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 & Holiday Business Card Exchange
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 GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting followed by the Holiday Business Card Exchange onThursday, December 13, 2012 hosted by Banneker Industries 582 Great Road, North Smithfield, RI. The final Quarterly Meeting of the year is hosted by a certified MBE.
On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors we thank our friends at Banneker Industries for inviting us to their headquarters. RSVP by emailing sjames@gnemsdc.org
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Supplier Diversity Best Practices Day
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 On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors, I want to thank our primary sponsors, The Boston Red Sox, Partners Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, State Street Financial Corporation, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and The Boston Foundation for their support of a very successful and productive 4th Annual Best Practices Forum. Beth Llewellyn from the The Boston Foundation kicked off the day with inspiring words on the social importance of supplier diversity. The MBE panel of Anthony Samuels (Done Right Building Services), Donna Gittens (MORE Advertising), Raghu Nandan (Soltrix Technology Solutions), and Jonathan Braley (J&J Contractors) for sharing with the 150 attendees some of the challenges they face as successful MBEs. This panel was followed by an equally effective corporate panel of Liveda Clements (Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA), Bill Boodry (Liberty Mutual) and Benita Fortner (Raytheon). Warren Bacon of the Boston MBDA Business Center and Larry Wooten of Pitney Bowes both provided great insight and context as moderators of the MBE and corporate panels, respectively. For example, to the question by an MBE in the audience, "what an MBE should not do?", Mr. Wooten responded emphatically that writing a letter to his CEO is a very bad idea, no matter how frustrated the MBE is. To this I saw many members of the corporate contingent affirmatively nodding their heads.
If you are interested in a program book for the event, please contact Sarah James at sjames@gnemsdc.org and we would be happy to send you one, as supplies allow.
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GNEMSDC Economic Impact Report Summary
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The GNEMSDC is finalizing its first Economic Impact Report. But why wait to release some of the preliminary numbers? We hope that this will be a regular report to our community of corporate members, MBEs, elected officials, the media and other interested parties.
The study uses information from certification applications, surveys of MBEs and corporate members and data collected by the federal government. The report goes into greater detail and will be available by the end of the month. Here are the numbers:
- Of the total 350 certified MBEs at the end of September, 2012, there were 76 Asian Indian, 37 Asian Pacific, 148 Black American, 85 Hispanic and 4 Native American MBEs.
- The total sales of all 350 MBEs totaled $13.7 billion.
- Local MBEs located in the six New England states had sales of $2,1 billion and reciprocal MBEs had total sales of $11.6 billion.
- Median annual sales for all certified MBEs was $2 million. By way of comparison, all minority businesses in 2007 had median annual sales of $177,000.
- The 350 GNEMSDC certified MBEs employed 61,238 workers.
- The 350 GNEMSDC certified MBEs employed 31,398 minority workers, representing 51 percent of all employees of certified MBEs.
- The top 5 NAICS industries by number of MBEs was, Professional Services (113 MBEs), Manufacturing (62 MBEs), Wholesale Trade (50 MBEs), Administrative and Support Services (45 MBEs), and Construction (38 MBEs).
- The Boston MBDA Business Center created one new job for every $3,314 invested in the Center.
- The Boston MBDA Business Center created $1 million in new contracts for every $96 invested in the Center.
- The GNEMSDC spent 42 percent of its non-personnel expenses with certified MBEs, a total of $387,364 of spending with certified MBEs.
- The GNEMSDC had 186 corporate members in 2012 of whom, 88 were local corporate members and 98 were national corporate members.
There are other results presented for the first time. We will have our top ten MBEs by sales and employees in each of the states we operate in. We also have some very interesting survey information that shows how MBEs contribute to their community as philanthropists and supporters. Stay tuned for the final report! The bottom line from the study is that MBEs and supplier diversity is a powerful tool of creating more stable, more economically vibrant communities. Our corporate members, MBEs and stakeholders should be proud of the great impact you have on entrepreneurs, families, communities and the nation. We have come a long way, and we have still have miles to go. Keep your eyes on the prize!
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Nomination Season is Upon Us
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The Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for 2013 awards in CT. The various categories of awards and the award nomination instructions are included in the link here.
It is also not too soon for corporations and MBEs to begin thinking about the 2013 GNEMSDC Awards Gala on April 25 in Framingham, MA. Corporate buyers and supplier diversity managers should begin reviewing the performance of their top MBEs. And MBEs need to begin thinking about corporate supplier diversity managers and corporate buyers who have gone the extra mile on their behalf.
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MBE Education events: What do you think?
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MBE Education events: What do you think?
The MBEIC Education sub committee is now planning educational events for 2013, but as a start, we'd like to hear from you on whether the events of 2012 were helpful to the MBEs that attended, and whether we should continue with similar events next year or move in another direction. We developed a short 3-question survey to gather your feedback - Please let us know. CLICK the link below. (It will take no more than 60 seconds).
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MBE Focus - Jolly Therapeutic Massage
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Jolly Therapeutic Massage is one of our newest MBEs please review here capability statement and story. It is fascinating.
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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. 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:
- December 4 - 9:30 - 12:00 noon - GNEMSDC MBE Input Committee (MBEIC) Meeting at NSTAR in Westwood, Mass
- December 5-6 MBDA MED Week in Washington D.C. We strongly encourage corporate members and MBEs to attend this event at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. There will be many government procurement agencies represented as well as some of the largest federal government prime contractors in attendance. The event this year will focus on Access to Capital, Access to Contracts, Advanced Manufacturing and Global Business.
- December 13 - GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting at Banneker Industries 582 Great Road, North Smithfield, RI. The final Quarterly Meeting of the year is hosted by a certified MBE. On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors we thank our friends at Banneker Industries for inviting us to their headquarters.
- April 25, 2013 - Annual Awards Gala - Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, MA
- June 10, 2013- MA Golf Outing- Ferncroft Golf Club, Middleton MA
- July 12, 2013- CT Golf Outing- Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Middlefield CT
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And Finally...
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I wish I had the ability of a poet, because poets are able to touch something deep inside our souls that make us smile in the face of adversity and be humble in the presence of success. At times this advocation/avocation of minority business development requires that we master not only the how of what we do, but the why of what we do. Long ago, perhaps deep in my heredity, because of my agrarian history, I subconsciously understood that ground must be prepared in order for there to be a good harvest. And that seed and other valuables must be put back in the soil in order to bring forth the next generation. I view our work as a Council in this network as the fertilizer that prepares the soil of economic inclusion and community development through minority entrepreneurship. As important as it for MBEs to be successful, I have come to learn that it is not the individual success of all of our MBEs that gives me the greatest joy. It is what that success can lead to that is our harvest. MBEs are the beacon of fortitude in a desert of despair - the North Star to where dedication, faith, perseverance and opportunity can lead. Our MBEs are great providers to their employees, their families and their communities. The success of our MBEs are inspirations to known and unknown young people who have no material reason to expect success in life. Our MBEs are the Carnegie's, Rockefellers, Ford's and Whitney's of the 22nd century. I see a bright future, an inspired future and for that I am thankful. Happy Diwali and Happy Thanksgiving.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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