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. |
UTC's Sikorsky Aircraft to Host First GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting - Registration Is Complete! |
 I want to thank the GNEMSDC network for its quick response to the announcement of this Quarterly Meeting in last week's email. In less than 48 hours we completely filled the available 128 seats. United Technologies Corporation's Sikorsky Aircraft will host the GNEMSDC First Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, February 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Sikorsky is located in Stratford, CT. Every time we have held a Quarterly Meeting at Sikorsky we have had a packed house of MBEs, corporate members and UTC procurement and supplier diversity professionals. Sikorsky is a secure facility. Every attendee must bring identification. Foreign nationals are welcome, but need to bring a passport and contact the office. There is no photography allowed on the Sikorsky campus.
This is an excellent opportunity for all of our MBEs to get critical business information about a great company that has provided millions of dollars of opportunity with certified MBEs. Quarterly Meeting has closed! |
It is Time to Submit Your Nominations! |
As we close out the old and bring in the new, it is time for MBEs and corporate members to nominate outstanding MBEs, corporate buyers, supplier diversity advocates, and corporations for award recognitions that will be presented at the 2012 GNEMSDC Awards Gala on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.
Each year, at our Annual Awards Banquet, the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (GNEMSDC) recognizes those certified minority suppliers (MBEs) who have distinguished themselves and their businesses by:
Successfully demonstrating growth in sales and employment while overcoming significant obstacles; Consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive prices and offering innovative approaches and cost saving ideas: Continuously growing MBE to MBE purchases; and Significantly contributing to the growth and development of society and their community.
All corporate members are invited to nominate MBEs in each of the following categories:
- Class 1 MBEs - Annual Sales Less Than $1 million
- Class 2 MBEs - Annual Sales between $1 million and less than $10 million
- Class 3 MBEs - Annual Sales between $10 million and less than $50 million
- Class 4 MBEs - Annual Sales greater than $50 million
- Reciprocal MBE - MBEs with their primary office outside CT, MA, RI, NH, ME or VT and must be reciprocally certified with GNEMSDC
By the end of the first week of 2012 all corporate members will receive a form that should be completed by January 31, 2012 with the names of their nominees. Give the office a call if you have any questions about the appropriate category of your nominees. The important thing is to get your nominees in.
MBEs will also be making nominations for the following awards:
- Advocate of the Year - This Award is presented to a supplier diversity manager/director who has done an outstanding job of assisting MBEs for the benefit of both their employer and the MBE
- Buyer of the Year - This award is presented to a buyer from our corporate membership that has gone far and beyond the call of duty to assist MBEs with procurement opportunities and feedback
- MBE Empowerment Award - This award is presented to an MBE who has worked to assist other MBEs
- Corporation of the Year (National Member) - This award is presented to the corporate member who has demonstrated commitment and has delivered results in the area of minority business procurement and development
- Corporation of the Year (Local Member) - This award is presented to the corporate member who has demonstrated commitment and has delivered results in the area of minority business procurement and development
We are requesting that the nominations by MBEs also be back by January 31, 2012. The staff is here to assist MBEs with any questions they have about the process or the categories.
It is appropriate for companies, corporate representatives and MBEs to ask their supporters to consider nominating them for these prestigious awards. Although you cannot nominate yourself, sometimes you have to toot your own horn with a gentle reminder to your friends who you have supported throughout the year. MBEs who believe they are deserving of Supplier of the Year recognition should complete the attached Nomination Form and share it with a corporate member who can complete the process. |
Corporate Member Showcase - Citizens Financial Group, Inc |
 This week we feature Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is a $132 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,500 branches, approximately 3,900 ATMs and more than 20,900colleagues.
Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). View Presentation |
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 This week we feature Fortune Metal, Inc of Rhode Island.
Fortune Metal, Inc of Rhode Island provide are;
1. Wire & Cable Recycling
2. Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling
3. Post consumer electronics processing
- Office Electronics Peripheral Products
- Auto Electronics and Parts
4. Plastic Recycling
5. Surplus Material Recovery View Presentation. |
Events That MBEs Should Not Miss |
There are several events coming up on our calendar that are designed specifically for MBEs to learn about corporate opportunities. We know how busy everyone's schedule is, but these are events often hosted by our corporate members with the expressed purpose of finding out more about you and your business with the ultimate aim, to make you a valuable supplier to their companies. Here are some events you should consider: - MBEIC Kickoff Meeting February 3rd at The MATLET Group in RI from 10am - 2pm. RSVP by emailing jclarke@gnemsdc.org
- New Hampshire MEET and GREET at Public Service of New Hampshire on February 8th from 2:30pm-4:30pm. To register email sjames@gnemsdc.org
- 18th Annual International Networking Evening & Business Forum Global Trade & Economic Outlook: Implications for International Business in the Year Ahead, Wednesday, February 8 * Boston, MA
- February 9 - Sikorsky Aircraft, United Technologies Corporation - GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting
- February 24 - National Grid MBE CEOs only for CEO Roundtable and Doing Business with National Grid
- How to Do Business with PepsiCo March 26th PepsiCo in NYfrom 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. for more information email jclarke@gnemsdc.org
- March 27 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA - 2nd Annual Capital Summit featuring MA Commonwealth Treasurer Steve Grossman. For more details see the updated calendar below for times locations and directions.
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| MBE Capital Summit 30 sec PSA.mov |
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NMSDC/GNEMSDC 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 and Presentations: |
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Opportunities with Corporate Members |
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MBE Day at the Capitol - February 29 |
The GNEMSDC along with some other interested groups are organizing an MBE Day at the Capitol in Hartford of February 29, 2012. The purpose of the day is to share a legislative agenda with elected members of the Connecticut General Assembly. There are five items that the GNEMSDC has put forward and continues to view as positive changes in CT law that would promote not only MBE interests, but the economic interests of the State.
- Conduct a New Disparity Study to base a revision of the State of CT's MBE Goals;
- A separation of goals for WBEs as distinct from MBEs in the State's Set-Aside Goals;
- The elimination of the Municipal Exemption which exempts some State funded projects from the State's set-aside programs;
- The State's acceptance of the GNEMSDC certification as proof of MBE status; and
- The establishment of a Diverse Business Task Force that reports on progress with the achievement of minority and women business development goals.
We will be sending out more information in coming days about how you can assist in this effort. |
Health Insurance and MBEs - Would Love to Know Your Thoughts... |
 The GNEMSDC collaborates with many organizations. One such organization is the Universal Health Care Foundation. We have agreed to assist them in their data gathering effort by sharing this brief survey in English and Spanish. Please take the time to complete. Your answers are completely confidential and we will share the results with you in future emails.
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MBE News |
 The MATLET Group makes key hire with Ed Wiegand
MATLET Group today announced Ed Wiegand as its new Executive Vice President. With an engineering background and 23 years experience and knowledge of print technologies and digital solutions, he will report to Gary Stiffler, The MATLET Group's President and CEO.
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MBEIC News |
 MBE Input Committee kick off Lunch, Feb 3, from 10 am -2 pm at The MATLET Group, Pawtucket RI.
Call Boston Office to RSVP: 617-578-8900 by January 27 so that we have an accurate count for lunch.
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Boston MBDA Business Center News |
 How Can Corporate Members Help Us Reach our Goals?
We are also looking for corporate members to share with the Center the names of your best MBE suppliers. We believe that if you value the services of these proven MBEs, there are other corporate members who might also consider these same suppliers. In effect, we want to leverage the relationships high performing MBEs have with existing corporate members in order to grow those MBEs, reduce concentration risk and expand opportunities. Related to this is our interest in helping our corporate members identify MBEs in their supply chain that are not currently certified. We want the opportunity to bring those MBEs into the Council and the Center. This help our corporate members achieve their numbers and grows opportunities for market tested MBEs.
Corporate members are encouraged to share information about opportunities for MBEs to acquire suppliers in your existing supply chain. Many of our corporate members have thousands of suppliers in their supply chain. Some of these suppliers are looking to transition out of the business. There may be opportunities for MBEs and minority entrepreneurs to acquire some of these companies and convert them into certified MBEs. We strongly believe mergers and acquisitions are key to the continued development of MBEs in our network.
Corporate members do not have to wait for our call. If you have some opportunities now, we want the chance to help you find cost effective, high quality, innovative MBEs. |
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| And Finally... |
 There are many examples of companies who market their goods and services excellently. These companies have ads and campaigns that inform, entertain and produce results. From the elegance of Apple, to the comedic impact of Southwest Airlines, to the personal appeal of IBM and the iconic slogans of PepsiCo, these are just a few examples of excellent corporate communication. However, this week I think I have identified the most powerful marketing machine in the history of business. This company, which is not really a company at all, does not pay its sales force with cash. This company clearly violates laws regulating who can work in all fifty states and some federal laws to boot. This company engages in false and misleading labeling on its products. Yes, I am talking about the Girl Scouts of America! The Girl Scouts pay their miniature rainmakers with badges to go on their militaristic uniforms instead of cash with results that should be the envy of every global company. Just thinking about an army of productive pre-pubescent professional girls working for little cotton emblems is enough to drive the competition out of business or crazy. And what ever happened to child labor laws? The illegal stand that I came across this weekend was set up on a busy street with the little hagglers successfully closing deal after deal after deal, with such innocent lines as "Sir, would you like to buy some cookies to support our troop?". I don't know about you, but having underage workers is something that the American labor movement fought to change many generations ago, and we get this unfortunate reminder of their failure to accomplish this laudable goal every year at this time. This blatant violation of the law takes place literally with the support of the criminal justice system. I even witnessed an officer of the law purchase this illegal contraband in broad daylight. My final complaint about this organization is that it engages in the worst form of disingenuous and deceptive marketing. The box of Shortbread cookies, which I am ashamed to admit I am enjoying this very moment, states clearly that a "single serving" of 4 cookies is 120 calories. These deceitful little preyers on our fundamental weakness to control our appetite know good and well that a "single serving" is a FULL box of 42 Shortbread cookies! I know because I counted every single one, and I am ashamed of myself for eating the entire box - a single serving. So as I think about the lessons of this success, I hope that these little terrors stay in the cookie business and do not branch out to take over the world. We worry too much about China Incorporated and not enough about the real internal threat to our way of life - The Girl Scouts of America. Now let me try a single serving of "Thin Mints".
In your service, Dr. Fred |
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