Regional Connect Los Angeles

As our official tour host, Sony Pictures Studios will welcome attendees to a private guided tour that offers a behind-the-scenes look at a working studio, time to connect with peers before Thursday’s event, and an opportunity to learn more about Sony Pictures Entertainment’s sustainability efforts.

Tour information:

• Space is limited, reserve your spot when you register for the Regional Connect LA. You must register by October 20.
• Please arrive at the lot no later than 4:45 PM to allow time for arrival and check-in. Transportation will not be provided, but parking is available.
• This is a walking tour, comfortable footwear is recommended.
• The tour route is accessible. If you have accommodation needs, please let us know when you register so we can help coordinate your experience.
• The tour will conclude at 7:00 PM. Attendees who would like to continue connecting are encouraged to explore the many nearby dining options in Culver City for dinner following the tour.

Best of all, this experience is included with your Regional Connect registration at no additional cost!

Scott Vowels is one of the most consequential voices in supplier diversity and minority business development in the United States. As the newly named Chief Development Officer of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), he brings more than three decades of experience spanning procurement, economic research, corporate supplier diversity leadership, and regional council management.

Vowels led the Supplier Diversity Business Unit at Apple, where his team elevated the company's utilization of diverse suppliers to achieve more than $1 billion in verifiable annual spend, earning Apple a seat on the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable. Prior to Apple, he successfully led both the Northern California and Alabama Minority Supplier Development Councils to national prominence as President and CEO, while simultaneously operating a federal Minority Business Opportunity Center for the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency.

His early career began in manufacturing procurement and sourcing at General Motors, giving him a grounded, operational foundation that has informed his strategic thinking ever since.

A prolific thought leader, Vowels is the co-founder of The Bigger Discussion, a landmark video series examining the future of supplier diversity and is the author of Don't Be Afraid to Call the Baby Ugly and Hacking Supplier Diversity. He also conducted the largest minority business economic impact study in NMSDC's history, introducing the concept of "economic impact" as a measurable framework within supplier diversity.

Vowels holds a doctorate and master's degrees in both Business Administration and Economics. Before entering the corporate world, he competed as a world-ranked professional tennis player — an early indicator of the discipline and competitive drive that have defined his career.

In his new role at NMSDC, Dr. Vowels steps into one of the most critical moments in the organization's history, charged with building the relationships, resources, and partnerships necessary to advance economic equity for minority business enterprises nationwide.

Stephen Harrington serves as Chief Supply Chain Officer for MGM Resorts International, where he leads supply chain strategy and execution across the enterprise. He brings a partnership-driven approach to procurement, strengthening supplier relationships, supporting operational excellence and creating long-term value across the business.

Before Joining MGM Resorts, Mr. Harrington served as Chief Supply Chain Officer for Delaware North. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Chiquita Brands International, Cadbury Schweppes Group and M&T Bank.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Harrington holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He brings decades of leadership experience across supply chain, operations and business strategy.