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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| MBE Smart-Track GNEMSDC Supply Management Portal is Now Open |
We are pleased to announce that the Smart-Track GNEMSDC Supply Management Portal is now open. This exciting new program will allow corporate buyers to go to one portal in order to identify and contract with certified MBEs. Only certified MBEs are in the system and the system documents critical performance data that corporate buyers are looking for.
Here is what is going to happen next:
1. MBEs interested in having their companies profiled in this transactional solution will need to contact Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org.
2. She will check the status of the MBE and if the MBE is currently certified with the GNEMSDC we will email the MBE a link to a sign in form.
3. The MBE will complete the form. All required fields will have to be completed.
4. Once completed, the MBE's form will be uploaded into the database of certified MBEs.
5. Corporate members will be contacted and instructed on how to access the portal once we have a critical mass of MBEs covering a wide array of goods and services. Only GNEMSDC corporate members will be allowed in the system. National NMSDC members who want to participate in the program will have to provide service points to the GNEMSDC.
6. Corporate members will then be encouraged to utilize the system to purchase directly from MBEs.
7. The system will also act as a "Angie's List" with corporate members given the opportunity to rank their experiences with MBEs they have utilized.
We have the names and emails of over 20 MBEs currently. They will be receiving notification and the link to begin completing the portal application to Smart Track this week. Other MBEs interested in participating in the innovative approach should send an email to jclarke@gnemsdc.org.
Our sincere hope is that this new program will encourage corporate members to utilize certified MBEs for projects and opportunities. We know that this will not be a one shoe fits all solution for all corporate procurement, but we feel that this solution will help corporations initially with smaller, one-off, or unique procurement opportunities. We have heard repeatedly from smaller MBEs of the difficulty they have accessing corporate supply chains. We believe this system will have particular benefits for high quality Tier 1 and Tier 2 MBEs. Later on with development of the system ,we hope to develop the capacity to facilitate larger more complex opportunities.
The Smart Track system was also designed to address the needs of corporate members to have a technological solution that takes the MBISYS system to the next level. Right now MBISYS is limited to only one person within a corporate member's team. We encourage our corporate members to share this portal with all members of their procurement team. The system will allow for us to report back to supplier diversity managers their procurement team's use of the system. Secondly, corporate members will benefit from the one-stop-shop aspect of the system. Once we start transacting business and corporate members begin to provide feedback on their experiences with MBEs, the system will generate momentum and support the development of the best MBEs, thus encouraging MBEs to shine, as I know they already do. And finally, the system will have detailed performance and certification information about MBEs in the system. Right now, MBISYS only shares information on certification. This program will focus on performance, certification is a given.
The GNEMSDC is on the cutting edge of MBE development. We are hoping you give this a try. We want to hear back from you as we strive to constantly improve this system.
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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.
And to top things off, TJX, our corporate host, will have a full contingent of buyers who will conduct one on one sessions with MBEs to discover opportunities at TJX.
To view the preliminary Agenda Click here. Also check your email for the invitation to this event.
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 24-26 - SBIR & Global Trade Summit at Mohegan Sun, CT. We often get asked about the availability of "grants", and my response is like Tom Hanks response in the movie a League of their Own, "there is no crying in baseball", there are no grants in business! Well guess what, I was wrong. There are grants in business. And the Small Business Innovation Research grant is one of the best things going for MBEs who are developing new innovative products and processes. Not only can you apply for these grants to develop your product, you can get contracts from the federal government to sell your product. At this meeting you will also have the opportunity to partner with Fortune 500 companies who are also looking for the next best thing. So I guess there is crying in baseball.
- August 2 - American Express "Victory in Procurement: Government Contracts"
- August 9 - Purchasing Managers Association of Boston -Click Here for Registration Details This event is co-sponsored by the PMAB the MBDA Boston and the GNEMSDC. The keynote speaker is Mark Faulkner from Partners Healthcare. Mark is a senior procurement executive at Partners Healthcare. Both MBEs and Corporate Members are invited.
- August 23 - GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting at TJX in Framingham, MA
- September 12-14 -GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo and Conference
- September 29 - Ritmos De Salud Joslin Hispanic Diabetes Initiative Gala Click Here for More Information The GNEMSDC is proud to support improving the health of all residents in Boston.
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Jeffrey Fox To Speak at GNEMSDC Trade Expo
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Back by popular demand, author, consultant and sales guru, Jeffrey Fox will be speaking at the 2012 GNEMSDC Trade Expo. If you missed his presentation two years ago, you missed one of the highest rated programs we have ever hosted. At the time Mr. Fox had just published the book How to Be a Fierce Competitor. Now Mr. Fox's visit is timed perfectly for the release of his new book: The Transformative CEO.
For over 25 years, Jeffrey Fox has been helping clients grow revenues and increase gross margins. Jeffrey is founder of Fox and Company, a management consulting firm that shows clients how to dollarize their value proposition to overcome the price objection and to shorten the sales cycle. Fox has written eleven best-selling business books that have been translated into over thirty languages.
Jeff is the author of "How to Become CEO," which was on the NY Times, Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Knight-Ridder, Amazon.com, best seller lists. His books have been best sellers in France, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia. His book, "How to Become a Rainmaker," was selected as one of the 100 best business books ever written. His "Dollarization Discipline" was selected as one off the top thirty business books of 2006. He is a popular speaker, appearing regularly before senior management groups and sales forces. Jeff is a graduate of Harvard Business School. Fox and Company is in Chester, CT.
To view the preliminary agenda for the entire program, click here. Annual Sponsors will need to call the office to submit the names of their attendees. There are sponsorship opportunities available for the event and registration are open now, see the link below. Also, look for an email invitation later this week with registration information. This Trade Expo is the largest three day program in the Northeast focusing on MBEs and corporate supply chains.
Registration for the Trade Expo, September 12-14 will open July 8.
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NMSDC Success Story - Ford Motor Company and Systrand Manufacturing Corporation
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Systrand Manufacturing Corporation, a Native American-owned minroity business based in Brownstown, Michigan, has been owned and operated by Sharon Cannarsa since the company's inception in 1982. Since 1989, Systrand has manufactured transmission extension housings for Ford Motor Company. Systrand currently produces machined parts for the next generation of Ford's hybrid transmission that will be used in the new Ford Fusion Hybrid and C-MAC Energi plug-in hybrid. The One Ford plan has facilitated the tranistion of Systrand Manufacturing Corporation from a short-term emergency resource to a Tier 1 Long-term preferred powertrain and gear production supplier.
The company has achieved numerous quality certifications, including TS16949, ISO 140001 and Ford A1 as well as the Ford Gold World Excellence Award in recognition of quality, delivery and performance. Systrand's core business is the precision machining and assembly of automotive components for engine, transmission and axle applications. Because of its rapid response ability, efficiencies, ingenuity and financial stability, Systrand has long been considered one of the most dependable suppliers in the automotive industry. At a time when many suppliers are leaving the market, the hard work and dedication of the employees of Systrand continue to make it an important part of the automotive industry.
As a minority and femalel businessowner, Ms. Cannarsa believes that Systrand's commitment to growth and sustainability is not only for the betterment of her company, but also plays an important role in supporting the overall atmosphere that should give other minority and women-owned businesse the opportunity to advance as well.
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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NMSDC Purchasing Activity Reports - Due NOW!
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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 |
| Opportunity with NMSDC Member for MA Based MBEs |
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
If you are a MA based MBE in any of these categories, please contact me at fmckinney@gnemsdc.org.
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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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This weekend I attended my 40th high school reunion from John Muir High School, Pasadena, California. Perhaps the star of my class was rock super star David Lee Roth. But we also had doctors, lawyers, ministers, elected officials, TV executives, entrepreneurs, university professors, a fire chief, police officers, a Las Vegas dancer turned space engineer, retirees, and a few classmates seemingly still stuck in the early 1970s. I had not attended any of my previous high school reunions for reasons, that retrospectively I am almost ashamed to admit; not enough money or time. But being here in Pasadena with people who attended the same school, played on the same football and track teams was special, particularly after 40 years. I am sure the life insurance companies have it down to a science on how many of my classmates would still be around after 40 years, but it was a shock for me to learn how many of my teammates and friends are no longer on this earth. It was then that I felt most ashamed and selfish for not sharing my time and resources with people whom I spent three of the most important and formative years of my life with. It was a happy and well done reunion with over 150 classmates out of a graduating class of 671 students that year in attendance. As I left the dinner that night I once again realized how fortunate we are to have friends and family to spend our precious little time with. In a few short years what will our friends remember of us? So while we are here, let's make the most of it, and do what we can to help one another.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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