Save the Date - GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo: September 24-25
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 Please Save the Date!
GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo is on September 24-25 , Hartford Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06103.
More details coming soon...
*** Volunteer Opportunity Available - Sign up TODAY! *** |
GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo Highlights
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President of NMSDC Joset B. Wright-Lacy - Mrs. Wright-Lacy will be our Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Wednesday, September 25.
Joset B. Wright-Lacy is the president of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a private non-profit organization that advances business opportunities for Asian, Black Hispanic and Native American-owned companies of all sizes. NMSDC encourages mutually beneficial economic links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors, and helps build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. Read More...
Hartford Connecticut Mayor Pedro E. Segarra - Mayor Pedro E. Segarra will be our Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Tuesday, September 24.
Pedro E. Segarra is the 66th Mayor of the City of Hartford. He was first sworn in on June 25, 2010 and then in November of 2011, he won a sweeping victory with 81% of the vote.
Elected with a clear mandate of bringing stability to Hartford, Mayor Segarra created a sense of urgency to revitalize Connecticut's Capital City. His signature program "Opportunities Hartford" focuses on improvement in three pillars; income, education and employment. During his tenure, Mayor Segarra has stabilized the mill rate, maintained the City's bond rate, and increased the Rainy Day fund to the highest among Connecticut's major cities. The Segarra administration has added a record number of market, moderate and affordable housing units in the City. Read More... |
| Attend the GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting hosted by CVS Caremark |
August 13th 1:00pm - 4:00pm
200 Highland Corporate Drive Cumberland, RI 02864
CVS Caremark will be hosting the upcoming Quarterly Meeting on August 13th. Please be sure to attend this meeting to get updates about GNEMSDC, learn more about the CVS Caremark Supplier Diversity Program, meet the CVS Caremark Supplier Diversity Team, and see two exciting MBE Showcase presentations.
Find the agenda for the upcoming Quarterly Meeting here.
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| Corporate Member of the Week: Partners Healthcare System |
 Congratulations to our Corporate Member of the Week: Partners Healthcare System!
Ingrid Beckles (pictured below), the Supplier Diversity Manager at of partners Healthcare System, received the Advocate of the Year Award at the GNEMSDC 2013 Annual Awards Gala. Congratulations once again, Ingrid, and thank you for your continuous support of GNEMSDC certified MBEs!
Partners HealthCare Supplier Diversity Program
The mission of Partners HealthCare Supplier Diversity Program is to mentor minority owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned and HUBZoned businesses, so that they may develop a strong foundation for future growth.
The program provides equal opportunity, expands competition and challenges all suppliers to continually enhance quality and refine relations in their communities. Our goal is to develop a Supply Chain department that reflects the faces of the customers we serve.
The program was created in 2004 and is led by the Corporate Materials Management department. Partners' leadership believes minority and women-owned businesses are cornerstones of our economy and our communities. This is shown in our commitment to diversity as we proudly support the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council and the Minority Business Development Agency.
All suppliers, distributors and contractors are asked to share Partners HealthCare commitment and to work with us on the goal of supplier diversity development.
To learn more about Partners HealthCare Supplier Diversity Program and how to do business with Partners, please contact our Supplier Diversity Manager, Ingrid Beckles, at ibeckles@partners.org or (617) 724-6888 |
| MBE of the Week: Industrial Safety, LLC. |
IndustrialSafety.com is a worldwide supplier of industrial supplies, safety supplies, foodservice and facility supplies, they are proud to announce they are entering their 4th year in business. They supply many different industries, from manufacturing to research facilities and small businesses to large businesses.
Some of their commercial clients include: Bose, Bruckner, Con-Way, Covidien, Honeywell, Pepsi, Raytheon, Sealy Mattress, Texas A&M, Frito-Lay, Hagemeyer NA, Lockheed Martin, National Oilwell Varco, Andrew University, George Washington University, City Light & Power, Intel Corporation, and many more.
They also take part in government work, a few entities they help to stay safe are the: Air Force, Army, CDC, FAA, NASA, National Park Services and countless others.
Through their business model they are able to remain competitive and ship products economically and quickly around the world.
Industrial Safety, LLC
info@industrialsafety.com
1(800)671-5080
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Upcoming Events
2013 GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo
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:
- June 22 10:30am UnityFirst.com holds 2013 Common Ground Leadership Awards and Resource Reception at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA Additional Information
- August 13, 1-4:00pm, GNEMSDC 3rd Quarterly Meeting, CVS Caremark, 200 Highland Corporate Drive, Cumberland, RI 02864 to rsvp email Sarah James
- August 14, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Meet and Greet Rhode Island Minority/Woman Owned Businesses at the Fete Lounge 103 Dike Street, Providence RI. Additional Information
- August 21, 8:30 -11:00am, MBE Orientation (Massachusetts), GNEMSDC Office, 100 Huntington Ave, Copley Place Boston, MA
- August 26, 9:00-11:00am MBE Orientation (CT) at the GNEMSDC Office 333 State St Bridgeport CT
- September 6 - How to Do Business with National Grid - Additional Information and Registration
- September 24-25, GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo, Hartford Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06103
- September 26 6:00-11:00pm Ritmos de Salud - a cultural performance to benefit Joslin's Latino diabetes initiative Additional Information
- October 4 - Promising Scholars Golf Classic Laurel View Country Club, Hamden, CT (to benefit inner city New Haven high school graduates matriculating into 4-year colleges and universities.)
October 27-30, - NMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Conference, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX Registration Brochure
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| Promising Scholars Golf Classic |
October 4th, 2013, Laurel View Country Club - Hamden, Connecticut 
Schedule of Events:
8:45 Registration
9:00 Driving Range and Putting
Green Open
10:00 Shot Gun Start: Lunch and beverages will be served on the course 3:30 Cocktail Reception 4:30 Dinner, Silent Auction, and Awards Ceremony Each golfer will receive lunch, 18 holes of scramble tournament play, dinner, and great giveaways. Prices will be awarded for: Low Gross Teams, Long Drive (Male and Female) and Closer to the Pin (Male and Female). Certain prizes will be awarded in CASH
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| NMSDC Purchasing Activity Report Due |
 Every year the NMSDC asks the regional Councils to collect information on corporate member spending with certified MBEs. It is that time of the year again. Now we are asking for each local member of the GNEMSDC to complete this short form. There are instructions included below. If you have the information readily available on MBE spending, the form should not take more than 30 minutes to complete. If you do not have ready access to this information, this is something the GNEMSDC might be able to help you with. Also I must say there is no shame in numbers and the information you supply is confidential. We are not asking for the names or the specific amounts of specific contracts. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me, 203-288-9744.
National Members of the NMSDC will be contacted by the NMSDC for their rerports and do not have to complete this document. Thank you for your cooperation and support. Knowing your combined impact on minority business development is absolutely necessary for the continued success of the mission.
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Opportunity with the Oil Industry
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What is the Purpose of the Event:
To educate prospective suppliers on upcoming opportunities available with the sponsoring companies
and/or their prime suppliers; To provide a forum for prospective suppliers to learn more about how to
do business with the Oil & Gas and Marcellus Shale industries; To connect suppliers to buyers for
specific Commodities and Services; To develop new relationships with suppliers in the Region where
Chevron AMBU, Consol Energy, EQT Corporation, Halliburton and Shell have current and planned
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Do You Need to Reach 2,000 MBEs and Corporate Buyers a Week?
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One of the great things about this newsletter technology is that we can track readership, clicks on links and forwards. I am pleased to report that this newsletter is reaching over 2,000 readers a week. If you are an MBE or a corporate member, this is an excellent vehicle to get your message out.
If you are interested in becoming a GNEMSDC e-newsletter sponsor, send an email to Sarah James at sjames@gnemsdc.org. We would like to hear from you. This ad space will be limited to no more than five MBEs and five corporate members.
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Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
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 Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
Invitation for Bid for Non-Construction for Security Guard Service
Solicitation No: 027-SEC-13-S
Solicitation Date: July 16, 2013
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport ("HACB") requests bids from qualified security firms to provide security guard services at various public housing complexes throughout the city of Bridgeport.
HACB must receive the Responder's proposal by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT. 06605 attn: Mr. Rafael Villegas, Chief of Security. A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport CT 06605, during which prospective bidders have an opportunity to ask questions concerning the IFB. HACB strongly recommends that prospective bidders attend this pre-proposal conference.
A complete copy of the solicitation including contract documents and all required HUD forms will be available on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605 or by calling 203-337-8820 attn: Ms. Caroline Sanchez. |
And Finally III... Musing on Minority Business Development
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 The book "And Finally III... Musing on Minority Business Development" by Dr. Fred is available to purchase today!
Book covers the period from January 1, 2011 though December 31 2012. This two year period was an exciting time for the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), the economy, the country, and the world.
Purchase eBook or hardcover book today by following this link -
All of the proceeds for the book will be donated to the GNEMSDC. So this is a great way to have your own personal record of this historic time and support the Council
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And Finally...
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President Obama made an impromptu address to the nation this past Friday on the dialogue we need to have in our communities about race relations in America. I also think it is telling that President Obama described this as a discussion of race and not a discussion about diversity. While diversity is tremendously important, the elephant in the room is the historic and unresolved relationship between whites and blacks, and more importantly institutions of business, government and society in general and Blacks. In his remarks he noted that 35 years ago he could have been Trayvon Martin. His remarks reminded me of several incidents in my past that make it possible for me to say that I too could have been Trayvon Martin. I share these personal stories not in an attempt to gain any sympathy from anyone. I tell these personal vignettes not to engender any feelings of guilt in those who had nothing to do with these personal trials and tribulations. I recall these painfully true stories not to establish my solidarity with my unfortunate brothers who have experienced far worse than I have. I share these realities because they are seared into my personal memories that tie me to the collective experiences of far too many Black Americans.
It was 1983 and I was about to receive my Ph.D. in economics from Yale University. I had also received a $195,000 grant from the Commonwealth Fund of New York to continue my research in allied health and physical labor markets. With this soon to be awarded degree and my money from the Commonwealth Fund, I was being recruited by Georgetown University, Hunter College and Brandies University to join their faculties. So I was invited down to meet Dr. Donna Shalala, then President of Hunter College in NYC. Dr. Shalala was later to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton.
While working on my Ph.D. I had established a business buying beautiful Turkana bags and baskets from Kenya and Coptic rugs from Ethiopia. This business, Afritrade, was established when it was not clear that I wanted to pursue graduate education. So I traveled to East Africa in the 1981 in search of products to market to U.S. customers. Some of these bags I had sold to a boutique in Greenwich Village, New York City. Here is where these seemingly disparate stories come together.
Unfortunately, the owner of the boutique in Greenwich Village was robbed and murdered. In the investigation of the crime, the detectives on the case went through her accounts payable and discovered that the owner owed me and Afritrade about $200 for some bags. I received a call soon after the crime from the NYC detectives asking if I knew about the crime. I informed them that I had seen the news of the crime and that I felt bad for her family. They very politely asked me if I could come down to NYC to talk them some more. They said anything that I might know might be helpful in the investigation. I shared with them I had an appointment with Dr. Shalala in about a week and could come down to their lower Manhattan precinct after that meeting.
The interview with Dr. Shalala went great, so I hopped on a train headed down to the precinct. When I got to the station, they asked be to go into a small room where two officers, one white and one black began asking me some general questions about my business and business relationship with the deceased owner. Then almost imperceptibly the tone of their questions changed from professional to accusatory. I asked what was going on and their response was that a black man had been seen running from the store after the murder and that I fit the description. They added that I had a motive. Dumbfounded, I asked what could possibly be my motive. They responded by saying she owed me $200.00. And from this point on they informed me, I was one of the prime suspects for the crime. At that point, I said I had nothing further to say to them. They informed me that I needed to provide a solid alibi on my whereabouts at the time of the crime in order to be removed from the list of suspects. And without an alibi they were going to ask me to take a lie detector test. One of the detectives knew all about my education, my impending degree, which to him seemed to make my arrest all the more interesting. Maybe a feather in his cap. He said he could see the cover of the NY Times, 'African American Ph.D. Candidate from Yale Arrested for Murder'.
In a semi state of shock I began thinking how was I going to prove my innocence from suspicion of murder three weeks from receiving my Ph.D. I figured out that I had phone records showing calls from my apartment on the day of the murder. All I had to do now is find those old telephone bills. I did find those bills I made copies and sent them to the detectives whose cards they had provided during my interview/interrogation. I never heard back from them.
Fast forward to 2000. By now I had started another business. This one, Advanced Dispensing Systems, was based on a patented invention Bill Lytle and I had developed to solve some problems in the marketing of whole bean gourmet coffee in retail stores. We had put together a nice business. We had gotten a SBA loan from First Union Bank for several hundred thousand dollars. The business ran into trouble and our loan was called. The loan was secured several times over with assets Mr. Lytle and I had pledged. Yet, First Union instead of being satisfied that they had no real risk because of the security, froze all of my assets. I learned of this unfortunate event while shopping at the local market when suddenly my debit card was no longer honored. It took over two weeks for First Union to release my assets after we made them whole for the full amount of the loan. During that period, my checks bounced and anger mounted.
I could tell more stories, but I want to end with one more recent. Three weeks ago early one morning after going to the Boston Sports Club in the Prudential Center Mall in Boston I was walking through that mall headed back to my office in Copley Place. It was still early so the stores had yet to open. I had dropped off my suit jacket and tie in my office before going to the gym. So on the way back I was dressed in just suit pants and dress shirt and my gym bag. Before reaching the escalator to my office a woman security guard of the mall, who I have spoken to on numerous occasions, stopped me and surprisingly asked me where I was going. In somewhat disbelief, I asked her did she recognize me? She said no and asked again about my destination. I then informed her I worked in the mall. She continued with "where?" This time I gave her all of my information. Satisfied, she moved on.
Being accused of murder is not in the same league as being questioned about the appropriateness of your being in a luxury mall, or being foreclosed on in an inappropriate and unprofessional way, but these are the common examples Blacks, regardless of station sometimes face. They are maddening, disrespectful and discriminatory. Yet I have nothing but love in my heart for all. This really is not about the people as much as it is about institutions, laws, and the application of laws. Through it all, I remain hopeful that my son, with ten years of dreadlocks, will not experience what I had to go through. While some might argue that race had nothing to do with any of these incidents, I beg to differ. I believe President Obama is correct in saying that with each generation we are improving in this complex and perplexing problem. Yet each generation also must commit to equality of opportunity and an end to discrimination. We still have much to do. I am honored to be in a position here at the GNEMSDC to try to make business relationships between and among all races and ethnicities better. I agree with the President that we must work at strengthening race relationships actively for the benefit of all.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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