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. |
2nd Annual Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit - March 27, 2012 |
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| Steve Grossman |
MBEs and Corporations and Financial Institutions are invited to attend the 2nd Annual MBE Capital Summit hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, on Tuesday, March 27 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM (401 Park Drive, Boston, MA). This year our keynote speaker is the Massachusetts Commonwealth Treasurer Steve Grossman. For the program (see Preliminary Agenda) is designed to connect certified MBEs with lenders from around the region.
We are getting great responses from MBEs and corporate members from around the country for the 2nd Annual Capital and Minority Business Capacity Building Summit.
We are also happy to announce that because of the generous support of our sponsors, the event is FREE! If you are interested in attending this high powered meeting of leaders from business, finance 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. Last year we had 250 attendees at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. This year we have room for 150 attendees.
Event Sponsors are: State Street Financial, Liberty Mutual, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Bank of America, The Boston Foundation and Partners Healthcare
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| First MBE Capital Summit |
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How to Do Business with PepsiCo - Closed |
I want to thank the MBEs for responding last week to the call to register. Thanks to your response we have over 100 certified MBEs scheduled to meet with buyers from PepsiCo and buyers from their prime suppliers on Monday, March 26 at the PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase NY (700 Anderson Hill Road) from 8:30 am to 1:00 PM.
We are trying to organize car pools from Boston and Hartford to this event. If you are interested in being a driver or a passenger, please give the office a call so we can help facilitate a more planet friendly way to attend this event. Please contact Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org if you are interested in car-pooling. |
MBE Day at the Capitol - February 29 |
This Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, we are asking MBEs from around Connecticut to come to Hartford, to meet with their elected officals and support our efforts to make Connecticut a better place for MBEs to grow their businesses. MBE Day at the Capitol is also coinciding with the CBIA Day at the Capitol. I will be on their program introducing LT Governor Nancy Wyman of DECD Commisioner Katherine Smith. In addition to this role, I will use my time to outline the laws we are seeking to change.
Please come out and support our efforts to help make it easier for MBEs to do business with the State of Connecticut. If we do not make our case, nobody will.
New York conducted a disparity study that resulted in the establishment of some of the most progressive supplier diversity goals in the country. New York agencies now have to spend over twenty percent of their spend with diverse suppliers. Quite frankly, this is what we want to see here in Connecticut. Think of the impact the State could have on MBE development minority, employment, and economic development in the lowest income communities in the state if we had minority business goals that reflected the MBE population in the state. |
Corporate News - NU & NStar Merger |
 
According to Northeast Utilities Chairman and CEO Charles W. Shivery, the utility's merger with NStar could take effect by April 16, the 18-month anniversary of the merger agreement's signing. Shivery made his comments in an earnings conference call, Friday, according to a live transcript provided by Bloomberg. The merger agreement between Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) and NStar (NYSE: NST) awaits approval by utility regulators in two states - Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and the Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA).
Final decisions from PURA and the DPU are due by April 2. "To date, the Connecticut hearings have gone very well," Shivery said in the conference call Friday, according to the Bloomberg transcript. Analysts say approval is likely in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the BBJ reported last month.
Last Wednesday, Massachusetts regulators proposed a settlement that would require the combined entity to purchase more than a quarter of the electricity to be produced by the planned offshore wind energy project, Cape Wind.
The merger of the two entities is reportedly worth $4.7 billion. |
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Congratulations to Hector Bauza & Lillian Santiago Bauza & Associates for being named among the 100 most influential people in the Latino community in Massachusetts for the 3rd year in a row!Every year El Planeta Publishing releases a list called the Powermeter (el Poderómetro) recognizing 100 of "Massachusetts's Most Influential People in the Latino Community."
This Puerto Rican couple is appearing on our list for the third year. The Bauzás are recognized figures in the field of publicity and multicultural marketing thanks to the work they do with their Hispanic marketing and public relations firm, Bauzá & Associates, which has offices in Boston and Hartford. |
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.
This is just a follow-up to see if you have any questions in regards to the Small Business Health Care Survey sent to you a few weeks ago. I wanted to let you know that the online survey link will be closing in early March; therefore, if there are any small business owners you would like to send it to, please do so as soon as possible. We are very close to our target number of responses; however, the greater the number of completed surveys, the more statistically strong the results will be. For your convenience, I have listed the links to the English and Spanish versions of the survey below.
Small Business Health Care Survey: English version
Your answers are completely confidential and we will share the results with you in future emails. |
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: - 2012 Upcoming Events
- February 29 - MBE Day at the Capitol at the State Capitol- Room 3012, Hartford, CT from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Next Street, Insight Series: MassDOT - An engaging 3-day workshop for M/W/SBEs to grow their horizontal construction business opportunities: Series One: March 1, 15, and 29 or Series Two: March 7, 21, and 29 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Transportation Building * 10 Park Plaza * Boston, MA 02116
- March 16 - How to do business with Northeast Utilities - 107 Selden Street, Berlin, CT 06037 Time: 9:00 am - noon. To RSVP for this event email jclarke@gnemsdc.org
- March 19 - How to do business with Mass Port - Hilton Boston Logan Airport, One Hotel Drive, Boston, MA 02128 from 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm. To register please emailsjames@gnemsdc.com
- The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development's 26th Annual Reservation Economic Summit (REC), February 27-March 1, 2012. More information visitwww.ncaied.org
- March 26 - How to do business with PepsiCo - this event will be held at their facility located at 700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. Registration is required to attend and space is limited. Please fill out the attached registration form & email it back tojclarke@gnemsdc.org. MBEs must register by February 29, 2012. This event is an excellent opportunity to learn about PepsiCo's sourcing process and meet internal and external stakeholders
- 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.
- April 26 - SAVE THE DATE- GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala- Aqua Turf Country Club, 556 Mulberry Street, Plantsville, CT. This event will start at 4:00 pm with our Annual Meeting, followed by a cocktail reception starting at 5:00 pm. Dinner & the award presentations will begin at 6:30 pm. ***Volunteer opportunity available - Contact Volunteer Coordinator (before March 15)***
- The Pitney Bowes Supplier Diversity Summit is a business networking event that increases awareness, builds business relationships, and educates stakeholders on the benefits and value of supplier diversity. The Summit also provides the opportunity for diverse business owners to share capabilities with decision makers. May 15, 8 am to 3 pm
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NMSDC/GNEMSDC Information |
Please take a close look at the information listed below. The links will take you to detailed information. |
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Nominations for GNEMSDC Board of Directors |
 We are now entertaining nominations for directors of the GNEMSDC. You can self nominate. We are asking that all potential directors submit with their nomination, information about their role and position within their company. Every potential director must have C-Level support for their nomination in the form of a letter of support from a C-Level leader within their company. C-Level executives are encouraged to be nominated and serve as directors of the GNEMSDC. Corporate directors are also expected to annual sponsors of the GNEMSDC. Corporate directors are also expected to attend at least 75 percent of the 6 board meetings each year and serve on at least one subcommittee of the board. The GNEMSDC is a volunteer-working board. Terms of service are for at least 2 years. If you are interested, please send all nominations to Tom Davis at tom.davis@cartus.com and copy fmckinney@gnemsdc.org. Thank you. |
Great News! GNEMSDC to Offer Full Scholarships for MBE Education |
The GNEMSDC is proud to announce that we will offer four (4) locally certified MBEs who have been certified for at least 3 consecutive years by the GNEMSDC with full scholarships to either Kellogg or Tuck. This offer is for the owners only, employees who are not owners of MBE firms are not eligible for this offer. If you are interested please contact the office immediately. Awards will be announced at the April 26 Awards Gala. All applicants need to have their applications in by March 9.
"Advanced Management Education Program" this year is from June 3 through 7 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 6 through May 11. Tuck is located in Hanover, NH.
Certified MBEs are encouraged to attend both of these programs. The GNEMSDC will support 4 full scholarships and 3 half scholarships of the cost of tuition for any certified MBE wishing to attend. Click here for the GNEMSDC Scholarship Application. Application deadline is March 9, 2012.
Our goal is for every certified MBE to have gone through at least one of these excellent program |
Opportunities with Corporate Members |
- Institute for a Sustainable Economy, is in need of hiring a union contractor for installation of electrical and water meters. Please contact Crystal Johnson, Managing DirectorNISE! / National Institute for a Sustainable Economy LLC - cjohnson@usnise.com or (617) 416-4915
- The 2012 Petrochemical & Energy Industry Procurement Connection Forum is taking place on March 14-15 in Houston TX. The event is sponsored by BP, Chevron, Citgo, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon, Shell, GE Energy, Halliburton and Turner Industries. Suppliers are encouraged to visit www.possiblemissions.com. This event is targeting certified minority and women owned businesses and small businesses. Once on the website they will need a password to register. They can call the office for the password
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 Boston MBDA Business Center News
MBE Focus - Westnet Inc. |
 Westnet Inc., is a distributor of medical/surgical supplies and equipment, life science products, and industrial paper. The company was established in 1994 as a regional distributor specializing in "wrapping their arms" around the customer with distribution facilities in Canton, MA and Washington, DC. Westnet provides quality products at competitive pricing and first rate customer service with attention to detail.
Westnet takes pride in everything they sell and based on the needs of the customer Westnet customizes the process from how a product is ordered to how it is delivered. A Westnet employee is the last contact at point of delivery to ensure customers have receive their order correctly and serve as a conduit to relay any communication that may be necessary to customer service. Currently Westnet holds contracts with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Harvard University's Medical and School of Public Health, MIT, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Medical Center, Pfizer, Whitehead Institute, the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins, George Washington University and the National Institutes of Health. Watch Company Video |
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| And Finally... |
 Who likes competition? Economists do, but they are a weird lot. Economists are concerned about consumer choice, efficiency, low cost, transparency, access to information, breakdowns in markets, and sustainable distributions of income and wealth. Businesses are concerned about profits, market share, sales growth and world domination. Competition however is a reality in business and in the non-profit world. We, the GNEMSDC, also have competition. On April 26, diverse suppliers in the region and corporate members have a choice of whether to support our Awards Gala, or to be at a for-profit organizations's program in the state. Of course we want everyone to come to our event and nobody to go to theirs. I would not be truthful if I said anything else. But I cannot control how corporate members, or MBEs spend their time or money. I can only, in the spirit of competition, ask our stakeholders to compare what we do to what they do. I am confident that most MBEs and corporate members in the region will be at our Gala on the 26th at the Aqua Turf, but if for some strange reason you need to be convinced to attend ours and not theirs, I am more than willing to help you see what sets us apart and deserves your support. For starters, I would ask you to just take a look at the contents of this newsletter. Every week the GNEMSDC is working its mission to improve conditions for MBEs and help corporate members with their needs. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. So competition is good, it forces us to be relevant and responsive. It also makes us take nothing for granted. We appreciate your support and hope we can continue to count on it, but I know like you know, that unless you deliver, there are no guarantees.
In your service, Dr. Fred |
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