February 28, 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.

"Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit"

SOLD OUT!

Denise Nappier

On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors, I want to thank all of those who are planning to attend the "Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit" on Thursday, March 3 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The event is sold out, but we will be video taping the event so for the benefit of those who cannot attend and for posterity's sake.

This is an historic event. The Summit features Treasurers from three States; Denise Nappier (CT), Chip Flowers (DE) and Steve Grossman (MA) along with the National Director from the Minority Business Development Agency, David Hinson and one of the leading thinkers on minority business development as our Keynote luncheon speaker, Ralph Moore. In addition to these leaders the Summit brings together experts from investment banking, commercial banking alternative lenders, large MBEs and others in an information packed day. The press release that went out on the event reported close to 700,000 impressions and over 2500 full page reads, both excellent indications of the level of interest in the subject and the participants.

I also want to thank the GNEMSDC Boston Regional Advisory Committee of Liveda Clements - Chair (Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA), Jane Comeau (Tyco), Nancy Hamel (John Hancock), William Boodry (Liberty Mutual), Tara Spann (Staples), Ruth Johnson (TJX), James Sturgis (Stop and Shop), Derek Brooks (Inside Cable), Karl Nurse (Karl Nurse Communications), Paul Mondello (Bow Finishing).

On-Line Registration for Gala Now Open

2010 gala picYou can now register for the 2011 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala by visiting our Gala website. We encourage you to purchase your seats early. We have already pre-sold 500 tickets. This is one of the largest business dinners in the region. And it is not too late to sponsor or place an ad in the souvenir Gala Program Book. All of this information is available at the site listed above.

Last Call for Annual Sponsorships

We are pleased to report a record number of corporate members and MBEs have responded this year by becoming Annual Sponsors. The number of sponsors is already up over 15 percent of the number from last year. There is one more week for corporate members and MBEs to respond to this great offer that includes participation at all three major GNEMSDC events, the Awards Gala on April 28, the Supplier Diversity Golf Classic on July 15 and the Trade Expo and Conference September 26-28. For more information on MBE Sponsorships and Corporate Sponsorships follow the links.

GNEMSDC Support for MBE Education

One of the most important benefits of being a certified MBE with the GNEMSDC is our educational support. There are a number of programs that we are currently supporting in the region and nationally. The NMSDC's "Advanced Management Education Program" this year is from June 5 through 9 at the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, IL. The Tuck School of Business"Building a High Performing Minority Business Program" will run from May 1 through May 6. Tuck is located in Hanover, NH.

Certified MBEs are encouraged to attend both of these programs. The GNEMSDC will support up to ½ of the cost of tuition for any certified MBE wishing to attend. Click here for the GNEMSDC Scholarship Application. Our goal is for every certified MBE to have gone through at least one of these excellent programs.

Why Minority Supplier Diversity

This last week I was asked independently by two companies and one newspaper, "Why should a corporation have a minority supplier diversity program?" I responded to each and because one will appear in print, I want to share this with you this week. As always, your input and feedback are appreciated. "Why Minority Supplier Diversity"

GNEMSDC Nominations for Board of Directors Seat Open

The GNEMSDC has several board seats open for corporate members. The by-laws enacted in 2009 when the CMSDC and NEMSDC merged call for term limits and a structured turnover of existing board companies. All current board companies are eligible to be re-elected for another term, but other dues paying corporate members are also eligible to nominate themselves or others for a GNEMSDC board seat. The GNEMSDC is a working board, so I advise any interested company to take this into consideration. The seat is held by the company and senior management at the company must approve their participation as a director prior to selecting a representative to sit on the GNEMSDC board. If your company is interested in becoming a director of the GNEMSDC contact Tom Davis, Chair of the Nominating Committee attom.davis@cartus.com by March 25, 2011. An election of the membership will take place on April 28 at the Annual Meeting prior to the GNEMSDC Awards Gala at the Aqua Turf.

Our e-Newsletter Sponsor

Kiewit Logo

Kiewit Infrastructure Co invites all DBE Firms who are certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise with the Connecticut State Department of Transportation to submit proposals for the following project: Reconstruction of the Moses Wheeler Bridge, District No. 3, New Haven, Towns of Milford and Stratford.

  • Project No.: 138-221 - Bid Date: March 30, 2011

Please contact: Courtney Dantone at Courtney.Dantone@kiewit.com

Kiewit Infrastructure Co.

470 Chestnut Ridge Road

Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07677

Fax: (201) 571-2600

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Our e-Newsletter Sponsor


Opportunity for MBE Painters

The Olympus Painting Contractors will be painting a number of bridges in the Greater New Haven area this spring and summer.

MBEs interested this opportunity should contact

Nancy Bigelow at nancy@olympuspainting.com or 727-942-4149.


And Finally...
Fred in ohio

I never thought I would say a 44 degree day felt wonderful. Perhaps we will have another monster snow storm or another bone chilling week. It has been cold or, as they say on the street - cold as a polar bear's toenails. Pitchers and catchers have been reunited with their teammates in climes south of here, reminding us that spring is around the corner. It must be something special about us Northerners that make us endure these thermal trials every year. Southerners might agree that this specialness is also know as stupidity. But surviving these harsh attacks on our comfort in the winter makes us more appreciative of the spring and arguably stronger. And how can Southerners understand the Temptations when they sing "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it's cold outside I've got the month of May".

In your service,

Dr. Fred