2026 Upstate NY MWBE Conference Preview

ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 23, 2026 

Small business owners from Syracuse to Buffalo are preparing for their annual trip down the I-90 Thruway for the 4th Annual Upstate NY MWBE Conference.

Hosted by the City of Rochester, the three-day conference will take place March 30 through April 1 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, bringing together minority and women-owned businesses, prime contractors, state agencies, and procurement leaders.

Jazz and RJ Williams, hosts of the Elevating Enterprise podcast recently sat down with the event coordinator Tymothi Howard, who provides direct insight into how contracting decisions are made and how MWBE firms can position themselves for real opportunities for procurement.

Get your free Procurement Ready Checklist here.

🎧 Available now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart Radio

Howard, who oversees purchasing for the City of Rochester, makes it clear that opportunity is not limited to one sector. From construction and consulting to professional services and commodities, the City’s needs are broad—and ongoing. 

As he explains in the episode, the City “literally buys everything,” underscoring the scale of opportunity available to prepared businesses.

The 2026 conference theme “Creating Space Where Certification and Merit Elevates Excellence” is structured to guide attendees from foundational understanding of government contracting to actionable strategy over the course of three days.

Day One (March 30) — focuses on building awareness and capacity. A morning interactive learning experience introduces attendees to the MWBE certification landscape, followed by the “Under Construction Boot Camp,” a hands-on workshop connecting skilled trades programs, contractors, and MWBE firms to support business growth. 

The evening transitions into a networking-focused environment with a jazz reception featuring Grammy-nominated Rochester musician Jimmie Highsmith Jr., followed by an awards dinner and keynote address from New York State Senator April Baskin. 

Day Two (March 31) — shifts the focus to execution and access. Attendees can participate in one-on-one sessions for MWBE certification status updates, as well as counseling and bid-matching support through Apex Accelerators. Sign up here.

Training tracks throughout the day cover critical business functions, including access to capital, bonding and surety, back-office systems, marketing capabilities, and scaling operations. Former Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren will deliver the keynote. 

Day Three (April 1) — connection and opportunity with a large-scale expo showcasing state agencies and community organizations offering funding, technical assistance, and business development resources.  Jason Myles, Executive Vice President of the New York State Minority & Women’s Business Development, will deliver the keynote. 

The highly anticipated MWBE Success Panel will be moderated by Jazz Williams, founder of JazzCast Pros. Williams returns to the conference stage following her role as moderator at Monroe County’s Upstate Supplier Engagement Summit earlier this year, continuing her work facilitating conversations that bridge access and execution in procurement.

The panel will feature Me’Shae Rolling of Rolling Enterprises Inc. and franchise owner of EventPrep (Syracuse), Inc.;

Lenora Paige of Rochester Specialty Contractors; Tracey Miller of Tracey D. Miller Associates LLC and Darius Myles of Dmyles Construction (Niagara Falls).

Each panelist brings direct experience navigating certification, securing contracts, and scaling within the MWBE ecosystem.

This conference is designed to move businesses beyond awareness and into action—connecting them with the relationships, resources, and insights needed to compete.

Tickets are available online at https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/finance-department/upstate-ny-mwbe-conference or by calling 585-428-7041.

Ticket Options:

• 3-Day Pass: $190 (Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch are included)

• 2-Day Pass: $150  (Breakfast and Lunch are included)

• 1-Day Pass / Business Expo Table: $90 (Dinner Included)