Lorene Gregory returns home to help minority firms connect to corporate contracts

PETERSBURG — The 2020 Plan team is pleased to announce the hire of its newest team member – Lorene Gregory – who has returned to her hometown of St. Petersburg to serve as Project Director of Impact St. Pete for The 2020 Plan.

The project is designed to increase procurement opportunities for minority-owned and community-based businesses with major corporations, government entities and anchor institutions in the area. Lorene began the new contractual role on October 1.

It’s a position that Lorene comfortably fits. She has 15 years of experience in corporate engagement and supplier diversity with an emphasis on identifying corporate purchasing needs and matching those needs to qualified minority-owned firms.

Previously, Lorene served as a video journalist for CNN and as a five-year Director of Communications and Business Development for the Georgia affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC) in Atlanta.  There, she helped minority firms to certify, develop and to secure contracts with over 300 corporate members of the George Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC).

Most recently she served as Business Development Manager for Softpath System, a minority-owned technology consulting firm.

Lorene’s work in the Atlanta metro area earned her a spotlight in Atlanta Tribune Magazine as a leading advocate of minority suppliers.

“It’s great to be home and I’m honored to join The 2020 Plan team in promoting inclusive economic growth in St. Petersburg,” Lorene says. “I welcome the challenge of developing community-businesses to a new level of excellence and leadership that will spur job creation, revitalize our community, and encourage generational wealth.”

Specific job roles for the St. Pete native will including helping entrepreneurs prepare and compete for tangible opportunities with bay area corporations, and recruiting corporate and anchor institutions to become active with supplier diversity programs, including the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council.

2020 Plan CEO Gypsy Gallardo says of the new role “We’ve seen a convergence of organizations across our community working toward the goal of economic equity. Lorene will help us to level the playing field through the vital roles of matchmaking and capacity-building for suppliers and buyers.”