January 9, 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.  Annual Award Gala 2012 It is not too early to start thinking about and planning for the 2012 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala that will take place on Thursday, April 26 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.  Corporate members can begin by thinking about the MBEs they worked with who went the extra mile to provide excellent services for them in 2011.  These MBEs benefit from the public recognition of a job well done.  MBEs can similarly think about the corporate buyers and supplier diversity managers who  assisted them to win contracts and to learn more about them and their corporations.  MBEs and corporate members who are interested in assisting us make this year's event fantastic are also welcome to volunteer to serve on any of the sub-committees we have established.  Just give Tatiana a call at the office, 888-874-7114.  We welcome your participation. It is Time to Submit Your Nominations! As we close out the old and bring in the new, it is time for MBEs and corporate members to nominate outstanding MBEs, corporate buyers, supplier diversity advocates, and corporations for award recognitions that will be presented at the 2012 GNEMSDC Awards Gala on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT. Each year, at our Annual Awards Banquet, the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (GNEMSDC) recognizes those certified minority suppliers (MBEs) who have distinguished themselves and their businesses by: Successfully demonstrating growth in sales and employment while overcoming significant obstacles; Consistently providing high quality products and services at competitive prices and offering innovative approaches and cost saving ideas: Continuously growing MBE to MBE purchases; and Significantly contributing to the growth and development of society and their community. All corporate members are invited to nominate MBEs in each of the following categories: Class 1 MBEs - Annual Sales Less Than $1 million Class 2 MBEs - Annual Sales between $1 million and less than $10 million Class 3 MBEs - Annual Sales between $10 million and less than $50 million Class 4 MBEs - Annual Sales greater than $50 million Reciprocal MBE - MBEs with their primary office outside CT, MA, RI, NH, ME or VT and must be reciprocally certified with GNEMSDC By the end of the first week of 2012 all corporate members will receive a form that should be completed by January 31, 2012 with the names of their nominees. Give the office a call if you have any questions about the appropriate category of your nominees. The important thing is to get your nominees in. MBEs will also be making nominations for the following awards: Advocate of the Year - This Award is presented to a supplier diversity manager/director who has done an outstanding job of assisting MBEs for the benefit of both their employer and the MBE Buyer of the Year - This award is presented to a buyer from our corporate membership that has gone far and beyond the call of duty to assist MBEs with procurement opportunities and feedback MBE Empowerment Award - This award is presented to an MBE who has worked to assist other MBEs Corporation of the Year (National Member) - This award is presented to the corporate member who has demonstrated commitment and has delivered results in the area of minority business procurement and development Corporation of the Year (Local Member) - This award is presented to the corporate member who has demonstrated commitment and has delivered results in the area of minority business procurement and development We are requesting that the nominations by MBEs also be back by January 31, 2012. The staff is here to assist MBEs with any questions they have about the process or the categories. It is appropriate for companies, corporate representatives and MBEs to ask their supporters to consider nominating them for these prestigious awards. Although you cannot nominate yourself, sometimes you have to toot your own horn with a gentle reminder to your friends who you have supported throughout the year.  MBEs who believe they are deserving of Supplier of the Year recognition should complete the attached  Nomination Form and share it with a corporate member who can complete the process.  How to do Business with Northeast Utilities   Northeast Utilities is hosting a very important certified MBEs in the region on Friday, January 20 at their main office in Berlin, CT.  NU procurement officials, and senior management will attend to meet one on one with MBEs is a range of areas.  Certified MBEs interested in attending should call Jerilynn Clarke at 203-288-9744.  Please do not miss this important event.   Corporate Member Showcase - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston    This week we feature  Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.   On December 23, 1913, the Federal Reserve Act became law, and within a year the 12 Federal Reserve Banks were open for business. The Boston Fed, along with the other 11 Federal Reserve Banks nationwide and the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up our nation's central bank. The Boston Fed serves the First Federal Reserve District that includes the six New England states: Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County), Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.      The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston was organized in October 1914. It opened for business on November 16, 1914, in temporary quarters at the corner of Milk and Pearl Streets with a staff of three officers and 14 clerks. Permanent quarters were secured on January 1, 1915, at 53 State Street, formerly occupied by The First National Bank of Boston.  View Presentation  MBE Showcase - Picture That, LLC   This week we feature  Picture That, LLC. Founded in 2002, Picture That, LLC is a fine art consulting firm based in Stamford, CT. Our commitment to enhance environments withcultural art has established an excellent reputation among our corporate clients, private individuals and the community at large. Our Three Practice Areas Are: Fine Art Advisory Curatorial Services Graphic Art & Design   View Presentation MBEIC News    The MBEIC Education sub-committee is seeking additional members. For those looking for an opportunity to forge deeper relationships with fellow business owners, and corporations, and are willing and able to commit some of their time - this would be a great opportunity to help plan and shape events that will inform and educate the Council's MBE community. If you're interested, Please send an email to Jill Davis at The MATLET Groupjdavis@thematletgroup.com before January 23, 2012. NMSDC News TAKE THE FINANCIAL PULSE OF YOUR COMPANY.  REGISTER FOR THE BIZ-FIT   CHALLENGE TODAY!    The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has partnered with NuLevel Strategic Solutions to offer a series of online assessment tools to help NMSDC-certified minority business owners evaluate the health and financial condition of their businesses. The three-part Biz-Fit Challenge program is available to you FREE of charge through 8/1/2012. During this pilot phase, participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Register for the Biz-Fit Challenge at www.nmsdconline.com/education.   Program Guidelines:   To take advantage of this program, participants must meet the following eligibility criteria: Only the CEO/owner of the minority business is eligible to participate. MBE participants must be currently certified by one of NMSDC's 37 affiliated Councils. MBE participants must have a current profile in NMSDC's MBISYS ® database. MBE participants must maintain current certification throughout the duration of the program (8/1/2012). MBEs can take each challenge once and must complete each part before moving on to the next one.   The Biz-Fit Challenge includes the following three online assessment tools:  "Biz-Health Analyzer" - This tool allows MBEs to understand their business' health relative to liquidity, solvency and leverage-the three most common factors considered by capital providers. MBEs are able to assess how they are performing relative to their competitors.    "Breakeven Analyzer" - This tool helps business owners determine the company's current breakeven revenues and its five-year projected breakeven revenues. MBEs are able to determine their minimum revenue requirements on an annual, monthly, weekly and hourly basis and use breakeven revenue as a guide in their overall pricing strategy as well as their strategic planning process.    "Valuation Analyzer" - This tool is designed to give businesses a rough valuation of their company based on applied industry-based valuation multiples. The information provided includes an overview of various valuation methodologies; approaches to building business value; translating value into wealth; and interpreting business value and business value drivers.   Upon completing each part of the online Biz-Fit Challenge, participants generate a comprehensive report using data from their current 12-month ending financial statements and complete a short survey to gauge the overall effectiveness of the challenge. For more information: Contact the NMSDC Office at (212) 944-2430, send an email to bizfitchallenge@nmsdc.org   or read "Biz-Fit Challenge FAQs." Boston MBDA News Connecting Business and Government in the AAPI Community  Blogged By:  Jiyoung C. Park, GSA Associate Administrator Recently, I participated in a small business roundtable with the Asian-American Pacific Islander community in Philadelphia. The event was co-hosted by the National Association of Asian American Professionals and the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs, and we were joined by 40 small business owners for a lively discussion on how to do business with the Federal Government. Part of our mission at the General Services Administration (GSA) is to make sure that small firms across the country have the opportunity to do business with the government, and we were able to pass on several strategies that small businesses can use to successfully compete in the Federal market. First, FedBizOpps is an online tool to help businesses learn about upcoming opportunities with the government. Small businesses can use this tool to preview what the government is looking to buy in the near future. GSA also posts a Forecast of Contracting Opportunities, informing vendors of anticipated contracts offered by GSA for the current fiscal year. Another strategy that small businesses can use to break in to the Federal market is sub-contracting, partnering and teaming. Many small businesses find that with no previous track record with Federal Government contracts, it is hard to get their foot in the door. By joining forces with a more experienced vendor, small businesses can increase their capacity and experience. GSA's Sub-Contracting Directory lists large business prime contractors who are required to establish plans and goals for subcontracting with small business firms. Finally, GSA's Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage and motivate GSA prime contractors to assist small businesses and enhance their capability of performing successfully on GSA contracts and subcontracts. The program is intended to foster the establishment of long-term relationships between small businesses and GSA prime contractors and increase the overall number of small businesses that receive GSA prime contract and subcontract awards. To date there are over 90 Mentor Protégé agreements in place. NMSDC/GNEMSDC Activities and Information Please take a close look at the events listed below.  The links will take you to detailed information about the events.  We will have more information for those events that do not currently have live links, but please mark your calendars and call the office. Events and Activities:  Save The Dates - Upcoming Events 2012  The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development's 26th Annual Reservation Economic Summit (REC), February 27-March 1, 2012.  More information visit www.ncaied.org      Information and Presentations: FHWA Offering 4th Round of Highways for Life Grants    Best Practices in Minority Supplier Development - Prepared by Ralph G. Moore & Associates Nominations for Small Business Week 2012!  - Full Nominations Guidelines      Opportunities with Corporate Members O&G Industries, Inc., Invitation to Pre-qualify Project #901373,  Due January 20, 2 pm We are looking to identify a MBE developer that can handle a $40 million mixed use housing project in Southern CT.  If you know or can meet a project of this size, please call the office  The Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with Quincy-Geneva CDC, Project RIGHT, and other key stakeholders, is working in a board effort to promote comprehensive community revitalization in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston.  This effort will bring more than $70 million of investment in affordable housing, small business development, job creation, job training and youth arts programming to the area in the next 2-3 years.  Quincy Corridor is located along a key east-west connector between Blue Hill Ave. and Columbia Road, almost 3/4 mile from the new Dour Corners rail station, and adjacent to the location of a proposed new station along the Fairmount commuter rail.  More information visit, www.dbedc.org Greater Boston area corporate member is looking for Janitorial Service.  Call GNEMSDC office for more information.  (GNEMSDC certified MBE only) Employment opportunity in Hartford area non-profit organization, for the IT & Social Media.  Call GNEMSDC office for more information NAACP Boston branch invites bid for Audit Services, closing January 14, 2012

And Finally... This past week I had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from two different organizations who spend their time investigating racial and ethnic disparities.  And this week as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights I will be looking at racial and ethnic disparity in the area of racial profiling.   Where people live, how people make their income, and how people are treated by public officials are key factors in the quality of life for all people.   The Connecticut Fair Housing Coalition has put together a series of reports that chronicle the history and current impact of racial profiling in CT towns and cities.  The report, "Connecticut Fair Housing Center's Opportunity Project" shows clear public examples of "Redlining" whereby mortgage lenders and real estate firms would not sell or rent property to blacks in numerous towns in Connecticut.  In one map showing the racial composition of neighborhoods in the late 1930s where Redlining was the accepted practice you see that blacks in Hartford were concentrated in specific neighborhoods.  When you look at that very same area today, the map is almost identical.  Seventy years has not impacted racial housing patterns in Connecticut.  The Connecticut Fair Housing Coalition sends out testers to verify the experiences of African Americans, Hispanics and Whites throughout the region.  In their latest report, they demonstrate that African Americans are facing discrimination today. In 100 percent of cases where an African American couple was looking for a place to rent in Fairfield County they were denied while a white couple with the same income and jobs were accepted.  So while no municipality would be stupid enough to make Redlining an official practice, it is clear that the legacy of housing opportunity for racial and ethnic minorities continues to be a problem today.  A representative from the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, a quasi state governmental organization, shared with me some numbers that were discussed by the State of Connecticut but ignored.  The State of Connecticut has a "supplier diversity" program that encourages state agencies to spend 6.25 percent of all state contracts with women OR ethnic minority businesses.  Obviously the key term here is OR.  State goals can be reached without spending a dime with racial and ethnic MBEs.  This legislative deficiency would be bad enough if were not for an even more substantial loophole called the "Municipal Exemption".  The Municipal Exemption allows towns in CT that are receiving State funds to be exempt from even the 6.25 percent goal.  So understand this clearly, in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport the state's largest towns with significant majority minority populations, any firm, regardless of race, can bid on contracts to build roads, schools and other forms of infrastructure, while in Glastonbury, Guilford and Greenwich, all predominantly non-minority high income municipalities, "public" projects are immune from providing opportunities for MBEs.  If the Governor and the Legislature do not see the fundamental unfairness and disparate impact these "rules" have on MBE development they are either blind, or I hate to suggest the alternative.     Over the last ten fiscal years, state funds totally over $5.7 billion in school and other projects were exempt from the state's already flawed supplier diversity program,  If ethnic and racial minority firms had been able to secure just 3 percent of these "exempt" contracts, they would have received over $170 million in contracts.  The question for the Governor and the Legislature is why isn't every state dollar on the table when it comes to MBE spending.  And finally, we are still dealing with the ugly issue of how free African Americans and Latinos travel the state without undue scrutiny from the police.  This issue is something the CT Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights decided to investigate this year. After we got started we were confronted with a perfect case in case anyone did not believe these practices still exist.  The Treasurer of the State, the Honorable Denise Nappier, an African American woman,  was stopped by Hartford Police while dropping off her hair dresser in a public housing project.   Ms. Nappier was driving a state issued limousine with the Number 4 license plate.  The two Hartford police officers not believing, or not caring who she was impounded the car in the parking lot and then forced Treasure Nappier to walk home.  Treasurer Nappier experienced something that looks and feels very much like the problem individuals in our communities still suffer from with much less stature and notoriety than the Treasurer.  I hope this extended essay is not taken as an expression of outrage or anger.  Ideally, we need to confront the reality of disparate impact in this state, and I would extend this to this region and nation. We still have unsettled issues when it comes to where people live, how people earn a living, and how people interact with the authorities.  It is not good enough to pretend that these realities do not exist, or never existed.  And furthermore, these practices have real implications to the overall economic health of all in our state and region.  Enlightened self interest should be sufficient for the Governor and the Legislature to deal with these problems now.  If they do not, the citizens will decide who will run this state at the next election, and their votes should not come cheaply the next time.      In your service, Dr. Fred