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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MBE Capital Summit
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March 15th, 2013 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Eastern Bank 195 Market St Lynn, MA
The GNEMSDC 3rd Annual MBE Capital Summit is hosted by Eastern Bank on March 15th starting at 1pm. This year our Keynote speaker will be John W. Rogers, Jr. Chairman, CEO & Chief Investment Officer at Ariel Investments, Chicago IL. In addition to Mr. Rodgers we have Charles Grigsby, President and CEO of Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) as a panelist. MGCC is a state of Massachusetts supported alternative source of financing.
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2013 Capitol Luncheon with Governor Dannel P. Malloy
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 The Bridgeport Regional Business Council cordially invites you to attend a CAPITOL LUNCHEON - a series of discussions with Connecticut leadership featuring DANNEL P. MALLOY, Governor of the State of Connecticut.
Date and Time:
March 5, 2013, 12:00 PM TO 1:30 PM at Bridgeport Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center. 1070 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 Register Online:
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2013 GNEMSDC Annual Gala
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Our Annual Award Gala is on April 25, 2013 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, MA
Registration is now available online only. Please follow these instructions to register online. |
Attend the Boston MBDA Business Center and GNEMSDC event: Navigating the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process
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 A workshop of: 
The Purchasing Management Association of Boston and the
Purchasing Management Association of Western New England
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, 1300 State Street, Springfield, MA
This important workshop will discuss the RFP process from start to finish including:
-Making sure you are ready to be on the Bid Lists
-Making sure you are on the Bid Lists
-Making sure you get the Bid
-Preparing the Bid
-Preparing for and Participating in the Bidder's Conference
-Presenting and Negotiating Your Bid
Instructors from PMAB and PMAWNE will also discuss How the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process Works in Both the Health Care and Manufacturing Sectors including:
-Expectations of Suppliers
-Expectations of the Buyer
-Understanding the Regulatory Requirements of the Buyer
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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:
- March 11-14 - National RES Expo (Las Vegas)
- March 15th -MBE Capital Summit, Eastern Bank 195 Market St. Lynn, MA 1pm - 5:00 pm
- March 19 - Business Finance and Accounting Basics- 3/19 at the Central Library in Copley Square, 6-8pm, co-sponsored by the Kirstein Business Library
- March 21 - Boston MBDA Business Center Navigating the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in Springfield, MA
- March 21 - Getting Started in Business- 3/21 in Quincy (location; TBD) 6-8 pm, co-sponsored by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce
- April 11 - MBDA Business Center Boston- CEO Round-table
- April 25 - Annual Awards Gala - Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, MA
- May 22 - NMSDC Dinner Dance - Hilton New York and Towers, New York City, NY
- June 10 - MA Golf Outing- Ferncroft Golf Club, Middleton MA
- June 27 - Virtual MED Day
- July12 - CT Golf Outing- Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Middlefield CT
- September 24-25 - GNEMSDC Trade Expo, Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
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| Yumi EcoSolutions to be featured at Women in Business Luncheon |
Congratulations to Yumi EcoSolutions for being featured at the Women in Business Luncheon on March 15th.
Please see the advertisement featuring Virginia Pa'an of Yumi EcoSolutions for more information on the event.
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| The MBEIC Education Sub-committee is looking for new members for 2013 |
 This committee works together to develop and coordinate events that provide useful information to the Council's MBE community. If you have an interest in developing and coordinating learning opportunities for business people, and the chance to network more closely with MBEs and Corporate members of the council, please join us. We usually meet once a month via conference call. If interested, please send an email to Jill Davis Kone at The MATLET Group - jdavis@thematletgroup.com
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Opportunities
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- The Connecticut U.S. SBA is holding Lender's Roundtable: March 12, 8:30am-11am at 965 East Main Street, Meriden, CT. RSVP Jessica.rivera@sba.gov
- Seminars of Interest at Middlesex Community College
- The Supplier Diversity Team at National Grid, and LIPA thank you again for attending the 2nd Annual Power of Connections event. To apply to the program either visit their website at www.LaGuardia.edu\10ksb or call them directly at 718.730.7400
- In preparation for upcoming repairs on MTA's New Haven lines train tracks, MTA is seeking minority businesses. DBE certification (Federal) and Empire State Development Corp (ESD NY State) certification is necessary. Non-certified to me and I will receive assistance through the process, including potentially expedited applications if qualified. If interested, contact:Lora Trimingham.
- CVS Caremark Construction Business Building Event: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 (9:30 AM - 5:00 PM)Crowne Plaza Philadelphia/Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill, NJ
- Opportunities for Employment at Commonwealth of MA Treasury Office
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| SBA E200 program |
 Qualification:
1) Company based in metro Boston area 2) Three year experience 3) Have more than one employee 4) Revenue at least $400,000.
If you are interested to participate the program please email akim@gnemsdc.org 617-578-8900 or call David Polatin at SBA 617-565-5562. For more information please see this flyer.
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| Apply to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program |
 Gain the mindset, skills and resources to take your business to the next level. To apply to the program either visit their website at www.LaGuardia.edu or call them directly at (718) 730-7400
The program is operated at LaGuardia Community College.
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| MBE Scholarship Applications Now Open |
 One of the best benefits of being a certified MBE with the GNEMSDC is our full scholarship program. If you meet the following conditions, and you must meet them all, you are eligible for a full scholarship to the Tuck or Kellogg MBE training programs:
1) You must be a GNEMSDC certified MBE;
2) You must have maintained your certification for each of the last three years;
3) You must be an owner of the company; and
4) You must commit to attending the training for the entire period of the program.
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship complete the MBE Scholarship Application and return it to Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org. What a deal; pay $600 in certification fees over three years and get a $5,000 scholarship that will help you improve your business.
We will announce the recipients of the 2013 GNEMSDC scholarships at the GNEMSDC Awards Gala on April 25. All applications need to be competed by March 25.
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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 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 (203) 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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As an avid proponent of effective time management, I recently did an inventory of how I spend my time during the week. Travel time represents at least 10 hours per week when I am spending part of my week in Bridgeport and part of my week in Boston. The move to Bridgeport has made taking the train significantly easier and much more cost effective since I can work on the train for at least 5 of those 10 hours. I spend about 5 hours of week on what I would call administrative stuff, payroll, paying bills, banking etc. I then spend about 5 hours a week in the planning of events and activities. I spend about 5 hours a week on various board duties and committee responsibilities. I spend 5 hours a week on marketing and public relations, including the editing and writing this newsletter. I spend about 5 hours per week meeting with staff. I spend at least 5 hours a week responding to emails. I spend about 20 to 30 hours a week meeting with and talking with MBEs and corporate members. It adds up to 50 to 55 hours of work. (I do not expect any sympathy from this crowd. I know how hard each of you work.) Much of this time speaking with our stakeholders is around opportunities sought and opportunities offered. The reason why I did the inventory is to see where I can save more time and be more effective. It is apparent to me that the Council and I can be more effective and efficient if we can do more connecting MBEs to corporate opportunities. The MBISYS system is designed to help corporate members be more effective in their search for MBEs, but I believe we can do better. What if all or most corporate members were able to monthly or at least quarterly provide the Council with a buying report. (See attached at a draft of the Corporate Procurement Report that corporate members could complete today. I welcome comments and edits to the form. Companies can send the report to me at fmckinney@gnemsdc.org.) The report would look prospectively at opportunities those corporate members expect to have over the next 6 to 12 months. The report would also look retrospectively at opportunities offered that MBEs responded to over the previous 6 to 12 months. If we knew this, our effectiveness as an organization and my personal effectiveness would increase dramatically. We would know which MBEs to direct to which corporate members, and which corporations to direct to which MBEs. The Council would then truly be able to achieve the goals MBEs and corporate members desire. I do not know if I would save any hours of work, but it would certainly make the hours I do spend at work more productive.
Dr. Fred
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