June 20, 2011

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. Success! - State of Connecticut Funds Minority and Women Business Disparity Study The State of Connecticut General Assembly two weeks ago completed its biennial budget process. One of the items that the GNEMSDC supported with testimony and a very public campaign was for the State to increase its spending with MBEs and to create separate goals for MBEs and WBEs. I am very pleased to report that an important and necessary first step was completed. The State has allocated enough funds to complete a disparity study. The disparity study is a necessary step to protect any program designed to increase minority spending. Currently the State of Connecticut spends less than two percent of its total spending with certified MBEs. The success of this effort would not have been possible without the support of the Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus, led on this issue by State Representatives Charles "Don" Clemons (Bridgeport), Gary Holder Winfield (New Haven) and State Senator Andres Ayala (Bridgeport). We also must thank Governor Dannel Malloy for providing support, guidance and leadership on this important issue. Along with these political leaders, I want to recognize the work of countless minority business owners who took the time to come to Hartford to testify on the necessity of changes in State law and supporting our efforts. Others including the Connecticut NAACP, the Puerto Rican and Latino Affairs Commission, the African American Affairs Commission, the Minority Construction Council, the Commission on the Permanent Status of Women were instrumental in this effort. I also want to offer special thanks Anne Noble, President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery for her personal support for this effort. The next phase in our efforts will now turn to the study and then the development of legislation that will create a business environment that is welcoming to all businesses regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. NMSDC/GNEMSDC Upcoming Events, Activities and Information Please take a close look at the events listed below. The links will take you to detailed information about the events. We will have more information for those events that do not currently have live links, but please mark your calendars and call the office. Events and Activities MBE Hospital Opportunity Expo - Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and GNEMSDC, June 23, 2011 - Aqua Turf Club - Contact the office if you are interested in attending this important event. Attending this event will be procurement managers from the 29 hospitals that make up the CHA and their senior most executives. I will be addressing the group at the luncheon session. Your attendance and support for this event helps us increase opportunities for certified MBEs with this rapidly growing industry. NMSDC Quarterly Meeting, Westin Copley Boston, July 18-21. (This meeting is for Regional MSDC Presidents, Regional Council Corporate Chairpersons, Regional MBEIC Chairpersons and NMSDC executive leadership. MBEs and corporate members who are not a part of the NMSDC leadership are welcome to register for luncheons and networking/cruise dinner on Boston Harbor, July 20. There are also advertising and sponsorship opportunities, call the office for details.) Information Otis Elevator and United Technologies Corporation Honors CDP Fastener Group with Supplier Gold Status Congratulations to CDP Fastener Group on this important recognition. The United Technologies Corporation designates only a very small number of suppliers as gold suppliers. This status indicates that the supplier has delivered flawlessly, on-time and on-budget. We encourage other manufacturers and users of fasteners to give CDP Fastener Group a call. If they can do it for UTC at this level, they can do it for your company! Ten Tips for Benefiting from the Expanded Economy - Video Links Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 View 2011 Annual Gala pictures on Facebook Over 400 Photos that captured this special event. Copy and download your photos and share with your friends. Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit Video Non-GNEMSDC Events Most of these activities our corporate members, MBEs and Council staff have been invited to attend. The links will take you to detailed information about the events. Annual PSEG Nuclear MWBE Procurement Fair: Agenda & Directions - June 21 VASE Construction Upcoming Training Schedules Ahold USA Retail Construction Vender Events: June 28-Edison NJ The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) New Engalnd Awards Dinner - June 15 - Ernst and Young is also looking for minority women owned businesses to apply for their Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program. To obtain an application for this program visit www.ey.com/usentrepreneurialwinningwomen. Applications are due June 30, 2011. Open for Business Contracting Opportunity for CT Small Business - June 23 MA Office of International Trade & Investment -Export Opportunity in Africa - June 23 If you have events and activities that you want to share with our network send us a PDF file at least two weeks before the event. We reserve the right to publish or not publish events and activities. Golf Alert! GNEMSDC Supplier Golf Classic - July 15 - SOLD OUT!!!! A wonderful way to participate in the largest non-profit golf event in Connecticut is to: 1. join us for lunch 2. volunteer 3. donate raffle items 4. sponsor the lunch Great Job - 2011 Supplier Golf Classic Co-Chairs: Larry Wooten and Jere Eaton Contact Volunteer Coordinator Contact Raffle Item Donation View Current Raffle Items 2011 GNEMSDC Supplier Golf Classic NMSDC Quarterly Meeting in Boston - July 18-21 The GNEMSDC will be hosting the NMSDC Quarterly Meeting in Boston at the Westin Copley from July 18 through July 21. We welcome the NMSDC executive staff and the leadership from the 36 regional councils. Some of the corporations represented in the national leadership as chairs of regional councils include the following: Aetna Ahold USA Ameren AT & T Brown - Forman Centerpoint Energy Conoco Phillips Disney Exxonmobil Ford Honda USA Johnson and Johnson Johnson Controls Lilly Lockheed Martin Macy's Pepco Holdings PNC Sempra Energy Shewin Williams Southern Company Turner Construction Verizon Wireless Volkswagon These are a few of the companies we expect to join us in July. GNEMSDC corporate members and certified MBEs are welcome to join us for the luncheons on Tuesday and Wednesday and on the Cruise of Boston Harbor on Wednesday, July 20. See the link for registration information. This should be a great event for the region as we showcase Boston, our corporate membership and our outstanding MBEs. NMSDC Quarterly Meeting Agenda Opportunities with Corporate Members Invitation to General Contractors to Pre-qualify to Offer Proposals for the Academic Renovation Services Project No: 060911MS.Application Due date June 28, 2011. Lottery Drawing Associate job posting If you are a corporate member, and want the Council to spread the word about your opportunity we would be happy to do that for you anonymously and for free! The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bids Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Request for Proposals (RFP) Investment Consulting Services Solicitation Number: 011-FIN-11-S Solicitation Date: June 15, 2011 The Housing Authority City of Bridgeport (HACB) is seeking proposals from established investment consultants with experience in providing investment advice and services to government entities. Proposals are to be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2011, at the main administrative office of the Authority located at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. or 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT. at the Purchasing Department. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT in the Executive Conference Room. Although not mandatory, all proposes are encouraged to attend in order to better understand the Bridgeport Housing Authority's intent. A complete copy of the solicitation, including proposed forms of contract and proposal requirements, can be obtained after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the Purchasing Department, 361 Bird Street, Bridgeport CT 06605, Attention: Ms. Caroline Sanchez Telephone No. (203) 337-8820. Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Request for Proposals (RFP) Youth Services Collaborative Solicitation Number: 012-RS-11-S Solicitation Date: June 15, 2011 The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) is soliciting proposals from qualified, established, youth services agencies that serve principally Bridgeport to collaborate in the creation of a Citywide Youth Centers (CYCs) Collaborative. Under the Collaborative, the CYCs should serve youth ages 6-18 throughout the City of Bridgeport and neighboring communities in comprehensive after school and summer enrichment programs. Proposals are to be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 18, 2011, at the main administrative office of the Authority located at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. or 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT. at the Purchasing Department. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT in the Conference Room. Although not mandatory, all proposes are encouraged to attend in order to better understand the Bridgeport Housing Authority's intent. A complete copy of the solicitation, including proposed forms of contract and proposal requirements, can be obtained after 1 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2011 at the Purchasing Department, 361 Bird Street, Bridgeport CT 06605, Attention: Ms. Caroline Sanchez Telephone No. (203) 337-8820. Tool to Grow Your Business I encourage certified MBEs to call me and ask for the Council for support. Our mission is to assist our certified MBEs grow and be successful. I have noticed that many of the calls I receive assisting our support end up discussing ways to better utilize the Council's resources and connections, and ultimately to increase sales and profitability. After some thought on this I have developed a simple tool - an Excel spreadsheet - that can help certified MBEs, in fact any business focus its efforts on growth. No one tool can serve as a panacea, but I encourage MBEs to take a look at this tool and try to organize their sales efforts using this tool. I strongly advise you to use this tool as a starting point. You should add or subtract columns based on your particular needs. I also encourage you to review and update this tool as your business changes. As always, I appreciate your feedback and suggestions to improve what is presented here. And feel free to share. Tool to Grow Your Business

And Finally II & Essays on Minority Business Development Discover the keys to minority business development, learn about author, read author's blog, and more... Order Book at: www.drfredmckinney.com Why you should buy? Minority business owners who are looking for practical advice on better managing their enterprises will find a wealth of information in the book. And anyone interested in the best practices in supplier diversity will find the book instructive and inspiring. ***All of the proceeds for the book will be donated to the GNEMSDC. So this is a great way to have your own personal record of this historic time and support the Council. And since all proceeds are going directly to the GNEMSDC your purchase is tax deductible. Our plan is to only sell the book on line. You can read it on all I-Pads, other tables, cell phones and computers. Your purchase supports the work of the Council. Thank you for your support. View Book Table of Content And Finally... In the Taoist philosophers' Chuang Tsu's masterpiece, Inner Chapters, he tells the story of a disciple who wants to go off and change the behavior of a violent and "bad" ruler. The chapter is appropriately entitled "Human Affairs" and while the scene is the fourth century BC, it applies to human affairs today. In the story, the eager student tries explaining to the teacher how he is going to change the tyrant by lecturing him on virtue, goodness and ethical behavior. The teacher warns the student that this path will not work because it draws a comparison between the good and bad, and in this case the bad prince will not appreciate coming up short even if true, and will also lead to the ultimate demise of the student. The student suggests several other approaches all of which the teacher illustrates will fail to change the tyrant. Ultimately, the student gives up and asks the teacher: "What will work to change the tyrant?" The advice the teacher gives is for the student to have a "fast of the mind". The teacher suggests a path whereby the tyrant through observation and reflection, facilitated by the student comes to the conclusion that change is possible and desirable. We are not dealing with tyrants, but we are dealing with leadership and change. Corporate and public sector leaders as well as change agents are all in need of change. In order to accomplish our mission, of increased economic and business inclusion, there must be change. And like the wisdom of Chuang Tsu, lasting change cannot be forced , it must be arrived at willingly and enthusiastically. Our job is to facilitate this as quickly as possible for the benefit of MBEs, the benefit of corporations and government, and the benefit of our shared community. In your service, Dr. Fred