IMPACTAZ, Arizona’s Largest Supplier Diversity Accelerator Program Marks a Powerful Graduation Milestone, Hosted by APS

PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2024 / Presented by title sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co., ImpactAZ 2025, a multi-year supplier-diversity accelerator that provides minority entrepreneurs with technical assistance, mentoring, public and private business exchange opportunities, and access to capital to increase readiness for contracting opportunities, celebrated the graduates of its class of 2023 on January 16, 2024.

With its fundamental objective to decrease the racial wealth gap, using entrepreneurship as an engine, the significance of the ImpactAZ graduation occurring the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, particularly in Arizona, is a testament to his dream being realized.

Hosted at the Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) main facility, participants of the Millionaire Mastermind Academy ImpactAZ program received certificates commemorating the successful completion of the groundbreaking 9-month cohort.

Emceed by CDE® DEI Transformation Doctor Jacque Starks, the inaugural commencement ceremony, celebrating African American entrepreneurs representing 35 businesses, was an inspiring culmination of Arizona’s largest supplier-diversity accelerator.

Guests were honored to be supported and joined by Jeff Guldner, CEO, [Arizona Public Service Co. (APS)], Vaughn Lucas, National Executive Director, [JPMorgan Chase & Co.], Monica Villalobos, President & CEO, [Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce], Robin Reed, CEO, [Black Chamber of Arizona], Scott Vanderpool, President, [Bank of America Pheonix], Shamia Lodge, Director of Community Engagement, [Aventiv], David Teitelbaum, District Sales Manager, [Office Depot], Catherine Arvizu, Vice President, [Commercial Lending Commerce Bank of Arizona], Ashley Kelly, Vice President [JPMorgan Chase & Co.], Kristen Stephenson, SVP, Research & Analytics, [GPEC], Josh Utterback, Economic Development Program Director, [City of Scottsdale], Jackie Johnson, Diversity Director, [City of Scottsdale], Christine Abdullah, SVP, Market Leader, [Bank of America] and numerous others.

Representatives from esteemed corporations, municipalities, and community collaborators enjoyed inspiring presentations by ImpactAZ 2025 Creator and Millionaire Mastermind Academy CEO Dr. Velma Trayham, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Vaughn

Lucas, CEO of the State of Black Arizona; Teniqua Broughton, Jeff Guldner, Shamia Lodge, Robin Reed, and Christine Abdullah. Vocalist Tina Estes performed a touching rendition of "This Girl/Boy is On Fire" to honor the graduates.

As part of its Elevate Together® initiative, Office Depot presented $30,000 in grants to ImpactAZ standouts. Additionally, community leaders of the momentous occasion were privy to key announcements, including:

ImpactAZ’s commitment to expand its service to the justice-impacted community.
Formally opening the application process for its 2024 cohort.
Notable year-one success metrics:
- $2M in Secured Contracts
- 40% Expanded Business Operations
- $300,000 Capital Funded
- 22 Public and Private Partnerships
- 80% of Cohort Participants Registered as Diverse Suppliers
- 22% Hired New Staff

To sponsor or support IMPACTAZ 2025, visit www.impactaz2025.com/donate. To become a participant in the highly lauded supplier-diversity accelerator, visit www.impactaz2025.com to apply.

MORE ABOUT IMPACTAZ 2025

The solutions-driven accelerator is a program of the non-profit Millionaire Mastermind Academy, which provides technical assistance for the initiative. Collaborators include the Black Chamber of Arizona and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The accelerator enjoys broad corporate and community support led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Bank of America, Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Via West Group, American Landmark Apartments, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the City of Scottsdale, Commerce Bank AZ, SCORE, and the AIANNH Project NABEDC, operated by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, are additional sponsors.