March 21, 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.

On-Line Registration for Gala Now Open

Jesse Jackson

GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala on April 28 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. the renowned civil and human rights leader will be the keynote speaker.

You 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.

To download the Invitation and Response Card Click Here.

The Corporate Nominations and MBE Nominations are now in!

We want to thank our sponsors for their support of this event and all of our events and activities in 2011. I am happy to report that we have a record number of sponsors.

To see the up-to-date list of current Corporate and MBE Annual Sponsors

And MBE Nominees Are...

The Nominees for Category 1 MBE Supplier of the Year are:

The Nominees for Category 2 MBE Supplier of the Year are:

The Nominees for Category 3 MBE Supplier of the Year are:

The Nominees for Category 4 MBE Supplier of the Year are:

The Nominees for MBE Reciprocal of the Year are:

Senator Richard Blumenthal to Receive GNEMSDC President's Award

Richard Blumenthal

Senator Richard Blumenthal will receive the GNEMSDC President's Award at the GNEMSDC Awards Gala on April 28. Senator Blumenthal is being recognized for his tireless efforts on behalf of minority and small business entrepreneurs in Connecticut.

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.

Please join us in honoring first term Connecticut Senator Richard "Dick" Blumenthal on April 28.

How to do business with Northeast Utilities (NU) for MBE firms
NU

March 29th, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm.

Northeast Utilities (NU)

Selden St, Berlin, CT

Come and join us for this corporate showcase at Northeast Utilities on Tuesday, March 29 at the headquarters of Northeast Utiliteis in Berlin, CT. You will learn about opportunities at the largest utility company in New England. Below is the program for the event. We thank Cheryl Clarke and the MBE Input Committee for organizing this event.

8:30 Start- Coffee reception

9:00-9:30 am - Introduction

9:30-11:00 am - Presentation: How to do business with NU for MBE firms

11:00 am-noon - NU's Mentor/Protege Program

Noon-1pm - Lunch

1pm-2:30pm - One one ones with NU buyers

Registration for this event is due by March 23rd. Seating is limited.

Please RSVP to gnemsdc@gnemsdc.org

Upcoming Events and Activities

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.

GNEMSDC First Quarterly Meeting May 11, 2011

Raytheon

Raytheon

The GNEMSDC Second Quarterly Meeting will take place at theRaytheon, 870 Winter Street, Waltham, MA on Wednesday, May 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The corporate host for this event is Raytheon.

Raytheon will have buyers set up to meet with MBEs in the following areas:

  • promotional material
  • facility supplies
  • engineering
  • printed circuit boards
  • mechanical and electric components
  • energy and power systems
  • power generators and power supplies
  • satellite communication equipment
  • ruggedized computer equipment

Please register for this event by calling the office, 888-874-7114 or emailing Jerilynn Clarke atjclarke@gnemsdc.org.

GNEMSDC in the News

The monthly NMSDC newsletter announced that United Technologies Corporation CEO Louis Chenevert will be one of the award recipients at the NMSDC Awards Dinner in May. Congratulations Mr. Chenevert! For more details about the event and other NMSDC news see the link below.

If you see news about GNEMSDC corporate members or MBEs, please share information with us.

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 theGNEMSDC Scholarship Application.

Our goal is for every certified MBE to have gone through at least one of these excellent programs.

Opportunity with Corporate Member

We have received a request from a corporate member described in the attached document. RFP Statement of work - Recruitment Health Care Professional Recruitment, Advertising and Communications Services.

Certified MBEs should contact GNEMSDC for details... 1(203) 288-9744.

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!

Would you like to sponsor the GNEMSDC e-Newsletter

Please call office for details: 203-288-9744 or email to gnemsdc@gnemsdc.org

And Finally...

Fred in ohio

I understand at Morehouse College entering freshmen are told they will each be given a crown that will float above their heads, and it is up to them to use the Morehouse experience to grow into their crown. Perhaps it is presumptuous to believe that our certification has the same power of creating the potential success for MBEs. A piece of paper whether a certificate or a diploma does not bestow power to the bearer. It is not the paper; it is the process. MBEs who hang their certificate on a wall but never participate in the activities of the Council are expecting magic to happen, but will be sorely disappointed at the impotence of that piece of paper. On the other hand, MBEs who use the Council and their certification as a vehicle to achieve a goal will experience the benefits they expect. One example of how an MBE can use the Council is to buy a ticket to our upcoming Gala for a prospective customer. If I was a potential customer that was the guest of a certified MBE and witnessed the power of minority business diversity demonstrated in that room, I might be changed forever. Fortunately, many of your potential customers will already have their own tickets, but it never hurts for you to bring one more. If you use the Council in this way you may find yourself comfortably wearing your crown.

In your service,

Dr. Fred