUnited in 2016 from SunTrust Bank in Miami, where she served as senior vice president and business banking team leader. Other experience includes working for Wachovia Bank/Wells Fargo for 25 years in various leadership roles.

Nancy G. Allen is an international speaker, coach, consultant, author and expert on women’s business issues. For more than 30 years, she has been helping small business owners at all stages of growth. As president and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council of Florida, Nancy manages a team of staff, sponsors, partners and women business leaders who are dedicated to certifying, connecting and championing women in business.

Yamilee Bastien is a Foreign Commercial Service Officer on