August 13, 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 At TJX August 23
TJXTJX will be hosting the GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting on August 23, 1:30 to 4:30 PM.  

OVER 150 corporate members and MBEs have signed up for this event, making it one of our biggest Quarterly Meetings!  Thank you for respondingl

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.  Please register by emailing sjames@gnemsdc.org

We are also planning a very special session that will focus on 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.
Upcoming Events
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 begun 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 
    • August 14 - Franklin Covey Webinar on "Closing the Execution Gap"  at 9 am and 2 pm.  If interested in this webinar contact Brandon Stone atbrandon.stone@franklincovey.com. This event is limited to 50 participants and is free.  We thank the GNEMSDC MBEIC Education Committee for bringing you this event.  Interested certified MBEs can call the office for the call-in information.  Only certified MBEs and corporate members can join the call.
    • August 14 - South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, Corporate Summit.  Cincinnati, Ohio - Dr. Fred will be the Keynote Speaker. 
    • August 17 - Summer Executive Workshop at Martha's Vineyard.  Dr. Fred will be on the Executive Leadership Panel. 
    • August 23 - GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting at TJX in Framingham, MA from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
    • August 31- MBDA CEO Roundtable - At Raytheon 8:00 am to 11:30 am.  Come and meet other MBE CEOs and learn about opportunities at Raytheon from the Raytheon procurement team.
    • September 12-14 - GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo and Conference at MGM Grand at Foxwoods.
    • September 17-18 - PA-DE-NJ MSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Conference - Caesars Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ  - I will be a keynote speaker at this event on September 17.  For more information visit affiliate.nmsdc.org/panjde/app/template/index.vm.  
    • September 29 - Joslin Latino Diabetes Initiative Inaugural Benefit Concert and Reception.  Click Here for More Information  The GNEMSDC is proud to support improving the health of all residents in Boston.
    • October 28-31 - NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Fair - Denver, CO.  For more information visit www.nmsdc.org.  
    •  November 15 - Supplier Diversity Best Practices  Day at Fenway Park, Boston, 8:00 am to 11:30 am.  Join us for this joint meeting of MBEs and corporate members to demonstrate case studies of the best practices of minority supplier development in New England.  There is limited space for this meeting.  Contact Joanne Wang to register at jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com.
David Hinson, National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA to Speak at GNEMSDC Trade Expo
David Hinson
David Hinson, National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has agreed to participate as the keynote speaker at the GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo.  Director Hinson will speak at the Friday (9/14) morning session. 

 "As National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau within the United States Department of Commerce, Mr. Hinson oversees a national network of 40 MBDA Business Centers, including centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and the first of its type Federal Procurement center located in Washington DC. MBDA's core mission is to expand the U.S. economy and create new jobs by promoting the growth and global competitiveness of large, medium and small businesses that are minority-owned.

Since the start of the Obama Administration, MBDA has assisted minority-owned firms in obtaining nearly $12 billion in contracts and capital, creating and saving over 20,000 jobs. Under his leadership, MBDA has experienced the three best performing years in the 43-year history of the Agency."
Author Maggie Anderson to Speak at GNEMSDC Trade Expo
M AndersonAuthor and MBE activist, Maggie Anderson has agreed to be the keynote speaker on Friday, September 14 at the GNEMSDC Sponsors Luncheon.  Mrs. Anderson has become a national advocate for minority businesses as a result of her work on the "Empowerment Experiment".  The experiment started as a teaching lesson for her children and family, and turned into a crusade as she and her family attempted to survive by buying products only from African American owned enterprises.  Her story has been picked up by PBS, Black Enterprise, CNN, CNBC, The Huffington Post and has attracted attention globally.  Mrs. Anderson has also become a powerful advocate for corporate supplier diversity.   
Jeffrey Fox To Speak at GNEMSDC Trade Expo
 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 press release on Mr. Fox and the GNEMSDC Trade Expo click here.   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 isopen 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.
Belsarios Rosas of WEI- MBE Co-Chair of the GNEMSDC Trade Expo
MBE Co-ChairWe are very pleased to announce that Belsarios Rosas, President and CEO of WEI has agreed to serve as the MBE Co-Chair for the GNEMDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo. 
 "Over the last 20 years business priorities have changed as often as technology has, but WEI's commitment to customer service has remained consistent throughout. Focus on the unique challenges of individual organizations has guided WEI to a leadership position in the IT community. Hundreds of collaborations with the finest small, medium, and large companies in America has created a breadth of experience that enhances WEI's ability to adapt and design custom solutions.
Partnering with industry leaders as well as smaller emerging technology companies has been a hallmark of the WEI way. Access to a wide array of available technology is the only way to design the perfect solution.
Committed, customer focused, and armed with the finest technology available...WEI and its partners stand poised and ready for another successful 20 years." 
NMSDC Success Story -  Software House International and IBM Corporation
  IBM SHISoftware House International Corporation is a global value-added reseller of software, hardware and related services. It is the largest minority- and woman-owned firm in North
America. SHI has been a supplier to IBM for 22 years, with the relationship starting
in 1989. SHI is a corporate software distributor for third-party software products.
Under the leadership of Thai Lee, SHI has grown significantly each year in sales and in number of employees.  With six employees and less than $1 million in software sales in 1989, SHI has grown into a $3.8 billion global provider of information technology products and services with a staff of more than 1,750 employees worldwide.

SHI's software licensing experts provide guidance to IBM on the most cost-effective ways to license third-party software products. The company has also designed and implemented new state-of-the-art catalog features that provide a "one-stop-shopping" experience for the IBM client.

Over the past two decades, IBM has expanded its utilization of SHI significantly. In 1989, IBM transacted business with the firm in the U.S. only.  Today, IBM purchases products from SHI in over 50 countries. IBM's business with SHI continues to expand as IBM broadens its utilization of SHI services and works with the firm to establish new e-business solutions.

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.
Opportunities 
GNEMSDC Trade Expo One-on-One Meetings September 13
101 3We listen!  One of the most productive aspects of our Business Opportunity Fair and Conference is the one-on-one Program. Last year we tried something new, and it worked.  But we also had to give up the very successful One on One meetings between MBEs and Corporate members.  This year we are going to do both the MBE showcases and the one-on-one meetings.  On the morning of Thursday, September 13 we will have MBE showcases.  There is still room for MBEs to sign up to make 20 minute presentations on their companies.  After lunch, we will hold the one-on-one meetings between MBEs and corporate members.  We are asking corporate members sign up to sit at a table for three hours to meet with MBEs.  Corporate members can share with us information on what they are looking to procure, and perhaps more importantly, what they are not looking to procure.  This way we can make sure that both the MBE's time and the corporate member's time is used wisely.   

Two years ago we set up over 1,000 meetings between MBEs and corporate members.  I know that some of those MBEs who met with corporate members are now doing business with each other.  It works! 
 
Please contact Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org to sign up for the one-on-one meetings.  Both corporate members and MBEs must be registered to participate.  On-line registration is now open. Corporate members are encouraged to ask some of their prime contractors to also register for this event. This will help them, help you and help some MBEs and the Council at the same time.   
 
We are also looking for MBEs and corporate members to serve on the Trade Expo Committee.  If you are interested contact Arvin Chaudhary (Nadicent Technologies) arvin.chaudhary@nadicent.com or Ruth Johnson (TJX) at ruth_johnson@tjx.com.  Arvin and Ruth are the Trade Expo Committee Co-Chairs.  There is also a specific request for MBEs and corporate members to consider joining the Trade Expo Marketing Sub-Committee led by Cheryl Clarke (NU).  Contact Cheryl at cheryl.clarke@nu.com if you are interested.  
GNEMSDC Welcomes Mas-TV as Newly Certified MBE
MASThe GNEMSDC proudly welcomes Mas-TV as a newly certitied MBE.  Check out theirpromotional video.  Corporate members looking for a cost effective way of reaching the Spanish-speaking greater Boston community might want to consider Mas-TV.  
And Finally...
Fred in ohio
Tomorrow, I will be speaking at the South Central Ohio MSDC Corporate Showcase event in Cincinnati, OH. I am looking forward to my visit with my sister Council that is lead by the very capable Darryl Peal.  Instead of preparing a traditional speech, I have written out some questions in anticipation of questions the attendees might ask me, or might be on their minds.  When I worked in the White House, writing out anticipated questions and drafting answers to those questions was one of my jobs.  The questions part is easy.  It is the answers that require the work.  But here are 10 questions I came up with that the corporate members in South Central Ohio might have on their minds. I write them here, because these are also questions that might be, or should be, on the minds of corporate supplier diversity professionals everywhere, including here in Greater New England.

1.  How can a supplier diversity professional be a stronger more effective advocate internally with their procurement teams?

2.  What are the most important characteristics of a successful supplier diversity program?

3.  What are the best ways for supplier diversity professionals to interact with the Regional Councils?

4.  What is the current business case for corporate supplier diversity?  Has it changed?

5.  Can joint ventures between corporate members and certified MBEs work?  And if so, how?

6.  What are the key determinants of a successful Regional Council?

7.  What are the best ways for supplier diversity professionals to communicate with certified MBEs?

8.  When will know that the job of MBE development is over?

9.  Are there things supplier diversity professionals can do now to raise the stature of the supplier diversity within their organizations?

10.  What should we all be doing right now that we currently are not doing to improve our effectiveness?

I may not get these questions, and their may be more pressing questions, but these are the questions I will be thinking about over the next 24 hours.  These are questions I have thought about for many years.  I hope I can shed some light on the subject.  

In your service,

Dr. Fred
Dr Fred QR