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 Quarterly Meeting At TJX August 23
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TJX will be hosting the GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting on August 23
from 1:30 to 4:30 PM . This is an excellent chance for MBEs to
learn about opportunities at TJX and with other corporate members. At
this Quarterly Meeting we will also have a presentation from the
Massachusetts Export Center (see the article above). Please register
by emailing sjames@gnemsdc.org.
We are also planning a very special session that will look at
how smaller MBEs can partner with other MBEs to successfully win larger
contracts from corporate members. We have heard on numerous occasions how
difficult it is for Category 1 MBEs to not only win contracts, but get the
attention of large buying organizations. The key to success for many
MBEs is to partner with other firms and grow from there. The
Quarterly Meeting will explore concrete examples of how to do this
successfully. If you are an MBE and have experienced this
frustration, this is the Quarterly for you to attend.
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Upcoming Events
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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:
- 2012 Upcoming Events
- July 18 , 10:00
AM to 12:00 Noon - MassPort Office of Diversity and Inclusion -
Quarterly Diversity and Inclusion Forum For Professionals and
Practitioners "Equity in Access and Opportunity"
Keynote Speaker, Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and
Opportunity, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Marlow is also a
director of the GNEMSDC. For more information contact Magda
Kitlas at mkitlas@massport.com.
- July 24-26 - SBIR & Global Trade
Summit
- August 2 - American
Express "Victory in Procurement: Government Contracts"
- August 23 - GNEMSDC
Quarterly Meeting
- September 12-14 -GNEMSDC
Business Opportunity Expo and Conference
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It
is Time to Sign Up for Trade Expo Showcases
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 This year we are once again looking to have
an outstanding day of Corporate and MBE Showcases. The Corporate
Showcases will be featured on the morning of Thursday, September 13.
While the MBE Showcases will take place that afternoon. We are
anticipating a full day of informative and exceptional presentations by
both our Corporate members who are sharing information and seeking MBEs,
and MBEs who are seeking opportunities to work with Corporate members.
Please send an email
to Sarah James at sjames@gnemsdc.org if you are interested in doing a
showcase, or have any questions on this very productive program.
We want to have at least 40 Corporate members and 40 MBEs doing these
Showcases. All Showcase participants must be registered in
order to participate. Annual Sponors are already registered for the
Expo and only need to inform us of their intention to participate in
this part of the program. We are holding spots for those Annual
Sponsors as a courtesy of their sponsorship and support.
Registration
for the Trade Expo, September 12-14 will open July 8.
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NMSDC
Success Story - Exxon Mobil Corporation and Pala Interstate
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Pala Interstate (Pala) an
Hispanic owned general industrial contractor, has a long standing
relationship with ExxonMobil that began in the late 1970s. Started by
Mr. Jose Tanajano, Sr in Port Allen, Louisaina, the company's initial work
included piping installation, civil construction and structural steel
erection at Exxon's Baton Rouge Refinery. Initial on-site jobs
were relatively small as Pala learned more and more about ExxonMobil
and the Baton Rouge refinery.
Pala continued to provide
quality service and a strong focus on safety so ExxonMobil expanded the
firm's scope of work within the refinery as well as to other locations
along the Gulf Coast. As a result, Pala's position in ExxonMobil's
supply chain grew to include engineering, design, fabrication, construction
and maintenance on piping, vessels and tank projects at ExxonMobil
facilities both onsite and offsite.
To reinforce the quality of work
Pala provides ExxonMobil, the company has been the prime supplier for tank
maintenance activities at the Baton Rouge complex for more than 20
years. Pala has been awarded project work through ExxonMobil's bid
process because of it competitive proposals and atention to detail.
In 2005, in the aftermath of
hurricanes Rita and Katrina, Pala was called upon to aid in the restoration
of critical services to ExxonMobil's Gulf Coast refineries. Pala was
able to repond immediately with expanded service offerings that addressed
the wide range of needs from securing storage tanks back on their foundation
to general cleanup.
Pala's professionalism and
commitment to safety, quality and customer service, in addition to
adaptability and strategic alignment with that of ExxonMobil validates its
position as a valued prime supplier for ExxonMobil's downstream
operations.
Additionally, Pala shares
ExxonMobil's commitment to supplier diversity at all levels.
The firm has co-chaired the NMSDC national conference and is a strong
supporter of the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council and
the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council. Pala participates
not only as an MBE seeking opportunities, but as a prime supplier
looking for inclusion of MBEs in its own supply chain.
This story was one of the
many success stories featured in the 40th Anniversary NMSDC Awards Gala
booklet. All of the stories can also be found at www.nmsdc.org. -
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Opportunities at
Bridgeport Housing Authority - New Opportunity
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The
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Section 3
Resident-Owned Business Technical Assistance Services
Request for
Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation
Number: 023-EO-12-S
Date:
July 15, 2012
The
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (BHA) is soliciting proposals
from consultants who are qualified to deliver a one stop technical support
service delivery system that includes, but not limited to educational,
financial management and other business growth training and technical
services to Section 3 Resident Owned Businesses (ROBs). Minority
Business Enterprises, Women Owned Business Enterprises and other
Disadvantaged Business Concerns. Proposals shall be mailed or hand
delivered by Monday August 6, 2012 at 4:30 PM to Mr. Eugene Sumter, Chief
Procurement Officer, 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or 301
Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605. Late proposals will not be
accepted. A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, July
24, 2012 at 10:00 AM at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.
A
complete copy of the solicitation documents including the
form of contract will be available after 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2012
at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605, or
by calling, Ms. Caroline Sanchez, (203) 337-8820.
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NMSDC Purchasing
Activity Reports - Due July 20
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The NMSDC every year sends out a request to all NMSDC
national corporate members for information documenting their spend with
certified MBEs. The NMSDC asks the 37 Regional Councils
like the GNEMSDC to collect similar information from our local corporate
members. The attached document should be completed by our local
corporate members and returned to the GNEMSDC to my attention (fmckinney@gnemsdc.org).
The results will be summarized and submitted to the NMSDC.
Individual local corporate member information is not shared with NMSDC,
MBEs or anyone. We appreciate your cooperation. Knowing how
well you are doing helps us continue to improve. Thank you in advance
for your cooperation. Please return your completed Purchasing
Activity Report by July 20. Purchasing Activity Report for Local GNEMSDC
Corporate Members
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Massachusetts Export Center - It's Time Look Global
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"The Massachusetts Esport
Center serves as the state's one-stop resource for export assistance.
We offer a wide range of targeted, customized services to Massachusetts
businesses at any stage in the export process. Whether you are a
small business just thinking about exporting or an
experienced exporter, the Massachusetts Export Center stands ready to
help with services suited to your needs."
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Opportunity with NMSDC Member for MA Based MBEs
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A NMSDC corporate member from outside of New England recently
won a contract with the Commonwealth of MA. The Commonwealth has a 5
percent M/WBE goal on the contract. The corporate member is looking
for MA based certified MBEs in the following categories:
- Cleaning,
Maintenance and Facilities Management
- Electrical
Services
- Tooling
- Lighting
- Fluid Power
- HACR
- Material
Handling
- Metal Working
- Motors
- Power Tools
- Power
Transmission
- Pumps and Test
Equipment
- Safety and
Security
- Ventilation
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Job Opportunities
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There are several job
opportunities that have been brought to our attention:
- Trearurer's
Office Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
hr@tre.state.ma.us
- Director of
Information Technology
- Field Service
Technician
- Senior
Investment Officer
- Director of
Finance
- Web
Application Developer
- Bridgeport
Hospital Foundation 203-384-3522
- Director of
Special Gifts
- Connecticut
Lottery hr@ctlottery.org
All of the above organizations
are equal opportunity employers. If you are a corporate member or a
MBE looking for diverse talent, this newsletter goes out to over
10,000 procurement professionals and MBEs. We might be able to
help.
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And Finally...
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There were many stories that captured my attention last
week, but there were two that stood out as examples of what not to
do. The first was the news that Wells Fargo had agreed to pay the
Department of Justice a fine of $175 million to settle a case of discrimination
against African American and Hispanic borrowers. It turns out that
Wells Fargo had systematically discriminated against minority borrowers
during the period leading up to the housing crisis by placing them in
sub-prime mortgages with higher rates even though their credit histories
should have placed them in mortgage products that would have saved them
money and perhaps saved their homes. There were many bad actors
during the housing crisis, and the full story has yet to be told, but hopefully
this settlement will provide lenders pause when it comes to their lending
practices. The second story was the revelation that the U.S. Olympic
team would be marching into the London Olympics in uniforms designed by
Ralph Loren, but made in China. Now I know that many if not most of
our global NMSDC corporate members are actively doing business in China, so
I am not going to pontificate on the evils of China. However, there
are some goods and services that should never be outsourced. Many of
these goods and services involve issues of national security. I
believe the U.S. Olympic team uniforms while not a matter of national
security fall into this bucket of goods that should not be
outsourced. I wonder if it ever crossed the minds of decision makers
at Ralph Loren that there could be a problem with their decision to make
the uniforms overseas, instead of at home. This is not a time to
close the borders, but this was an error of judgement that should be
corrected by having those uniforms remade in America, by U.S. firms and
hopefully some MBE participation. I do not think that is too much to
ask. It makes it so much easier to root for the U.S. team if we know
they are wearing clothes with the Made in the USA label.
In your
service,
Dr. Fred
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