| 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. |
GNEMSDC First Quarterly Meeting February 14, 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame 2:00 - 4:30 PM | ||
| The GNEMSDC First Quarterly Meeting will take place at the world famous Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA on Monday, February 14 from 2:00 to 4:30 with a reception to follow. The corporate host for this event is Northeast Utility Systems and Western Massachusetts Electric Company. In addition to learning about opportunities at NU, there will be an informative program for both MBEs and corporate members. Please register for this event by calling the office, 888-874-7114 or emailing Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org. |
| Rhode Island Regional Advisory Committee to Host Reception Feb.9
Mayor Angel Taveras |
| All Are Welcome to Attend Event at Providence Marriott |
| The GNEMSDC, Rhode Island Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) is hosting its first business reception on February 9 at the Providence Marriott from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Invited guests include all RI based corporate members, all certified RI based MBEs and we have invited prospective corporate members and MBEs as well as the political leadership in the region. Providence elected its first Hispanic Mayor in November, Angel Taveras. We will be reaching out to him in the hope of having him drop by for introductions. Even if you are not based in RI, you are welcome to join us for this event. Call the office (888-874-7114) to let us know if you are interested in attending. I will be on the Jim Vincent Show next week discussing our activities in RI and this event. There will be food and drinks and the event is FREE! |
| Capital and Minority Business Development Summit March 3
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| Full Day Summit at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston |
| We are very happy to announce that our Keynote Speaker for the "Capital and Minority Business Development Conference is Ralph G. Moore. Ralph G. Moore, CPA, is the founder and president of Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA), one of America's premier change management firms. The firm specializes in the integration of supplier diversity into corporate strategy and the formation of diverse strategic alliances. RGMA assists entrepreneurs acquire capital, develop business plans and structure strategic alliances. RGMA's presentation, "Raising the Bar,"which delineates five progressive levels of supplier diversity evolution, has been embraced as the "gold standard" for benchmarking corporate initiatives in this area.
Mr. Moore has over 39 years of experience in business and public policy issues. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting with honors. Prior to founding RGMA, Mr. Moore was on the accounting staff of Arthur Andersen & Co.; as vice-president for a Chicago based Minority Business Investment Company and as controller for a Black Enterprise 100 meat processing plant. He is a recognized expert in minority and women-owned business development as the firm has conducted over 1300 one-on-one engagements with minority and women owned businesses.
Mr. Moore has had a long and productive relationship with the National Minority. Since 1992 RGMA gas been the primary training resource for NMSDC, During that period Mr. Moore has trained more supplier diversity professionals than anyone worldwide. In addition, RGMA has conducted the Corporate Plus Forum for the past 10 years, The Forum is designed to provide executives of Corporate Plus members a high level training experience on issues germane to growing $100 million businesses.
Mr. Moore is highly respected for his active leadership in several business development and civic organizations. In addition, he has earned a number of awards during his career including the 2010 NMSDC Leadership Award.
Preliminary Agenda
8:30 to 9:00 Registration 9:00 to 9:30 Opening Remarks: Continental Breakfast 9:30 to 10:45 Panel Discussion 1: Public Sector Investments in MBE Capacity Building 10:45 to 12:00 Panel Discussion 2: The Roll of Private Equity Firms, Venture Capitalists 12:00 to 1:00 Lunch: Keynote Speaker, Ralph G. Moore, President and CEO of RGMA 1:30 to 2:45 Panel Discussion 3: Effective Relationships with Funding Sources - Commercial Bank 2:45 to 4:00 Panel Discussion 4: Case Studies: the MBE's Perspective 4:00 to 4:15 Closing Remarks Annual MBE and Corporate Sponsors will be eligible for two non-transferable tickets to this event. The price to attend for others will be $100.00 which includes breakfast and lunch as well as some of the best high powered networking for the year. It is not too late to become an Annual Corporate or MBE Sponsor. Call the office for details. |
Ralph Moore| Forum on The Connecticut Economy and Housing! |
| Barry Bluestone, Dean of Northeastern School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs to Present in Hartford Today! |
| Nationally recognized economist and public policy guru, Barry Bluestone will be in town on Monday at the Hartford Lyceum at a seminar sponsored by the Partnership for Strong Communities. I will be serving on the panel of discussants including Oz Grieble of the Metro Hartford Chamber, economist Nick Perna, and Yvette Melendez of Hartford Hospital. The focus on Dr. Bluestone's address will be on the connection between affordable housing and economic and business development in the state. The event starts at 9:00 AM and will be finished by 11:00. Please visit ctpartnershiphousing.com for more details. |
| Last Week for Nominations! |
| MBE and Corporate Member Nominations Due This Week |
| This week is the last week that you can submit nominations for the GNEMSDC Awards for Corporation of the Year (two categories - Local and National), Supplier of the Year (4 categories), Reciprocal MBE of the Year, Buyer of the Year, Advocate of the Year and MBE Empowerment. These are these most prestigious awards in the region for these because they are selected based on performance and judged by an independent panel. This year, we expect over 1,000 attendees and many business and political leaders from across the region to be in attendance along with the media. So, this is an excellent opportunity to have your business in the glow of success. It is going to be a great event! You should be a part of it. |
| Happy Chinese New Year - The Year of the Rabbit |
| We wish everyone a Happy New Year on Thursday, February 3, the Year of the Rabbit.
"According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs. The Rabbit is a lucky sign. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space." (Source)
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| This week I will meet with the the leadership of the CT Lottery Corporation to discuss our interest in helping them achieve greater spend with certified MBEs. From the very beginning of this "struggle" I have been consistently clear that the State of Connecticut law is the fundamental problem because it treats women owned enterprises and minority owned enterprises as interchangeable with regards to State set-aside goals. Because State agencies and quasi public organizations like the CT Lottery can buy from WBEs or MBEs, MBEs have suffered. State law needs to change so that separate goals are established for both groups so that a situation like what we have at the CT Lottery and at other state agencies would not happen. Currently, state agencies report that over 80 percent of set-aside dollars are going to WBEs and less than 15 percent going to MBEs. It is not inappropriate to remember why and for whom these programs were created for in the first place. As the premier organization advocating for minority business development in the region, we have to stand up and be counted. I am hopeful that my meeting this week will help the CT Lottery see that while they are "in compliance" with the law, that this is not good enough and that we can help them accomplish minority spending goals that make them a partner in the development of minority communities in the state.
In your service Dr. Fred, |
And Finally, 
