Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council
e-Newsletter
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Dear Thomas,
The mission of the Greater New England Minority Supplier
Development Council is to significantly increase business relationships
between our corporate members and our certified MBEs. We believe that
minority business development is a key component of reducing poverty,
unemployment, increasing wealth, and integrating American society. You
are receiving this email in order to keep you abreast of developments
with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council,
Supplier Diversity Issues and Minority Business Development. If you
like what you read please share internally and externally.
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The GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP)
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We
are pleased to announce the second year of the GNEMSDC Advanced
Leadership Program (GALP). The program consists of 5 full-day sessions
led by outstanding business professors and writers. The professors in
this program represent the best executive educators in the world, and
are from the top business schools in the world. The GALP faculty
includes, Steven Rogers of the Harvard Business School, David
Hinson, former National Director of the MBDA. Olav Sorensen of Yale
School of Management, and Jeffrey Fox, best-selling author of "How to
Become a Rainmaker" and other top selling business books.
At lunch during each
day of the program, we will have corporate CEOs and other C-Level
executives speak to the program participants. Last year the CEO faculty
included Anne Noble, President and CEO of the CT Lottery, Kevin
Kelleher, President and CEO of Cartus, William Jennings, President and
CEO of Bridgeport Hospital, Rodney Powell, President and COO of Yankee
Gas, Carlton Highsmith, Retired Chairman of Specialized Packaging Group
and Joseph Black, Chief Procurement Officer of Aetna. The program
begins on Friday October 17, 2014 and ending on Friday, November 14.
The program is geared
to the owner/entrepreneurs of firms with $1 million in annual sales or
more who are looking to significantly grow their business's top and
bottom lines. Participants will not only experience the wisdom of the
assembled professors, participants will benefit greatly by learning from
the other high powered MBE owners in attendance. Space is limited to
25 MBEs. Think of the value of simply making the connections that being
part of this program can do for your business; that alone is worth the
investment of your time and resources.
Participants will
receive a certificate signed by all professors in the program. This
will be a valuable reminder of the time invested in this innovative
program.
This year we are proud to
have the generous support of the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
Call the office if you are interested in being participant in this MBE
educational program.
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2014 GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classics -
Registration Now Available!
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I am very happy to
announce that we have over 180 registrants for this event! So if you
want to participate in one of the largest golf outings in the region,
call the office now to reserve your spot!
The GNEMSDC Connecticut Supplier Diversity Golf Outing will be on
Friday, July 11, 2014 Lyman Orchards Golf Club Middlefield, CT. The tournament begins at 7:30am.
Please see the brochure
for additional information and new Golf Sponsorship Opportunities.
Enter our Putting Contest and you could win a cash prize! Not a golfer?
We have several non-golfer activities or you can learn the game and be
taught by a pro in the Golf Clinic.
Call
the GNEMSDC offices with any questions: 203-288-9744 or 617-578-8900.
We are also looking for a few volunteers to help us male sure everyone
has a great time. Call the office and ask for Jerilynn Clarke if you
are interested in becoming a Golf Volunteer.
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Local Corporate Member Training for Prism
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 The next Prism Webinar training for Corporate members will take place on Monday, June 23, 2014 from 1:00 - 2:30pm Eastern Time.
The
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) invites NMSDC
corporate members to a PRISM training session. The web-based Vendor
Management module replaces the MBISYS® database. It stores supplier
information to a database for access by suppliers, contract managers and
buyers. This session will provide you with an overview of the vendor
management module and an in-depth look at its functionalities and
capabilities specific to NMSDC Corporate members.
Advance registration is
recommended. Seats are limited and are on a first-come, first-served
basis. Once your registration is complete, you will receive an email
that confirms your enrollment and includes the information you will need
to join the event. Additional information available here.
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Bridgeport MBDA Business Center & GNEMSDC
"Business After Hours" Business Card Exchange
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 "Great
vibes!" was the reaction of guests who joined us for the kickoff of our
monthly networking series that connects corporate members, MBEs, and
other business professionals in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Guests were serenaded by Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band and enjoyed hors
d'oeuvres by David's Soundview Catering while Café 1000 played host to a
wonderful evening.
Don't miss out! Early registration for the next "Business After Hours" starts Friday June 27, 2014.
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Accelerate with Google:
Google Is Coming To GNEMSDC Bridgeport on Thursday, July 17!
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 What:
Accelerate with Google Academy is a 12-week intensive program that
teaches underrepresented minority business how to be found online and
generate business through their websites. It focuses on Search Engine
Optimization (SEO) and Google AdWords.
Key Benefits: Use the web to attract new customers, make your business website easier to find, and learn how measure the results.
Deadline: Upcoming application deadline is June 9th, with more rounds of application available in July and August.
If you are interested in attending a luncheon and presentation by Google at the GNEMSDC Bridgeport on Thursday, July 17 from 12 noon to 3 PM, call the
office. This event will be limited to certified MBEs only. Lunch will
be provided and there is no cost to certified MBEs. And because of
space constraints, only one person per MBE for this program.
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Upcoming Events
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There
are several events coming up on our calendar that are designed
specifically for MBEs to learn about corporate opportunities. We know
how busy everyone's schedule is, but these are events often hosted by
our corporate members with the expressed purpose of finding out more
about you and your business with the ultimate aim, to make you a
valuable supplier to their companies. Here are some events you should
consider:
- June 25, 2014 - Supplier Diversity - From Obstacles to Opportunities, MassMutual Center Springfield MA 10 am - 12 pm. RSVP required for questions call (413)221-7931 More Information.
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July 11, 2014 - GNEMSDC CT Golf Outing, Lyman Orchards, Middleton, CT Additional Info
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September 26, 2014 6pm-10pm ritmos de salud to
benefit Joslin's Latino Diabetes Initiative. For more information
contact Caitlin Enright at 617-309-2531 or Caitlin.enright@joslin.harvard.edu.
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September 30 - October 1, 2014 - GNEMSDC Expo and Conference, Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort, Uncasville, CT
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October 10, 2014 - GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program, Bridgeport, CT (First Weekly Session)
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November 20, 2014 - GNEMSDC/MBDA Best Practice Forum, Fenway Park, Boston, MA
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June 2014 MBE Orientation Attendees
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Special thanks to our Corporate Presenter April Cimorelli from Staples!
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Corporate Member of the Week: EMC
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EMC
is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to
transform their operations and deliver information technology as a
service (ITaaS). Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing.
Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to
cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and
analyze their most valuable asset - information - in a more agile,
trusted and cost-efficient way.
We
are committed to establishing and maintaining a world-class supply
network in a competitive landscape. Environmental and social
responsibility within our supply chain is central to our commitment.
Supply
chain responsibility involves a complex system of intertwined social,
environmental, and economic issues spread across a global system.
Through the EMC® Supply Chain Social & Environmental Responsibility
(SER) program, we work with hundreds of suppliers in more than 20
countries to monitor, report, and engage for continuous improvement.
Our strategy is focused on four core pillars: 1. Monitoring
through an industry-standard approach. 2. Conducting multi-pronged
risk assessments to prioritize suppliers 3. Engaging with suppliers to
improve and to drive change through the supply chain. 4. Creating
incentives for improvement by integrating social and environmental
responsibility into our business processes. Learn more here. |
MBE of the Week: MBJ Wine Group
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 MBJ
Wine Group was established in 2011 by Robert and Monica Jenkins. MBJ
Wine Group researches and analyzes modern wine marketing trends before
presenting a product to a retail establishment or restaurant. We only
sell products that fit within our clients business models and this
results in a compelling marketing and sales initiative that leads to
maximizing brand exposure. In addition, the MBJ Wine Group team brings
to the table 15 years of experience in the wine industry through driving
growth, delivering expansion, and propelling revenues regardless of
economic conditions and increased competition.
Our four core values that we operate under are as follows: Trust, Interaction, Satisfaction, Commitment. Major customers of MBJ Wine include: Hancock Liquor, Liquor Land, West Side Liquor's.
MBJ Wine Group is located in North Easton, MA. For more information please visit www.mbjwine.com. |
| GNEMSDC Trade Expo and Conference is Coming! |
 The
GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo and Conference is coming. This year
the event will take place on Tuesday, September 30 and Wednesday,
October 1 at the Mohegan Sun Casino and resort. Please mark your
calendar. It is time for MBEs and corporate members to start preparing
for the event. One of the biggest attractions is the very successful
One-on-One sessions. These allow corporate members to schedule 15
minute appointments with specific MBEs for specific commodity/service
opportunities. This year we will once again employ some great
technology that will allow us to efficiently make these matches between
corporate members and MBEs. We encourage all of our corporate members
to participate in the Expo and the One-on-One program. This year we
have some very important editions to the program. Stay tuned. (Photo
is of CT Governor Dannel Malloy with Dr. Fred at last year's Expo.)
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| GNEMSDC Wins Grant from Connecticut Health Foundation |
 On behalf of the GNEMSDC Board of Directors, I want to announce that the Connecticut Health Foundation
has awarded the GNEMSDC a $50,000 grant to promote greater utilization
of the Affordable Care Act by MBEs not currently offering their
employees health insurance coverage All of the data suggest that
offering health insurance and other benefits are critical for small
businesses to attract the best talent and keep them. MBEs interested
in learning more about the Affordable Care ACT can call the office for
more information. |
Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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And Finally...
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I was the luncheon speaker at
last Friday's Walt Disney Supplier Diversity Summit at ESPN's
headquarters in Bristol, CT. It was a very informative event with
senior procurement officials and diversity executives from ESPN and
Disney in attendance along with over 100 MBEs and WBEs. ( Click Here for a copy of the entire speech.)
I focused my remarks on the similarities between MBEs/WBEs and Walt
Disney's entrepreneurial experience. However before my remarks I had
the opportunity to introduce two MBEs who did not
previously know each other, Ed Rodriguez of Pennmar Industries and
Annie Pagano of Interpreters and Translators. During my remarks I
noted the importance of MBEs taking full advantage of the opportunity to
network with Disney and ESPN employees, but to also take the time to
meet other MBEs and WBEs in the room. I mentioned during my remarks of
the introduction of Pennmar Industries, a maker of pressure sensitive
tapes and labels to Interpreters and Translators, a provider of
translation services and how I could see the potential for a
partnership/collaboration that could take both companies global in
markets where neither currently is operating. In this case, imagine
Pennmar now offering labels in 70 languages for global companies
facilitated by the linguistic expertise of Interpreters and
Translators.
I have seen over the years
too many MBEs, and I am not pointing to the two companies above, that
are in effect "one-trick" ponies. MBEs may be exceptional at what they
do, but miss out on opportunities to provide corporate buyers and
consumers more wholistic solutions to the complex problems they have. I
believe the solution to this is for MBEs to build complementary
relationships that solve corporate problems.
Of course in the example
above, Pennmar Industries could simply try to build translation services
into its existing business, or Interpreters and Translators could get
into the label business. I would suggest that neither of these
approaches are efficient or effective ways to meet the multi-lingual
needs of corporate clients. The solution is collaboration.
As MBEs collaborate more and
take advantage of truly synergistic skill sets, they build scale and
relevance. They also build capabilities that their primary competitors
may lack. This competitive advantage is what makes collaboration work.
The key though is getting out and meeting like minded entrepreneurs
looking to significantly grow their businesses. And that is where we
come in. We would be happy to be the MBE matchmaker if you have a gap
or see an opportunity. Simply give us a call. There is money out there
to be made. But you have to have a plan to capture it for your
business.
In your service,
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Copyright © 2014
by Dr. Fred McKinney, President & CEO of The Greater New England
Minority Supplier Development Council. All rights reserved. No part of
this online publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written
permission from Dr. Fred McKinney. The graphics, forms and structure
contained within this site are copyright of Dr Fred McKinney.
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Dr. Fred McKinney, President & CEO
Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council
203-288-9744
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