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.
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GNEMSDC Launching e-Commerce Site for Corporate Members to Buy from Certified MBEs
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Today, technology has reached a point where software and hardware can be made within a short span; innovation is no longer bound by physical limits but only by the limits of our ideas. GNEMSDC has now become an innovator as per the definition of the twenty-first century as we have formed an original idea with the help of ACINDO Group LLC. to create an open marketplace for minority businesses to reach out to our community and to become an asset to our economy. This program creates a seamless link between the vetted minority supplier pool, determined by GNEMSDC, and the Buyer Community through an efficient Program Management Office. It is geared to support small to mid-size vetted MBE's and create a direct channel between the buyer and the supplier community. The genius of this program is not within its software, although efficient, it is the vision. The unique vision of a direct channel between a buyer and the minority supplier community is a perfect example of innovation today.
Supplier registration is now open. The registration form is available upon request from our office. To learn more about the program, please contact Dr. Fred at 203-288-9744.
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Ever since the GNEMSDC was awarded the MBDA Center grant, we have been looking for ways to leverage this program so that all of our corporate members and MBEs could benefit. I am happy to report that we are ready to launch a solution that will efficiently assist corporate members transact business with certified MBEs.
Corporate members can visit this site, once it is populated with vetted certified MBEs and know that all spend conducted through this site is with certified MBEs. The software is entirely agnostic in terms of the systems corporate buying organizations use. Here is an example of why a corporate member might use the system.
Let's say the corporate member has a need for a non-recurring "one-off" good or service. They could visit the site, identify a number of MBEs that provide those goods and services, send them the requirements and ask them to respond in a specified time period. Based on that response, they could select the MBE and contract for the good or service. And what is best, the corporate member could do this all on the site without having to create new vendor information and profiles every time they are ready to buy something. This is a one-stop shopping portal that will carry a full range of MBEs.
This program is great for MBEs, particularly Category 1 and Category 2 MBEs who have a more difficult time getting their value proposition in front of our corporate buyers. Corporate members have access to the NMSDC's MBISYS program, but this portal is not transactional and it only allows for a single point of contact within our corporate membership. This portal is something we encourage our corporate members and our supplier diversity representative to share internally with all of their buyers who can use it to contract with vetted certified MBEs directly.
The next step is for certified MBEs to complete the attached on-line form that provides some information about your business that will only be accessible by corporate buyers. Before we put the information up on the site, we will contact each prospective MBE to confirm all of the information.
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Golf Alert! GNEMSDC CT Supplier Golf Classic - July 13
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The GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classic is coming to Lyman Orchards Golf Club on Friday, July 13. We are asking for sponsors to provide us with the names of their guests by June 25. Due to the limited space, we will not be able to hold your slots if you do not send your names to the office by June 15. One of the main attractions of this event is getting MBEs and Corporate members together.
Please note we are moving the tee time of the event from 8:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Breakfast will start at 7:00 AM. This way we will get in without spending too much time out in the hot mid-day hot July sun. We also have arranged for very reasonable over night rates at a hotel close to Lyman Orchards if you are interested in coming in the night before. Please call the office for details regarding the hotel.
If you are interested in a fun afternoon of golf, networking, food, drinks and relationship building and are not registered, we can put your name on a waiting list.
If you would like to donate any items for our very popular raffle, please contact the office (888-874-7114). We are also looking for volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to meet hundreds of guests.
We had a spectacular event at Ferncroft Country Club this past Monday. The course and the day were ideal for golf. Please visit our GNEMSDC Facebook to see the photos from the event. Thank you's to all of the members of the MA Golf Committee, led by Bill Boodry of Liberty Mutual and Michael White of A.C.P. Cleaning.
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Events That MBEs Should Not Miss
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There are several events coming up on our calendar that are designed specifically for MBEs to learn about corporate opportunities. In order to help you organize your own calendars and keep things straight, we have begin sending out invitations using Constant Contact. This way we can include directions, agendas, share with you who else is attending and allow you to register. If it seems like we are busy, it is because we are. As I like to tell people, business is a contact sport. 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:
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Calling All Super MBEs - It is Time to Sign Up for Trade Expo Showcases
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 One the most successful features of last year's GNEMSDC Trade Expo, were the MBE Showcases. This year we are seeking 50 Super MBEs who want to make 15 minute presentations on their company. Becasuse of last year's success and what we learned from the participants we are planning to offer speaking opportunities for 50 Super MBEs. Are you a Super MBE? If you are, send Jerilynn Clake and email and say you are interested in presenting your company at the GNEMSDC Expo.
Registration for the Trade Expo, September 12-14 will open July 8.
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NMSDC Success Story - Bank of America & MarkMaster
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  MarkMaster, Inc. started in 1933 as a small printing company on Armand Govin's front porch. Over three generations, the company has grown to be the largest rubber stamp and
identification products manufacturer in the world. MarkMaster services customers globally and is a certified NMSDC minority business enterprise (MBE), as well as an NMSDC Corporate Plus® member.
In 1976, MarkMaster started with Exchange Bank as a supplier of marking products. Exchange Bank was acquired by NCNB in 1982, and MarkMaster expanded into nameplates and name badges with NCNB in 1986. Two years later, the firm signed its first contract with NCNB in conjunction with the First Republic Bank merger. Over the years, MarkMaster has provided services through numerous mergers including First Republic Bank, C&S, Maryland National, Chicago Research, Bank South, Boatmen's, Barnett, Montgomery Securities, Fleet/Bank Boston, Countrywide, Merrill Lynch and so on.
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Congratulations!
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- Congratulations to The MATLET Group for being named to the Fast 50 by the Pan Asian Business Council this past week.
- Congratulations to Banneker Industriesfor being named on the top places to work in Rhode Island
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Dr. Fred's Corner
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Dr Fred on the
Stan Simpson Show
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Please take a close look at the information listed below.
The links will take you to detailed information.
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And Finally...
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This past Wednesday night I had the honor of being the keynote speaker at the Hartford Communities that Care (HCTC) Dinner. My speech was preceded by remarks from Congressman John Larson and Governor Dannel Malloy. And last year they had CNN analyst Roland Martin as the keynote speaker. Talk about a hard act to follow. But more important than the luminaries on the dais that night or on past nights was the subject matter the HCTC deals with and the weighty and timely topic of violence in urban America. If you do not think there is a connection between urban violence and minority business development, I suggest you take a tour of almost any inner city in America and see the dearth of entrepreneurial and business formation. Why would anyone locate in an area that is dangerous to business owners, consumers and workers when there are safer and less costly alternatives? It just so happened that the weekend before my remarks that Hartford had suffered on of its most violent weekends ever. There were 10 shootings, two of which resulted in deaths. I pointed out in my remarks that in 2011 there were 20 more murders in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford than deaths of Connecticut residents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan since those wars began in 2002. More violent deaths in one year in three mid sized cities than over 10 years of war, where the other side is trying to kill you. Over 90 percent of the 2011 murder victims in those three cities were Black or Hispanic men. These are unacceptable numbers and probabilities. And they have a direct and tremendousay negative impact on employment, business formation and community development. But I am not prepared to throw in the towel. Our corporate members and our MBEs can make a difference by identifying talented students from our urban centers throughout New England and offer them summer employment and internships. You do not have to save every kid, but you can save one. And if you need help identifying someone to save, we can point you in the right direction.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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