PAST EVENTS

CUP Hosts 3rd Annual Holiday Party

Over 400 people attended CUP's Holiday Party on December 9 at Highline Ballroom. We were pleased to welcome special guest Governor David Paterson. We were also joined by Councilmember Daniel Garodnick.

Many thanks to our host committee for assisting us in putting on such a great event! "The CUP Holiday Party was a great way to close out the year - a festive event, the opportunity to celebrate our successes in the urban professional community, and a personal acknowledgement from our Governor that we faced tough times in 2009 but that better days are ahead," said 2009 CUP Fellow Natasha Holiday. "I could not ask for a better event from CUP."

CUP Participates in Minority/Women's Business Enterprise Awards Ceremony & Reception in Buffalo

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, Senator Antoine M. Thompson (District 60) invited a delegation of CUP leaders to attend the First Annual Western New York Minority/Women's Business Enterprise Awards Ceremony & Reception. CUP was honored to celebrate this milestone with Senator Thompson and all of the Award recipients.

Following the Awards Ceremony & Reception, the CUP team attended a private networking event at the Buffalo Club with Senator Thompson and Sundra L. Ryce, President of SLR Contracting & Service Company, and shared details of our comprehensive MWBE Campaign with some of Buffalo's top business leader.

CUP Hosts Inaugural Media and Entertainment Dinner

On November 10, CUP hosted its Inaugural Media and Entertainment Dinner for senior level media and entertainment executives featuring a rountable digital discussion. Omar Wasow, Co-Founder, BlackPlanet.com, moderated a panel of experts including: David Eun, Vice President, YouTube Content, Google; Smokey Fontaine, Chief Content Officer, Interactive One; Camille Hackney, SVP, Brand Partnerships & Commercial Licensing, Atlantic Records; Tanya Van Court, SVP and General Manager, NOGGIN, ParentsConnect and NickJr.com; Denmark West, President, Digital Media, BET Networks.

Over 90 minority and women senior-level executives were in attendance throughout the evening. CUP is pleased to have exceeded our attendance goals and we hope we've set the stage for ongoing dialogue, networking and programming among this industry group.

"Not only was the event impressive and inspiring, it also gave me practical business benefits," said CUP Member Roland Laird, CEO, Posro Media LLC and Managing Director, My Image Studios.

CUP Hosts Second Annual Wall Street Partners Dinner

On September 29, CUP hosted its 2nd Annual Wall Street Partners Event which featured the heads of Investment Banking from five major investment firms. Over 150 minority and women senior-level executives were in attendance throughout the day. Guests found the discussions extremely engaging and informative.

The host committee included CUP Members Tess Amodeo-Vickery, Karina Cabrera, Brooke Daniels, Kristin Johnson, Adrienne Harris, Malika Hinkson, Maryana Iskander, Myah Moore and Beatrice Sibblies.

"CUP put together a fantastic program for the Wall Street Partners Event," said CUP member Fred Royall. "It was one of the best events I have attended in the past year."

CUP Hosts Conversation with New York & New Jersey's Secretaries of State

CUP hosted a discussion with New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, and New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells on September 22.

"Both Secretaries graciously gave of their time and advice to all who attended," said CUP member and event moderator Leslie Talbot. "Participants were riveted, thoroughly enjoying the Secretaries' accounts of both their professional and personal backgrounds. Throughout the evening it seemed more like we were in someone's house for a get together rather than a stuffy professional event! But that's CUP for you! Great networking often seems like a family get together!"