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. |
Important Information Regarding GNEMSDC Expo and NMSDC Expo | |
Town Hall Session Facilitators - Rodney Powell, President/COO of Yankee Gas and Joseph Black, Chief Procurement Officer of Aetna |  This year the GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Conference kicks off with a brand new program - the Town Hall Meeting. This session is designed to cover some of the most important issues facing both MBEs and Corporate members and address how the Council along with our stakeholders can meet these challenges more successfully. This year we are proud to have two leaders from the GNEMSDC Senior Advisory Committee, Rodney Powell and Joseph Black serve as facilitators. Everyone is welcome to attend. We are expecting the GNEMSDC board of directors, the other members of the GNEMSDC Senior Advisory Committee, the members of the MBEIC, the members of all five of the GNEMSDC Regional Advisory Committee and all other interested MBEs and corporate members to attend. You do not want to miss this exciting event.
Rodney (Rod) O. Powell is president and chief operating officer of Yankee Gas Services Company (Yankee Gas), a subsidiary of the Northeast Utilities (NU) system. Rod is responsible for the overall operations of the company delivering natural gas to approximately 200,000 customers in 71 cities and towns. Yankee Gas is Connecticut's largest natural gas distribution company.
Prior to joining Yankee Gas, Powell was president and chief operating officer of Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO). He was responsible for its electric distribution system and satisfying the needs of WMECO's 200,000 customers throughout 59 communities in western Massachusetts. Prior to that, in 2002 he served as vice president - Customer Relations for WMECO's sister utility, the Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P). Powell was responsible for the interface among CL&P's distribution organization, customer support functions and the 1.1 million retail electric service customers of 149 towns in Connecticut. He also managed CL&P's Community Relations, Conservation and Load Management, Customer Services and Economic and Business Development functions.
Powell began his career at NU in 1978 as a budget analyst. He has served as a customer engineering and marketing services consultant, manager in Regulatory Relations, and general manager of CL&P's Simsbury Area Work Center and regional vice president of the Central Region of CL&P.
Prior to joining NU, Powell worked for Arthur Anderson and Company as a senior staff auditor and as associate director of a federally funded community health program with the University of Connecticut Medical School. Powell serves on the Board of Directors of the Capital Workforce Partners; out going member of the Boards of Directors of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development, Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. Powell currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Gas Association; member of the Board of Directors of Northeast Gas Association; member of the Board of Directors of the Capital City Economic Development Authority; Board of Trustees of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning; former president and northeast region coordinator of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy; and member of the Advisory Board of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council. Powell is a member of the Liberty Christian Center (formerly Horace Bushnell Church).
Powell was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and graduated from Norfolk State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1974. He has four children. |
Monday lunch speaker - Gary Stiffler, President & CEO, The Matlet Group |  Gary Stiffler, President and CEO of the The MATLET Group will be the Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Monday, October 3 at the GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo. Mr. Stiffler is a member of the GNEMSDC Board of Directors and The MATLET Group is member of the prestigious NMSDC Corporate Plus group of large certified MBEs. Mr. Stiffler will be focusing his remarks on "Opportunities Certified MBEs have with Large MBEs". We are very pleased to have this successful MBE come and talk about this important topic. "The MATLET Group, headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is made up of two manufacturing companies, Central Florida Press and Packaging Graphics; and a fulfillment company, NOVA Marketing Services.
Our company combines the strength of its technology and equipment with the development of creative solutions to serve our clients' ultimate objectives - whether it's a promotional campaign, beautiful sales materials, durable and creative product packaging, or warehousing and distribution. We bring together the customer service and responsiveness of well-managed, local printing and fulfillment businesses with the strength, capacity and efficiencies of a larger corporation."
It is not too late to be a Sponsor for this event. Please call the office for details. |
Doing Business with Large MBEs - Cheryl Snead, President & CEO, Banneker Industries, Inc. |  We have learned through experience that an important path towards business success is for companies to grow by supply goods and services to ever larger companies and organizations. Why not start with large MBEs. We are fortunate to have a panel of large MBEs including Banneker Industries, The Panther Group, The MATLET Group, Liberty Power, and others on a panel to discuss how you can position your company to become a supplier to large MBEs and grow your company. Cheryl Snead one of the Expo's Honorary Co-Chairs will lead this session.
Cheryl W. Snead is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer ofBanneker Industries, Inc. a world class provider of Supply Chain Management solutions that is headquartered in North Smithfield, Rhode Island with a national and (soon to be global) presence. Ms. Snead earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. She worked for General Electric (GE) honing her engineering and management skills before continuing her education. She later earned her Master's Degree in Business from Purdue University and went on to manage the machine shop operations of a firm in Rhode Island before starting Banneker Industries in 1991. The company is named after Benjamin Banneker the first recognized African American mathematician, astronomer and inventor. Ms. Snead received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from Bryant University in May 2006. She is also a green belt Six Sigma Specialist.
Banneker Industries, Inc. and Ms. Snead have received numerous awards, both for business accomplishments and ongoing civic work from notable organizations including the SBA, WBENC, GNEMSDC and NMSDC. Banneker Industries was the 2008 National Subcontractor of the Year and has been recognized nationally in Inc., MBE, Essence and Black Enterprise magazines.
Cheryl W. Snead serves on the professional Boards of AMICA Insurance Company and Bank Rhode Island. Her community activities include serving on the Board of Waterfire and a charter member and Past President of the Greater Providence RI Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She is a current Board of Trustee of Bryant University and a passionate, motivational speaker advocating youth, minority and women empowerment. |
Best Practices in Corporate Supplier Diversity - Dr. Melvin Gravely- Facilitator | | Dr. Melvin Gravely, (bio and photo below) has graciously agreed to facilitate this session on Best Practices in Corporate Supplier Diversity. This program is for both experienced supplier diversity and procurement professionals as well as for those new to the field. Dr. Gravely has consulted with scores of Fortune 500 companies on the topic and will bring this knowledge and experience to this action-item oriented session. |
| Tuesday Breakfast Speaker - Don Southerton, CEO/President, Bridging Culture Worldwide |  Don Southerton, CEO and President, Bridging Culture Worldwide. Bridging Culture Worldwide CEO Don Southerton is an author, advisor, consultant, marketing strategist, researcher, and coach for many of the top Korean-based corporations with global business, along with major western firms that have ventures in Korea and Asia Pacific. Since its founding, Bridging Culture Worldwide (BCW) has focused on global and Korea-related business services. Based on over 3 decades of experience, they share cross-cultural insights to global teams and management. Bridging Culture Worldwide core services include: Consulting, Strategy, and Research; Publications; along with Franchise and Licensing Development, Product Launch, IP, and Trademark.
Mr. Southerton has agreed to be on hand for through Wednesday to meet individually with business ownenrs and corporations interested in breaking into the 8th largest economy in the world.
This event is sponsored by US Postal Service and Young Moving & Storage |
Cloud Computing for MBEs - Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani, SAI Systems International and Daniel Chan, AT & T to Present |  The Cloud is no longer just coming it is here. This session is designed to answer all of the question MBES might have regarding how to access the Cloud and why they may need to start using this technology right away. We are fortunate to have Daniel Chan of AT&T and Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani (pictured) of SAI Systemsas co-presenters on this session. Even if you are currently using Cloud technology, you will learn how to get the most out of it. |
Ricardo Barrientos, Sr. Director Supplier Diversity Strategic Supply Management, PepsiCo to Speak at GNEMSDC Expo |  Ricardo Barrientos is the Strategic Supply Management Sr. Director of Supplier Diversity for PepsiCo North America. PepsiCo is the second largest food and beverage company in the world, and the largest in North America, with total revenue of around $62 billion and over 285,000 employees. PepsiCo owns some of the world's most popular brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Lay's, Doritos, Tropicana, Gatorade, and Quaker, and it's brands are available worldwide through a variety of go-to-market systems, including direct store delivery (DSD), broker-warehouse, and food service and vending.
Ricardo is a thirteen year veteran with PepsiCo and has held various strategic sourcing roles both in the United States, Mexico, and internationally. He has joined the Supplier Diversity arena with vast procurement experience in Capital, MRO, Flexible Packaging and Cartons. In addition, he previously was the Value Engineering Director for Frito-Lay North America responsible for enabling productivity initiatives to deliver over $25 million of savings per year, and Procurement Director for Direct Materials for Frito Lay's Latin America Region.
Prior to being transferred to the US, Ricardo was the National Procurement Director for Gamesa in Monterrey, Mexico. Before joining PepsiCo, Ricardo worked for Vitro Envases as a Raw Materials Procurement Director in Monterrey Mexico, and as a management consultant for Booz Allen and Hamilton in Mexico City.
Ricardo has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Six Sigma Black Belt. He resides in Plano Texas with his wife Tessa, and three daughters Tessa, Luisa, and Fernanda.
PepsiCo was the NMSDC Corporation of the Year in 2009. Mr. Barrientos and Ms. Strobel will be on the panel Tuesday morning to discuss how to communicate supplier diversity to other internal stakeholders. This will be a great learning opportunity for GNEMSDC corporate supplier diversity professionals. |
Selling Supplier Diversity - Marianne G. Strobel, Executive Director, AT&T |  Ms. Strobel is responsible for the ongoing growth of AT&T's world class Global Supplier Diversity via her Channel Management, Business Development and Stakeholder Management teams. Strobel has 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry; she began her career in 1986 at Sprint, holding various sales, management and sales training roles in California and New York. In 1998, she joined Pacific Bell Internet as a Sales Director managing teams in Internet, Equipment and Managed Solutions eventually being promoted to Executive Director of Segment Marketing for Small Business. Her marketing programs supported a wide spectrum of divisions from direct to indirect sales teams, call centers, and on-line distribution channels. Ms Strobel has a proven track record for building successful marketing programs via her dynamic leadership style and her strategic insight about global business markets. Her enthusiasm and ability to recognize new opportunities within the business inspires to "Think outside the box" driving employees to exceed expectations. |
Tuesday Lunch Spaker - Dr. Melvin Gravely | |  Renowned author and minority business development expert, Dr. Melvin Gravely will be one of the many excellent speakers at this year's GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Conference. Dr. Gravely is the author of several books including his latest book, What is the Color of Opportunity? Dr. Gravely is the President and CEO of The Institute forEntrepreneurial Thinking. The mission of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking "is to help our clients improve the outcomes of minority business development and supplier diversity initiatives. The Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking is the leading authority on issues related to minority business development.
Although each client interaction is unique, our role is always focused on helping to meet the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing environment. Our clients depend on our significant base of data, and years of experience, to assist them in overcoming the legacy of missed expectations, and creating strategies that produce tangible outcomes."
Dr. Gravely has graciously agreed to be the Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Tuesday, October 4 and to be on hand throughout the day and will lead a discussion with corporate members Monday, October 3 in the afternoon.
It is not too late to be a Sponsor for this event. Please call the office for details. |
Corporate Showcases | On Tuesday, October 4 in the afternoon we will have our Corporate Showcase program. This program will feature GNEMSDC corporate members who want to directly communicate with MBEs on how they can access procurement and teaming opportunities. This is going to be an exciting and informative part of the Conference.
Schedule of MBEs and Corporate Members Presenting - Tuesday October 4 |
MBE Showcases | | Simultaneous to the Corporate Showcases, we will be featuring a number of excellent MBEs who will make the business case on why corporate members and others should become customers or partners with them. The combination of the Corporate Showcases and the MBE Showcases give all of our attendees an opportunity to make the most of the time. |
Shining Star - Joseph Black, Chief Procurement Officer of Aetna | |  The Shining Star Award is presented to a Corporate member and an MBE who have provided outstanding service to the GNEMSDC. Joseph Black of Aetna has been tireless in his support of the Council. He was one of our keynote speakers at the GNEMSDC hosted NMSDC Quarterly Meeting this past July. He has supported the GNEMSDC chairperson Kristen Hickey as she has led the board and GNEMSDC to new heights. Every time the Council has called on Joe, he has delivered including his service at this event as a facilitator on the Town Hall Meeting program. Thank you Joe for your time effort and service.
Joseph Black is Chief Procurement Officer for Aetna, Inc., one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies. In this position, he leads the company's procure-to-pay activities enterprise-wide, impacting over $4 billion in company expense. His responsibilities include Supply Management, Supplier Diversity, Accounts Payable, Meeting Management, and Travel, and Expense Policy. During his 20-year tenure at Aetna, Mr. Black held various leadership roles within Procurement and Real Estate, including Director of Strategic Sourcing where he led Aetna's enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives. Other assignments have included those with Expense Management Solutions, Inc., as Head of Corporate Administrative Services where he was responsible for delivering sourcing strategies for Fortune 500 companies, and with TBI Construction, where he was accountable for numerous multimillion dollar real estate projects.
Mr. Black holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He sits on the board of advisors for Institute for Supply Management; the board of Church Homes, Inc: a not-for-profit, nonsectarian corporation, which owns or manages retirement communities; the board of Meadows Real Estate: a not-for-profit community revitalization organization focused on low-income, subsidized housing; and the board of advisors for Connecticut Association of Purchasing Management. He is also a deacon and trustee for the Apostolic Fellowship Church.
This event is sponsor by GBG, The Corporate Gift Source |
Shining Star - KyongEun Jung, President Industrial Safety and The Green Supply Company |  The MBE Shining Star, KyongEun Jung is being recognized for her outstanding volunteer work and support of the Council. One again Ms. Jung has led and organized an excellent team of volunteers for the Annual Awards Banquet, the Golf Outing, the NMSDC Quarterly meeting and this Expo. She has been able to motivate and inspire a growing army of volunteers who now understand how volunteering for the Council is good for the Council and good for them as well. Thank you Ms. Jung.
KyongEun Jung is a founding partner of The Green Supply Company andIndustrial Safety. The Green Supply Company is a distributor of environmentally friendly paper goods and janitorial/facilities products, supplying corporate cafeterias, colleges and restaurants. Industrial Safety is a distributor of over 500,000 industrial and safety supplies to the construction, manufacturing, and government/institutional industry. She is involved with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, past president and found of the Kensington Berlin Sunrise Rotary Club,
KyongEun retired from banking in 2007. KyongEun has over twenty years experience in the banking industry, holding numerous management positions in operations, complience, underwriting, consumer and business lending, security, marketing and business development.
KyongEun resides in Boston and is a very active member of her community. She is Founder and past President of the Rotary Club of Kensington/Berlin Sunrise, past President of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, past Chairwoman of the March of Dimes Central Connecticut Walk, Terryville chamber of commerce Board of director, volunteer Tresuer of Terry Nursery school for 13 years, president of Terryville high school band parents group friends of music for 6 years, and PTO chiarwoman at Prospect Street School.
She is a past Board Member of the Prudence Crandall Center, Women and Family Center, United Way Allocation Committee and United Way Foundation Finance Committee. Ms. Wilson is also a member of MidState Medical Center's Board of Governors and member of their Business Development Council and Business Advisory Council. She is past member of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce Government and Business Development Committee, ambassador and involved and volunteers with many non-profit organizations (i.e. Bread for Life, AMBER Alert, Berlin food bank, Literacy program, Out of cold lunches and many more...).
KyongEun is the recipient of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce's 2003 William S. Thomson Community Service Award and a 2001 Honoree of the YMCA Business Women in Leadership. She is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and Rotary International the Rotary Foundation Bequest Society member. |
Wednesday Breakfast - CPO Panel | We are very pleased to have Jaime Bohnke, VP of Tyco and Honorary Co-Chair for the Event, Laura Taylor, Vice President at Pitney Bowes, Steve Holland, Chief Procurement Officer at Amica Insuranceand Brad Artery, CPO of Citizens Bank will be our featured panelists at this Breakfast Session. We look forward to hearing from these corporate leaders as we prepare for the start of the Trade Expo.
It is not too late to be a Sponsor for this event. Please call the office for details. |
A.M. Trade Show | Be prepared for an exciting grand opening and plenty of excitement. If you are an MBE, be sure to take your appointment book with you and do not be hesitant to ask corporate buyers for an opportunity to sit down with them to talk business. I encourage every MBE to visit the websites of all of the exhibitors (exhibitors' list) so that you know the company you want to do business with and you have registered on their supplier portals. Believe me this is time well spent. And corporate members, you will not be disappointed to me some of the best certified MBEs in the country.
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Wednesday Lunch Speakers - Chuck Sheehan & Dr. Fred |  We are very pleased to have President and CEO of the Metropolitan District Commission to offer his remarks at the Sponsors' Luncheon.
Prior to joining the MDC, Mr. Sheehan served as Executive Director of Capital City Economic Development Authority from December 2003 to April 2005. He was responsible for the largest redevelopment project ($1 billion) in Connecticut history, including the development of the UConn Stadium at Rentschler Field, Capital Community College-Downtown Campus (G. Fox Building), Connecticut Convention Center, Redevelopment of the Hartford Civic Center and Marriott Hartford Downtown hotel. All are part of the state funded "Six Pillars of Progress" - Capital City Redevelopment Project, which has been recognized with several prestigious awards for innovative design and minority contractor partnering.
In addition to comments by Mr. Sheehan, Dr. Fred will offer comments and information on the two latest developments, the opening of the MBDA Minority Business Center and the merger with the Initiative for a New Economy. |
P.M. Trade Show - One on One | We have over 100 booths. Exactly half of the booths are corporate member booths and half are MBE booths. Come prepared with plenty of business cards and bring your A game. And do not forget to bring some cash for our very popular raffle. Again this year we have some outstanding items including at least three IPads, cameras, gift cards, vacations, tickets to sporting events and time with senior executives.
This part of the Trade Show is also dedicated for One on One time between Corporate Members and MBEs. MBEs and Corporate members will each be given schedules that will enable MBEs to set up 10 to 20 minute meetings on Wednesday afternoon to have more in-depth discussions on their respective companies and potential opportunities to work together. This year the corporate members have complete 100 precent control over those schedules. So if you are an MBE and want to meet One on One with a corporate member you have two and one half days to make the appointment!
This year, once again we will be hosting some students from the Norwich Free Academy High School. These youngsters will be walking the show, but in addition we will have an informative session for these students to meet with MBEs and Corporate members to discuss what GNEMSDC stakeholders do and why they are here. Should be interesting and fun. |
Post Trade Expo Reception | After all of this activity over the previous three days, you will need a drink! So, to wind down, we have planned another outstanding Post Trade Show Reception. While the program is over, I am sure the buying and selling continues as both corporate members and MBEs compare notes and plan for the rest of the year.
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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: Information: |
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The Housing Authority of The City of Bridgeport Invitation to Bid |  HARBORVIEW TOWERS PARKING LOT RENOVATION Solicitation No: 051-PD-11-S Date: September 29, 2011
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport is requesting sealed bids forthe renovation of the parking lot at Harborview Towers. All bids must be received by 10 a.m., October 13, 2011 at 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time.
There will be a Pre-Bid Conference/Site Walk-Through at 376 E. Washington Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06608 (Conference Room) at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 4, 2011. All interested bidders are strongly encouraged to attend to clarify the scope of work and the intent of the bid documents.
Complete contract and bid documents are on file at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605 and can be picked up after 1 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2011. A non-refundable check made out to the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport for $50.00 is required. |
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