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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2013 GNEMSDC 1st Quarterly Meeting
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The first Quarterly Meeting of the year is on Tuesday, February 19, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at City Hall Annex, 999 State Street, Bridgeport, CT
We are inviting buyers and leaders from some of Fairfield County's largest public and private sector buying organizations. We will also conduct a tour of our brand new offices at 333 State Street, right across the street from City Hall.
Please note: There is a public parking garage directly across the street from our office here at 333 State Street. This garage does not take credit cards, it is cash only. Street parking is also available.
Please do not park in Housatonic's parking garage because they are very strict and they tow unmarked cars.
To RSVP contact Jerilynn Clarke at 203-288-9744 or jclarke@gnemsdc.org
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Please Join Us For Our Open House Reception
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Thursday, February 28, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm at our new location 333 State Street, Bridgeport, CT
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| Online Registration is Now Open for the Annual Awards Gala |
Registration is now available online only.
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2013 GNEMSDC Annual Gala President's Award - Angel Taveras, Mayor of City Providence
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This year we are very proud and honored to announce that City of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras is the recipient of the 2013 GNEMSDC President's Award.
Angel Taveras, the City's 37th Mayor, grew up on the South Side of Providence and went from Head Start to Harvard via the Providence Public Schools. As a third grader at the Mary Fogarty Elementary School, Angel was encouraged by his teacher to set big goals. After graduating from Harvard, Angel attended Georgetown University Law Center to pursue his childhood dream: becoming a lawyer in order to help others. As an attorney, Angel established himself a litigator and a widely-respected elections lawyer. In 2007, Angel was appointed to serve as an Associate Judge on the Providence Housing Court, where he helped to streamline the interaction between inspectors and the Housing Court and improve the code enforcement tracking system. Read more... |
Awards Gala Master of Ceremonies: Jonathan Coachman
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 Jonathan Coachman or more commonly known as "The Coach" is a Sportscenter anchor at ESPN....during his almost 5 years at the worldwide leader Coach has done in addition to Sportscenter, NBA, College Football, and College Basketball, and Nascar...In October 2012 Coach began his national radio show "Coach and Co." on ESPN Radio...
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| Announcing the Awards Gala Honorary Corporate & MBE Chairs |
 Sena Kwawu is senior vice president and chief procurement officer. In this role, he is responsible for managing State Street's Global Procurement Services division with a focus on reducing the company's expense ratio and improving the value of services received. He joined State Street in March 2011.
Previously, Mr. Kwawu served as senior vice president of Global Sourcing for Genworth Financial, where he led a global team that oversaw a purchase base of more than $600 million as well as the company's Corporate Insurance, Expense Reporting, Accounts Payable and Travel Management groups.
Mr. Kwawu joined the General Electric Company in 1993, auditing GE Capital's businesses around the world. He went on to hold roles of increased responsibility in Finance, Six Sigma Quality and Risk Management until October 2003. He was promoted to senior vice president, Business Planning and Analysis/Protection Segment, where he was chief of staff to the CEO. He led the finance activities for that strategic business unit during Genworth's initial public offering.
Mr. Kwawu earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from George Washington University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a member of the National Black MBA Association, the Genworth African American Forum, and The Executive Leadership Council.
 Greg Almieda is CEO & Founder of Global View Communications a Pawtucket, RI based inclusion business strategy firm.GVC works in five areas: enterprise, consumer marketing, workforce diversity, supplier diversity and community relations. They help clients create and implement communications strategies that engage the key audiences that are transforming American culture-and that foster their clients' growth and competitiveness.
Greg has over 20 years of consulting, marketing, business development and business development management experience, which has included major media outlets in Boston.
Currently, Greg is an active member of several professional and civic organizations. He is a board member of the Asian American Civic Association, ALPFA, The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Employer Advisory Board to the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and a member of the steering committee for the Commonwealth Compact. |
| Welcome to Our Newly Certified MBEs from December 2012 |
On behalf of the board and the entire GNEMSDC family, we are pleased to welcome four new MBEs. We encourage our MBEs and corporate members to visit their websites to learn more about our new members.
Through continuous innovation, we transform cutting-edge technologies into affordable, reliable and simple-to-use tools for accurate flow and energy measurement. Our flowmeters and utility meters - easily customized across a broad range of applications - help you boost system performance, conserve resources, improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Spire Metering Technology, formerly Shenitech, is a global leader in flow and energy management solutions. Shenitech has taken this opportunity to restructure and introduce new products and solutions. Shenitech is now Spire Metering Technology, and with that change comes a renewed confidence to offer solutions with a greater global perspective. Spire Metering Technology's engineering team has more than 100 years combined experience designing advanced ultrasonic technology for accurate flow and energy measurement.
Spire Metering offers a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential products, such as ultrasonic flowmeters, magnetic flowmeters, water meters, heat meters, electrical energy meters, wireless telemetry systems as well as AMR/AMI solutions.
UnityFirst.com, a national distributor of diversity-related e-news to corporations and diverse communities, is one of the nation's most well- respected and trusted online networks targeting corporations, cross-cultural communities, diverse consumers and multicultural media. With our national reach, we engage some two million+ people including diverse influentials at top corporations and on national boards, cross-cultural business leaders driving a new bottom line success and emerging community leaders setting a new legacy for the next generation.
Also, we share news with over 4,000 members of the national press from top mainstream business publications, television, internet and radio sources to a range of the diverse press from the African, African-American, Caribbean, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American communities. In addition, we connect with a variety of multicultural and mainstream professional, social and industry groups.
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The Congratulations to Our RecertifiedMBEs
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| Af-Am Point of View, LLC | Jonathan Smith Racing LLC |
| Alpha Identification Inc. | Kelley Chunn & Associates |
| ARC Advisory Group Inc. | Korde & Associates PC |
| ASA Environmental Products | KJB Associates LLC |
| C.C. Security Corporation | Mallory Headsets , Inc. |
| C.F. Electrical Services LLC | Michi Company LLC |
| Charter Oak Building Maintenance | MORE Advertising |
| Colonial Coating Corporation | Native Sons Ltd |
| Comfort Essentials | New Canaan Advisors LLC |
| commVerge Marketing | New England Mercantile Group, LLC |
| Daniel Penn Associates LLC | Penfield Communications Inc. |
| DeSai Systems Inc. | Primrose Companies Inc. |
| DuBose Associates | Rapid External Solutions Inc. |
| Environmental Integrity | Reliable Mechanical Contractor, LLC |
| First Light Trading Company | RK Insulation Contractors Inc. |
| Flexo Converters USA Inc. | Roxbury Technology LLC |
| GSR Global Corporation | Sideeffects, Inc. dba Desai Communications, Inc |
| Harbar LLC | Signature Breads Inc. |
| Henry F Owens Inc | Smith Whiley & Company |
| Industrial Safety LLC | The MATLET Group LLC |
| Infolynx Services Inc. | Unique System Skills, LLC |
| Itech US Inc. | Universal Software Corporation |
| JC Electric Inc. | Winston Strategic Partners |
| J & J Contractors, Inc. | Workspace Consulting Group |
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| The University of Hartford Entrepreneurial Center is hosting a free series:
Learn to Promote Your Business through Social Media
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 Getting Started with Constant Contact
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 (Storm date: 3/5/13) 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Butterworth Hall 1265 Asylum Avenue Hartford, CT.
Constant Contact's Email Marketing tool makes it easy for you to stay in touch with the people who matter to your business and stay top-of-mind by providing meaningful content. In this demo you will learn how to easily build an email marketing campaign, branding it to your business, and publishing it your social networks. Register here. |
| Attend a US Small Business Administration & Boston MBDA Business Center Training Session |
Date: February 28, Time: 10:00 am - 11:15 am
Place: SBA, 10 Causeway Street, Room 265, Boston, MA 02222
8(a) Workshop
The 8(a) Program is intended for business development purposes to help socially and economically disadvantaged business owners grow their businesses, gain a preference for federal contracts, and access sole source contracts
Join us and learn:
* Certification requirements * Program benefits * Application procedures
For reservations, contact Sarah James at 617-578-8900 or sjames@gnemsdc.org by February 22nd.
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MBE Capital Summit
: DATE CHANGE |
NEW DATE: March 15th, 2013 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Eastern Bank 195 Market St Lynn, MA
From our host organization, opening remarks will be made by Bob Rivers, President & Chief Operating Officer at Eastern Bank and a presentation by Charles M. Smith, Vice President, SBA Specialist Business Banking at Eastern Bank.
Eastern Bank understands how vital small businesses are to helping our local economy grow and flourish. We also know that securing capital is one of the biggest challenges for early stage businesses. Our commitment to SBA lending has helped us earn the distinction as the #1 SBA lender in Massachusetts for four consecutive years. In addition, Eastern Bank was also named the #1 SBA lender in New England for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
"Eastern Bank is focused on helping businesses and consumers succeed - that's our role in the market and it should be the role of every bank" said Richard Holbrook, Chariman and CEO of Eastern Bank.
This event is limited to 100 MBEs and corporations. We encourage certified MBEs who are actively seeking financing to attend this event and other lenders and sources of financing to register.
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GNEMSDC Partners with Integrated Wellness Group to offer Relationship Management Seminar Series for MBEs
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 In our on-going effort to improve relationships between MBEs and corporate members we are offering a free three session series by Dr. Maysa Akbar of the Integrated Wellness Group. Dr. Akbar is a certified MBE with the GNEMSDC and a licensed psychologist. Everyone who has been to my CT office knows that I have a couch there where I conduct one-on-one sessions for both MBEs and corporate members. I have been practicing without a license for 12 years (although with great effectiveness - I have never lost a patient). Now we can offer real professional help. Dr. Akbar's observation of MBE and corporate interaction at our trade expo led to some interesting hypotheses. One of those is that MBEs and corporate members can be more successful with each other if we can improve some basic communication skills. Participants in this first set of sessions in Bridgeport and then Boston will target our MBEs. After these sessions we will have some sessions for corporate members. This is going to be fun, interactive, productive and possibly life changing. Sign up for the sessions early. Space is limited. Please e-mail Sarah James if interested in attending, sjames@gnemsdc.org.
Dr. Maysa Akbar is the Founder and Executive Director of Integrated Wellness Group, an MBE practice located in the heart of New Haven, CT. In addition to her work as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Akbar provides motivational coaching, leadership development, and trainings on organizational growth and strategy to both small and large businesses around the nation.
Seminar Schedule - All Sessions are from 12 Noon to 3 PM -Lunch is Included
This series is FREE to all certified GNEMSDC MBEs. For more information, take a look at this flyer.
Bridgeport: March 1st, March 8th, and March 15
Boston: March 21th, March 28th, and April 4th.
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Upcoming Events
2013 GNEMSDC Expo Date and Location Set
September 24-25 at Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
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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:
- February 19 - 1st GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting - City Hall Annex 999 State Street, Bridgeport, CT 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- February 28 - SBA & Boston MBDA Business Center 8(a) Workshop
- February 28 - Bridgeport Office Open House - Open House all day, Reception from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- March 1 - Integrated Wellness Relationship Management Series Begins in Bridgeport at GNEMSDC Offices - 333 State Street
- March 11-14 - National RES Expo (Las Vegas)
- March 15th -MBE Capital Summit, Eastern Bank 195 Market Street Lynn, MA 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- March 19 - Business Finance and Accounting Basics- 3/19 at the Central Library in Copley Square, 6-8 pm, co-sponsored by the Kirstein Business Library
- March 21- Integrated Wellness Relationship Management Series Begins in Boston at GNEMSDC office at Copley
- March 21 - Getting Started in Business- 3/21 in Quincy (location is to be determined) 6-8 pm, co-sponsored by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce
- 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
- September 24-25 - GNEMSDC Trade Expo, Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
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| Seminars of Interest at Middlesex Community College |
Export Documentation Seminar
Date: February 28, 2013 | Location: 213 Court St. Middletown, CT | Cost: $50.00
Morning Session: 9-12 pm Afternoon Session: 1-4 pm
This seminar will assist Connecticut firms learn how to prepare and process export documentation. This workshop will focus on the principal documents required for exports shipments. The understanding of the various types of export documents and how they are used has helped many companies streamline their internal processes, simplifying the export process, and leading to increased profits.
In this seminar briefing, Robert Gresham a member of the District Export Council and Dave Krah an International Manager at Schenker will provide practical guidance on export documentation procedures, preparation, resources, and challenges.
For more information contact:
Melissa Grosso, Melissa.Grosso@trade.gov 860-638-6955 or
Anthony Sargis, Anthony.Sargis@trade.gov 860-638-6954
Increasing Exports of CT Businesses Is Goal of New Course
The Basics of Exporting (Certificate Course)
When: Feb. 26 - May 21, 2013 6:00-8:30 pm Tuesdays
Where: Chapman Hall, Room 630
Middlesex Community College Middletown Campus CRN: 1504
Cost: $549.00 http://www.mxcc.commnet.edu/
The Department of Commerce (DOC) Export Assistance office and the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Middletown are offering a 13-week course, Basics of Exporting, which begins Feb. 26. It is the first time this course has been offered, and its goal is to increase the number of Connecticut companies that export products.
This introductory class is designed for employees, owners and representatives of small- to medium-sized businesses, as well as those who want to learn about the process of exporting to add to their professional skill set. Topics to be covered include: Am I ready to export? Is my product exportable? How can I conduct market research? What resources are available to get me started? Course format includes a mix of traditional classroom training, guest speakers, in-class projects and hands-on learning and experience.
Instructor: Jacqueline Torcellini, International Trade Specialist
For more information contact: Jacqui.Torcellini@Trade.gov or 860-638-6952
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2013 MBE and Corporate Member Sponsorship Packages
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 On behalf of the GNEMSDC Board of Directors we are appealing to GNEMSDC corporate members and MBEs to consider becoming 2013 Annual Sponsors. Annual sponsorship provides companies with a cost effective way to participate in the major events of 2013. Annual sponsorships also are the most important source of financial support for the GNEMSDC and allows us to better plan all of our events. Please take the time to review the packages below. You can charge your sponsorship to all major credit cards. Also we have a package for MBEs that will allow you to pay semi-annually or quarterly. Thank you for your consideration and support. Call 202-288-9744 for more information or to make your pledge.
We Need Your Support. We Value Your Support.
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And Finally...
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 We held a MBE CEO Roundtable last month in Boston at Copley Place. The focus of the meeting was exporting to Ghana. It became very clear from the presenters and the participants that MBEs have some unique and substantial competitive advantages in the export arena based on personal, cultural and political connections to fast growing economies around the world. Whether it is Ghana, South Korea, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Colombia, Jamaica, Brazil, Costa Rica, Turkey, or elsewhere around the world, we have successful MBEs here that need to begin to focus their attention on exporting to the world. In many cases MBEs have the technical ability. MBEs have the connections with global companies. MBEs speak the language and know the culture. Looking at the history of business entrepreneurship, great fortunes and lasting corporate giants are often created where there is economic dissonance between what is and what can be. MBEs know what can be. It is time to take that knowledge and expertise and create wealth here at home and around the world. If you agree, we want to know if you are willing to participate in a series GNEMSDC trade mission. We cannot go everywhere at once, but we must start. I suggest we plan trips to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean over the next 5 years. We utilize our corporate members who have stakes in these markets and we encourage our MBEs with cultural and political connections to help us establish in-roads in the countries we want to visit. Accessing the global market allows MBEs to change the entire nature of their business from being entirely dependent on a corporate contract to one that has diversified geographic interests and greater control over their own business destiny. Can we count on you in this next phase of minority business development.? The global market will not wait, and the opportunities will not last forever. It is time for us to put on our collective entrepreneur's pants (and dresses) and take the risks necessary to be great.
Dr. Fred
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This committee works together to develop and coordinate events that provide useful information to the Council's MBE community.
