GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo: September 24-25
On Line Registration NOW OPEN!
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Business Opportunity Trade Expo is on September 24-25 , Hartford Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06103.
REGISTER ON-LINE TODAY!
*** Volunteer Opportunity Available - VOLUNTEER TODAY! ***
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| 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 |
 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: Penmar Industries |
 Penmar Industries, Inc. - We are a pressure sensitive tape and label manufacturing company.
Every product, whether in a box, bottle or bag, comes with some type of label. Without it a customer would not be able to identify what the product is and how it's to be used. Penmar is a 47-year-old Stratford based company that has prided itself in producing tapes, tags and labels for customers such as Henkel, Otis Elevator, Hubbell, Conair, and Yale-New Haven Hospital among many others. "Our products and services are industry independent. From pharmaceutical to industrial applications, from telecommunications to the healthcare industry, we serve customer in all areas and across the country."
Penmar is a UL registered printer and has twice been named the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council's "Supplier of the Year". We are ISO 2001 compliant and have been a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) for over 10 years. Penmar provides:
Stock & Custom pressure sensitive labels, Stock & Custom tapes/adhesives
Stock & Custom corrugated boxes/bags, Poly & stretch films & banding
Serial Number & barcode labels, Kitting & parts assembly
Packaging papers; foam & bubble wrap, Dispensing equipment & supplies
As part of their organic growth strategy the company just completed a move to their new manufacturing facility located in Stratford, CT. "We believe that the infrastructure changes along with 25% increased floor space, will help position the company to better serve our customers and experience the double-digit growth we expect. Today's customers are more demanding so you cannot sit still. You have to continue adding value and reinventing oneself to stay ahead of the competition".
Penmar Industries, Inc.
203-853-4868
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Meet & Greet: Rhode Island Minority/Woman Owned Small Businesses
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August 14 5:00pm - 7:00pm,
Fete Lounge 103 Dike Street, Providence, RI
Hosted by GNEMSDC and the Boston MBDA Business Center.
Meet other Organizations that can help you grow your business. Refreshments will be provided.
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To RSVP: http://gnemsdcmeetandgreet-affiliate1.eventbrite.com
For questions call Sarah or Andie at 617-578-8900
Partnered with: CVS Caremark, RBS Citizens, Center for Women & Enterprise, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, and RIBBA |
National Grid Supplier Diversity Event: Power of Connections 2013
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Friday, September 6, 2013 9:00am - 2:00pm
National Grid Waltham Office, 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, MA
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Meet Prime Contractors and National Grid's Procurement Team
National Grid's Supplier Diversity office, in partnership with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), the Center for Women & Enterprise (New England WBENC), the
Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office and Boston Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), invites you to attend its annual One Day Business Opportunity and Matchmaking event for minority-owned, women-owned, and diverse business enterprises. The event is free of charge and is one of the premier business events in Massachusetts this year.
The objective of the event is to provide access for diverse businesses to National Grid MA buying and Senior Leadership teams, key prime contractors for tier 2 opportunities, and executives from partnering organizations with proven track records of success focused on certifying and developing minority, women and diverse business enterprises.
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for registration.
Space is Limited. Limit 2 representatives per company. First come, first served. Please register by Friday, August 23rd.
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| Promising Scholars Golf Classic |
 October 4th, 2013, Laurel View Country Club - Hamden, Connecticut
Schedule of Events:
8:45 Registration and 9:00am Driving Range and Putting
Green Open
10:00am Shot Gun Start: Lunch and beverages will be served on the course 3:30pm Cocktail Reception and 4:30pm 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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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:
- August 13, 1-4:35pm, 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 21, 10:00am - 2:00pm Northeastern University and the Massachusetts State Supplier Diversity Office - Networking Event for local Boston area businesses at Northeastern University, Curry Student Center, 2nd floor Ballroom, located at 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 Additional Information
- 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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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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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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I have been critical of the State of Connecticut over its minority business development program for a very long time. The program unfairly lumps WBEs with MBEs in the establishment of goals. WBEs and MBEs should not be treated as fungible or identical. The program has very lax standards when it comes to certification. The program's goals of 6.25 percent of WBE and MBE purchases is embarrassingly too small. The MBE goal should be at least 15 percent as should a separate WBE goal. The program does nothing for very successful MBEs whose sales or net worth exceed the limits of the program. Prime contractors are not held to the requirements they themselves put in their proposals in the bid process. Municipalities, receiving State and Federal funds on billions of dollars in contracts do not have to comply with the meager standards of the program ad as a result use very few MBEs. The program confuses the turf by calling WBEs - MBEs. These are few of the major flaws in the existing program.
Yet I have to give credit to the Governor for two things that they announced this week. One, they have invested $2 million in the Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO) to assist minority contractors with bid bonds and other forms of absolutely necessary financing. And secondly, they have agreed to change the certification requirements so that the stated owner must have working knowledge of the business they own and work in an executive capacity.
Just this week I heard from an MBE who was so frustrated on this issue of front companies, that they hired a private investigator to follow the "nominal" owner around for a three week period. She was told by the PI, that the nominal owner did not once go to construction company that she supposedly owned and managed, but that her husband was there every day. This state certified WBE was denied certification by the City of New Haven because the woman CEO could not demonstrate knowledge and day-to-day management of the firm. Yet the State of Connecticut certified the business. This WBE has won multiple State contracts as a non-minority WBE eligible firm. This is an example of a front company taking business away from legitimate WBEs and MBEs.
Hopefully, the standards put in place this week will eliminate these abuses and illegalities. Thank you Governor Malloy for beginning to see the problem and beginning to take some steps to halt the abuses. Now let's get to work on the other problems in order to make the State of Connecticut an exemplary place for all businesses to thrive.
And FYI - Last week's And Finally was published in the CT Post on Tuesday, July 23. Click Here to read in the CT Post.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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