February 14, 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.

Join Us Today for GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting!

Meeting Starts at 2:00 PM at Basketball Hall of Fame - All are Welcome

Basketball Hall of Fame The GNEMSDC First Quarterly Meeting will take place at the world famous Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA today Monday, February 14 from 2:00 to 4:30 with a networking 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. We recognize that it is Valentines Day, so we have a special gift for all of our special GNEMSDC Valentines who attend today's event! The Agenda for this afternoon's meeting is as follows: I. Welcome to Basketball Hall of Fame II. Introductions (All attendees get to make their 30 second elevator speeches) III. MBE Showcases Minuteman Trucks Springfield Springs Lancaster Packaging IV. Break V. Presentation by Northeast Utilities and Western MA Electric Company VI. Reports Chairperson's Report MBE Input Committee Chairperson's Report President's Report VII. Reception

Senator Richard Blumenthal To Receive GNEMSDC President's Award

The Honorable Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has accepted the GNEMSDC President's Award. The President's Award will be presented to Senator Blumenthal at the April 28 Annual Awards Gala. Senator Blumenthal joins other distinguished recipients of the Award including former Governor Jodi M. Rell, Governor Duval Patrick, CT State Treasurer Denise Nappier and Cartus CEO Kevin Kelleher. Senator Blumenthal was elected Senator in November 2010. Prior to becoming Senator, Mr. Blumenthal had served five terms as Connecticut's Attorney General. It is largely for that work as Attorney General that Senator Blumenthal is being recognized with the Award. During his tenure as Attorney General, the Council called on him on many occasions for assistance in issues ranging from closing down WBE and MBE front companies to enforcing state requirements to utilize MBEs. We are extremely happy to make this announcement and have the pleasure of his participation in this year's Gala. "Senator Blumenthal served an unprecedented five terms as Connecticut's Attorney General, fighting for people against large and powerful special interests. His aggressive law enforcement for consumer protection, environmental stewardship, labor rights, and personal privacy, has helped reshape the role of state attorneys general nationwide, and resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for Connecticut taxpayers and consumers each year. A key player in the national fight against Big Tobacco, he helped bring an end to deceptive marketing aimed at children - a victory significantly lowering youth smoking rates, and compelling a multi-billion dollar settlement for Connecticut taxpayers. He also helped lead a coalition of all 50 states that culminated in historic agreements with social networking sites to better protect children from Internet predators. As Attorney General, he advocated for reforms in the health insurance industry to assure critical health care coverage and lower pharmaceutical drug prices. He has worked relentlessly to eradicate corruption in state government and make state contracting accountable, fair, honest and transparent. His vigorous investigation and legal action against insurance industry abuses has successfully forced financial restitution and reform, compelling greater disclosure by insurers and brokers to consumers - and recovery of millions of dollars for the state, municipalities, and individuals. He has successfully fought unfair utility rate charges, air pollution causing acid rain, general environmental wrongdoing, as well as a wide array of consumer scams and frauds. Senator Blumenthal has personally argued major cases in court, including his successful effort to uphold the Connecticut sex offender registry in the U.S. Supreme Court. He has fought and sued the federal government for failing to follow or enforce environmental laws and energy statutes - and for imposing on local taxpayers unfunded multimillion dollar mandates under the No Child Left Behind law. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1984 to 1987, and the Connecticut State Senate from 1987 to 1990. As a volunteer attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Senator Blumenthal saved the life of an innocent, wrongly convicted death row inmate, who came within hours of execution. From 1977 to 1981, Senator Blumenthal served as a U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, prosecuting drug trafficking, organized and white collar crime, civil rights violations, consumer fraud, and environmental pollution. Prior to his position as U.S. Attorney, Senator Blumenthal also served as Administrative Assistant to U.S. Sen. Abraham A. Ribicoff, aide to former U.S. Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan when Moynihan was Assistant to the President of the United States, and law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun. Senator Blumenthal graduated from Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), and Yale Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. From 1970 - 1976 he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. Senator Blumenthal lives in Greenwich, Connecticut with his wife, Cynthia, and their four children."

Last Week for Nominations - Extension for the Snow

MBE and Corporate Member Nominations Due This Week

Because of the incredibly destructive weather we have experienced the past two weeks, we are extending the deadline for nominations until the end of this week. Please 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.

GNEMSDC Is Looking for Marketing MBE(s)

Marketing RFP is Out and Responses Due February 28

The GNEMSDC is looking to contract out some marketing functions. Enclosed is the Marketing RFP describing the services we are seeking. Only certified MBEs will be considered for this contract.

Capital and Minority Business Capacity Summit - March 3

MBEs and Corporations Coming from Around the U.S. to Capital Summit at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Treasurer State of Delaware Chipman Flowers We are getting great responses from MBEs and corporate members from around the country for the "Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit". We are also happy to announce that because of the generous support of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston the event is FREE! If you are interested in attending this high powered meeting of leaders from business, politics, policy and the media, call the office to reserve your seat. Because of space constraints we are limiting attendance to two persons per company. Click here to see the latest Agenda for the event. We are particularly pleased to have State Treasurer Chipman Flowers as one of our panelists in the morning session. Mr. Flowers is not stranger to Boston or New England. Before becoming Treasurer in Delaware in January of this year, Mr. Flowers was the founder and owners of the Flowers Group, a full service law firm with offices in Delaware and in Boston. "Chipman "Chip" Flowers Jr., a resident of Delaware since completing his college education, brings to the campaign for state treasurer a fresh perspective on the financial challenges facing Delaware, along with the necessary experience, education and values to restore prosperity to the First State. Chip first came to Delaware in 1987, when he was 12 years old. He was a "military brat" - his father was an Army officer and his mother was a teacher and guidance counselor for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools - who flew with his family to and from overseas assignments via Dover Air Force Base for more than 11 years. Those numerous short stays convinced Chip that Delaware was the place he would call home. After majoring in economics with dual minors in international relations and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Chip headed to Georgetown University, where he earned both a law degree and a Master's in Business Administration, focusing on corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions. While Chip attended Georgetown, he worked at the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Congressional Joint Economic Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs under President Bill Clinton. After completing his work at the White House, Chip worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at the Wilmington office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, and served as chairman of the Multicultural Judges & Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. In 2004, Chip was chosen as a Delaware delegate to the Democratic National Convention. During this time, Chip was selected to serve as Chief Democratic Analyst for Delaware nightly news, Delaware Tonight - a position he held until WHYY-TV recently eliminated the program. Chip then studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, earning a Master's in Public Administration. While at Harvard, Chip earned the prestigious Don K. Price Award - the highest award given in the program. In 2006, he founded the Flowers Counsel Group, LLC, which specializes in mergers and acquisitions and procurement law, advising businesses on contractual agreements for major purchases. Under his leadership, the firm has grown steadily, becoming one of the state's leading corporate law firms in providing corporate purchasing services for global and Fortune 500 clients, including Harvard University and Delaware corporate leaders such as DuPont, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Bank of America, Barclay's Bank Delaware, ING Bank, FSB and the Buccini/Pollin Group. A resident of Middletown, Chip has taken on leadership roles in a range of civic organizations, primarily focusing on public policy issues that impact all three counties and the city of Wilmington. A supporter of military families and dependents, he is a strong advocate for fiscal discipline, economic growth, high quality education, vibrant art institutions and affordable health care for Delawareans."

MBE Spotlight - System Skills, LLC

System Skills LLC is an IT Services Company located in New England area. We provide highly skilled technical consultants with excellent communication skills for short-term or long-term assignments all over the United States. We also help our clients in finding IT system resources on permanent or contract to hire basis. System Skills has a team of experienced technical recruiters who are trained to understand requirements of hiring managers and assist them in staffing open positions with right personnel in timely manner. 20+ years of proven system/business applications experience in the area of Retails, Financial Services. Insurance and State Government organization makes System Skills better positioned to cater your needs. HR adding value to Business Our HR and Employee Support team works towards enhancing value to the staffing business by proactively taking care of client and employee needs. The team plays a vital role of building trust with its business partners and employees enabling a win-win situation. All HR strategies and initiatives are directly linked to achieving the business goals of System Skills LLC and provide excellent service to the clients. We have a team spread across geographies to take care of client and employee needs. Experts in providing high quality resources in following: Programmers Database Administrator(DBAs) Business Analysts System Analysts IT Project Managers ERP Consultant We are specialized to provide resources in Oracle, .NET and legacy applications. We provide production support in HR payroll application in Peoplesoft and Oracle Technologies. We also undertake small to medium size web development and .NET development projects Current Client Domains Government State Government Retails

DANIEL PENN ASSOCIATES has been awarded a contract by the Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P)

DANIEL PENN ASSOCIATES has been awarded a contract by the Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P), an electric operating subsidiary of Northeast Utilities (NU) and The United Illuminating Company (UI) to support the execution of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund's PRIME Program. Administered by CL&P and UI, the PRIME program helps manufacturers reduce their energy consumption through the use of LEAN Manufacturing principles. PRIME teaches manufacturers how to implement Lean Manufacturing techniques by setting up and participating in Lean events conducted at their business. Results of these events include streamlined product flows, elimination or reductions in waste, improved production efficiency and minimized environmental impact. Participating businesses will become more efficient and reduce electricity consumption per unit produced.The program offers two free Lean Kaizen events funded at 100 percent and an optional follow-on two Lean Kaizen events funded at 50 percent. All industrial customers of UI or CL&P are eligible to apply. Customers with an annual consumption greater than 500,000 kWh are preferred.. Interested companies may schedule a no-cost survey/tour with Daniel Penn Associates. We will review your organization's manufacturing processes and determine if there are opportunities to save energy and optimize your processes. If the survey reveals opportunities that will lead to verifiable energy-use reductions, your company will be eligible for funding through the PRIME program. For more information contact Tony Rodriguez, Daniel Penn Associates at 860-232-8577 or email info@danielpenn.com

Other Upcoming Events and Opportunities

On Tuesday, February 15, I will be speaking to the Institute of Supply Management (New York/New Jersey) Monthly Membership meeting in New York City. For details follow click here. There will be a forum in Stamford on February 23 at the Stamford City Hall. For details click here. We have received opportunity information on several construction sites around the region. Certifed MBEs in construction should call the office for details.

And Finally,

Testimony to CHRO on State of Connecticut Set-Asides and CT Lottery

This past Wednesday, I spoke to the CHRO at the Legislative Office Building at the State Capitol in Hartford. Attached are my prepared remarks. I was asked to testify before this State agency because of the controversy surrounding the GNEMSDC billboard that called out the performance of the CT Lottery and the State of Connecticut's supplier diversity program. Feel free to share. In your service Dr. Fred,