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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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 25. 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 July sun. We also have arranged for
very reasonable over night rates at a hotel close to Lyman Orchards
($85/night on Thursday, July 12) if you are interested in coming in the
night before. Please call the office for details regarding the
hotel.
We spend a lot of time trying to connect
MBEs with corporate members. Golf is a great connector. My
recommendation to any MBE who wants to spend some quality time with a
corporate buyer is to invite him or her out for a morning of golf at this
event. It is not that you would or you should spend 4 hours
talking to them about your business. It won't take that long for you
both to determine if there is a fit or an interest. But in the very
least you would have made a business friend who can be enormously helpful
in the future. Do you have something better to do than to spend 4
hours with a prospective customer that can turn a normal year into a great
year? If not, invite a corporate member to spend some time to
play. They can only say no, and even if they say no, you have reached
out to them in a meaningful way. This is a truly no lose situation!
We have made arrangement with the Four
Points Sheraton in Meriden, CT for a one night special for Thursday, July
12 for the amazing price of $85.00. There are a limited number
of rooms available at this rate so call them today, 203-238-3172 and
mention GNEMSDC Golf.
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Golf Sponsorship
Opportunities
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There are still opportunities
for corporate members and MBEs to support and sponsor the July 13 Supplier
Diversity Golf Classic at Lyman Orchards. This is the largest
non-profit golf outing in CT. Corporations and MBEs can buy Sponsor
Tents (10x10) for $1,000.00. We are also seeking sponsors
for the beverage carts at $500.00 per cart, Scorecard
Sponsors for $1,000.00. All of these are excellent ways for your
company or MBE to reach a large number of potential customers and
suppliers. And if you are feeling particularly charitable, your
company can sponsor the Luncheon for $2,500.00. Thank you for your
support.
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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:
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Calling
All Super Corporate Members - It is Time to Sign Up for Trade Expo
Showcases
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 For the past couple of weeks we have
asked Super MBEs to register to showcase their businesses at the
GNEMSDC Trade Expo. Now it is time for Corporate Members interested
in showcaing their businesses to sign up to do the same. We are
looking for at least 40 corporate members to make 20-30 minute
presentations at the Expo. This event will take place on
Thursday, September 13. Please send an email to me fmckinney@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 doing these showcases. For corporate members, this is an
extremely efficient way to meet high quality MBEs and get some
important information in their hands.
Registration
for the Trade Expo, September 12-14 will open July 8.
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NMSDC
Success Story -
Chrysler Group LLC and Flex-N-Gate Corporation
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Flex-N-Gate, founded by Shahid
Khan, has been producing high-quality products and systems for the
automotive industry for more than 30 years. Starting
with servicing after-market needs to developing expertise as a strong
Tier 1 supplier in the OEM business sector, Flex-N-Gate has been able to
expand into a global supplier. Flex-N-Gate provides customers a
comprehensive solution using product engineering, project management,
testing, stamping, molding, plating, assembly and shipping.
In 1978, Flex-N-Gate and
Chrysler formed a bond by way of a special Port Installed Bumbper contract
for the Dodge-D50. Flex-N-Gate was able to cultivate this
partnership over the next several years through proven performance and
stability. The results of the firm's strong work ethic and dedication
to excellence and continuous improvement were rewarded with the production
business for the Dodge Ram bumper in 1994.
Today, the partnership remains
strong and Flex-N-Gate is using its global footprit to help reinforce the
goals it shares with clients like Chrysler. Currently, Chrysler
represents approximately 30 percent of its overall business.
Flex-N-Gat has grown its
business over the past 30 years by having hands-on involvement of the top
leadership and putting the right people in place to create stable quality
and volume controls. The firm has succeeded by focusing on continuous
improvement and cost reduction.
Currently, Flex-N-Gate plant
locations span six countries in close proximity to clients' assembly
plants. Its 50 integrated manufacturing facilities offer
multiple processes for diverse range of material.
Remaing focused on growing its
OEM business, Flex-N-Gate's expansion has been both organi and by
acquisition. It has a proven track record of acquirring financially
distressed companies and making positive, dramatic, turnarounds dating back
12 years.
Moving forward, Flex-N-Gate is
focused on growing its global presence to offer greater access to its
customers' manufacturing locations. The company also has plans to
expand its product mix and build its core processes to offer modular
solutions to the increasingly complex automotive manufacturing market.
This story was one of the
many success stories featured in the 40th Anniversary NMSDC Awards Gala
booklet.
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Opportunities at
Bridgeport Housing Authority
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The
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Energy
Performance Contract (EPC)
Owner's
Representative
Request
for Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation
Number: 018-PD-12-S
Date:
June 24, 2012
The
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (BHA) is seeking a qualified
firm or individual to serve as the Authority's Owner's Representative to
provide technical assistance in the measurement and verification of the
savings in accordance with our energy performance contract with Siemens
Building Technologies, Inc.
All
proposals are to be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., Thursday, July26,
2012 to the attention of Mr. Eugene Sumter, Chief Procurement Officer, 150
Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Late proposals will not be accepted.
A
non-mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10,
2012 at 10 a.m. at 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605, Conference
Room. Although not mandatory, all interested proposers are
strongly encouraged to attend as the conference will offer candidates an
opportunity to discuss the RFP requirements with BHA staff.
A
complete set of the RFP documents to include forms of contract will be
available after 1
p.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at the Purchasing
Department, 361 Bird Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Attention:
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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McKinsey Reports -
Diversity Pays Off!
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A recent report by the
global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company shows that gender and
cultural diversity in senior management and on boards of directors is
statistically associated with greater financial performance.
The report, "Is There a Payoff From Top-Team
Diversity? " looked at a number of global companies and
found that companies in the top quartile of board diversity had returns on
equity 53 percent higher than firms in the bottom quartile. They also
found that earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) was 14 percent higher
for firms with the most diverse boards compared to less diverse
companies.
According to the report,
"The more diverse footprint paid operational dividends as well: at
some of these joint ventures' plants, the company discovered highly
efficient manufacturing processes, which it absorbed and then disseminated
across its own manufacturing base. Similarly, a leading
telecommunications company whose top team hailed from a number of different
nations significantly expanded its global network infrastructure and was
able to meet ambitious growth targets in emerging markets."
Sometimes it takes reports from
firms like McKinsey to verify what we already know to be true. I
believe you will soon see a study that shows conclusively that firms with a
more diverse vendor base also outperform firms with a less vendor base.
Maybe I should write that report!
I want to thank David Fortt of Talent Matters for bringing
this article to my attention.
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Millions in
Opportunities at MA Housing
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Massachusetts Housing has one of
the most successful MBE programs in the region. The reason for that
success is that they are excellent at documenting and
distributing information about opportunities for MBEs, and they work
very closely with the large construction companies and property managers
who often serve as prime contractors and decision makers on
projects MA Housing funds.
Please follow the link
below and take a look at the millions of dollars of opportunities with
MA Housing. The link list names, telephone numbers and email
addresses of the decision makers. If they do not know you, and you
can provide services to MA Housing, this might be just what you are looking
for to make this a great summer.
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Purchasing Managers
Association of Boston
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Recently the GNEMSDC joined the Purchasing Managers
Association of Boston. We believe that this relationship with PMAB
will enrich our service offerings to the procurement professionals we
interact with, deepen our relationships with corporate members, lead to the
development of new corporate members, and increase opportunities for
MBEs. The attachment below is an announcement for a continuing
education course for procurement professionals on Terms and
Conditions.
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