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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| Corporate Performance Survey - Preliminary Results | | The GNEMSDC is currently conducting a survey of local and national corporate members. If you did not receive the survey instrument via email, we would be happy to send it to you directly. The information provides the Council with valuable intelligence that will help us to better serve our corporate members. Also, those who complete the anonymous survey can see the summary results that might also help you see where you stand relative to other corporate members. To receive a survey link, email Tatiana Paredes at, tparedes@gnemsdc.org .
In addition to asking questions about corporate purchases with certified MBEs, the survey provides insight into the reasons why MBEs are not winning more contracts. One question that addresses this issue asked respondents to rank the reasons why MBEs were not winning more contracts with their organizations. There were eight choices to select from and rank. The top reasons respondents gave in order from most important to least important were: - Not enough MBEs in the Spend Categories where the Spend is the greatest
- Productive capacity of MBEs was not lacking
- Price competitiveness
The other reasons were ranked equally important, and they were: - Internal resistance
- Perception of higher risk associated with working with MBEs
- On-time delivery and
- Quality
The survey is open until June 15. Respondents can see the anonymous results if they take the survey. We encourage all local and national GNEMSDC corporate members to help us by taking this 15 minute survey. |
| 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 - Wednesday, June 7 - Reaching Home - Ending Homelessness Dinner, Cromwell Connecticut - Dr. Fred McKinney is one of the speakers at this event. For ticket information and program details click here.
- Monday, June 13, 2011 - Pitney Bowes Supplier Diversity Summit 2011 from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Stamford, CT office. The day will include a keynote address form Leonard Greenhalgh, Professor, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, insightful presentations, impactful workshops, and an opportunity for you to meet with Pitney Bowes stakeholders to discuss procurement opportunities. Space is limited, attendance is limited to 1 (one) person per company and registration will close June 6, 2011. Directions & Parking information will be sent out once we get closer to the date of the event. To register for this event & to see the agenda please click here.
- The GNEMSDC RI Regional Advisory Committee is holding a corporate reception at Citizens Bank in downtown Providence on June 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The RI RAC has invited local RI companies that are not GNEMSDC members to join us for this cocktail reception to learn more about the GNEMSDC. All GNEMSDC corporate members are welcome to join us. Call Andie Kim at 617-578-8900 for more details.
- The New York New Jersey MSDC ("The Council") will be holding its Business Opportunity Expo, Thursday, June 16 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. The Keynote Speaker for the event is Allan Houston. For more information about the event visit www.nynjmsdc.org/expo2011.
- The St Louis MSDC will be holding its Business Opportunity Expo and Conference, June 15-16 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis. Your truly will be the Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Thursday, June 16. For registration information visit, http://www.slmbc.org.
- MBE Hospital Opportunity Expo - Connecticut Hospital Association and GNEMSDC, June 23, 2011 - Aqua Turf Club - Contact the office if you are interested in attending this important event.
- 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.)
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| 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. 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 2011 GNEMSDC Supplier Golf Classic Brochure
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| The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid | | 
Invitation for bid replacement of steam condensate pipe at Trumbull Gardens.
Solicitation Number: 009-PD-11-S Solicitation Date: June 1, 2011
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport is requesting sealed bids for the replacement of steam condensate pipe at Trumbull Gardens, 555 Trumbull Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06606. All bids must be received by 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time. A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at 505 Trumbull Ave, Bridgeport, CT. Though not mandatory, all bidders are encouraged to attend.
A complete set of the plans and technical specifications will be available after 1 p.m. on Monday, June 6, 2011 at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605 or by calling 203-337-8820 or 8826. |
| 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 |
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| And Finally... | | 
When we were younger we used to preface important questions by calling them $64,000 questions. In the 1960s, $64,000 went a long way. The origins of this term go back to a 1940s radio quiz show. According to my calculations and those of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $64,000 in 1967 would be equivalent to approximately $192,000 today. But I digress. One $64,000 question that I address in the Corporate Survey reported on above is: Why don't MBEs have more businesses targeted at the core products purchased by corporate members? The number one reason given why corporations do not buy more from MBEs was that MBEs were not strong suppliers in core products. The implication is that MBEs are more heavily represented in non-core products and services. What are these non-core concentrations? We know from the survey of MBEs that MBEs are heavily represented in distribution, professional services and IT. As an economist, I know that an important factor in determining the long-term profitability of an industry and the firms in that industry is ease of entry. I suspect that MBEs are concentrated in non-core goods and services because it is easier for them to enter these areas as opposed to more capital intensive, relationship dependent core products and industries. But easy entry has its consequences.
However, MBEs are entrepreneurs. And good entrepreneurs are characterized by the ability to adapt and change. Perhaps it is time for MBEs to take on this corporate challenge and take their knowledge of their customers and look into creating enterprises that deal with the core products and services of corporate members. Shoot for the stars instead of the moon. I believe we have entrepreneurs who can figure this out and win the $64,000 challenge. In your service, Dr. Fred |
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