December 10, 2012

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.   GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting & Holiday Business Card Exchange Thursday, December 13, 2012 -  GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM followed by the Holiday Business Card Exchange:  5:00 PM - 7:00 PM    The final Quarterly Meeting of the year is hosted by a certified MBE:  Banneker Industries, located at 582 Great Road, North Smithfield, RI.  On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors we thank our friends at Banneker Industries for inviting us to their headquarters.  The Quarterly Meeting will be followed by a tour of Banneker Industries.   There will be presentations by Banneker Industries, Raytheon and Jolly Therapeutic Massage, LLC. We are pleased to announce that Banneker Industries has generously donated an ipad to be raffle off at the Quarterly Meeting or the Holiday Business Card exchange.  You must be present to win so rsvp today!  The band Boo City will be our entertainment for 12/13. Check out their site:http://boocitymusic.com/ RSVP by emailing sjames@gnemsdc.org GNEMSDC & Boston MBDA Business Center Boston Holiday Business  Card Exchange Thursday, December 20, 2012  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM   This event will take place in the Copley Place Sky Lobby:  100 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02116   This year we are joining Cradles to Crayons in their "Gear Up for Winter Collection campaign." Please join us by recycling clothing your family has outgrown and help make a difference!  Please bring the following gently used items (free of tears or stains): Warm Clothing (sizes newborn to 18/20 & Adult S, M, L), Winter coats, Winter sneakers & boots (sizes infant-adult size 10), Socks & Underwear (new only)  Space in limited so please email Sarah James by December 12th to RSVP sjames@gnemsdc.org  Upcoming Events 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 13, 1:30 pm to 5 pm - 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.  December 13,  5 pm  to 7 pm - GNEMSDC RI Holiday Card Exchange at Banneker Industries  December 20 -  GNEMSDC MA Holiday Card Exchange at Copley Place Mall Sky Lobby 6:00 PM to 8:00 January 17, 2013- MBDA Business Center Boston- CEO Round-table February 21,2013 - How to Do Business with Stop & Shop (MA) March 11-14, 2013- National RES Expo (Las Vegas) April 11, 2013- MBDA Business Center Boston- CEO Round-table April 25, 2013 - Annual Awards Gala - Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, MA June 10, 2013- MA Golf Outing- Ferncroft Golf Club, Middleton MA June 27, 2013- Virtual MED Day July 12, 2013- CT Golf Outing- Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Middlefield CT Opportunities Ahold USA - Carlisle, PA - Director, Supplier Diversity and Trade Relations  Massport request for proposals for proffessional consulting service for the ACDBE program at the Massport Authority and more info If you need Capital or Debt, the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) has recently announced an aggressive campaign to help certified MBEs with their capital needs.  Please visit them at www.bcfcapital.com.  Tell them where you heard it.  This is a service explicitly for certified MBEs in the NMSDC network.  Please take advantage of this opportunity

FYI The short article can address how the Council has assisted the development of your company or how your company has contributed to increasing employment in the area. Article on Norm Rodriques Springfield Springs  SBA Press Release - Disaster Assistance  Information on How to Start Your SBA Disaster Application online  Diversity Plus Article - The Economic History of Income Inequality

Welcome Sanofi as a New Corporate Member On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors, I welcome Sanofi as a new corporate member to the GNEMSDC.  Sanofi is an international pharmaceutical giant.  One of Sanofi's businesses is the Cambridge, MA  based Genzyme.     We look forward to working closely with Sanofi and all of their subsidaries.    Opportunity at Bridgeport Housing Authority The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Telephone System Installation. Request for Proposal (RFP) Solicitation Number:  043-IT-12-S Date: December 6, 2012 The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) is seeking proposals from qualified telecommunications firms for the replacement of the current IP telephone system with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP-based) IP voice solution, which can operate reliably over HACB's current (and any future) data network. All proposals are to be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2013 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, January 8, 2013 at 10 a.m. at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604, 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, December 11, 2012 at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605.  Attention:  Ms. Caroline Sanchez, (203) 337-8820.

Photos from the Best Practices Forum  Enjoy these photos from the Best Practices Forum that took place November 15 at Fenway Park in Boston.      Boston MBDA Business Center facebook page  And Finally...  As we approach the end of 2012, it seems to me that it feels as if the year just started.  Of course, the sensation of time speeding up is not just a personal feeling, physicists understand that time is not a constant.  But whether time speeds up or stays constant, our time is limited in all that we do which is why it is so important to make the most of it. We are now in the planning phase for our 2013 program.  Before too long we will be talking about how fast this next year has come and gone.  We need your help to make the most of what remains of this year, and what will become of next year.  We are seeking your advice and support on ways to make the coming year even more beneficial to you than last year.  We are proud of our accomplishments this year, but we are not satisfied with what we have done, and what we can do.  We know, and are motivated by the reality that no organization is owed its existence simply because of who they are or were.  We like all organizations in order to survive and thrive over time must remain relevant and be willing to change with the times.  We are excited about next year and will work tirelessly to make it the best 2013 it deserves to be.  I know you will do the same.  In your service, Dr. Fred