| WE WON!!! |
 I am happy to report that it was just announce that the GNEMSDC won the competition to open a MBDA Business Center here in Bridgeport, CT. The contract is a $1,020,000 for the next four years. The Bridgeport MBDA Business Center will be a great complement to the Boston MBDA Business Center. While the Bridgeport MBDA Business Center will focus on Native American and Alaskan Indian business development, we will be able to assist all minority businesses in the area.Now we have to get to work!!! More to come. |
| Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy to be Keynote Breakfast Speaker, Wednesday, September 25 at the Trade Expo |
We are very pleased to have the Honorable Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of the State of Connecticut as our Keynote Breakfast speaker on Wednesday, September 25.
Elected in November 2010, Governor Malloy's top agenda items have included reinventing our economy by growing jobs, improving public education and stabilizing the state's finances.
Governor Malloy has pursued a comprehensive economic development strategy, one that invests in growth industries and creates jobs while at the same time defends the core sectors of our economy and protects the jobs we already have. His three tiered approach makes sure that Connecticut can compete at any level - from large corporations, to small businesses and start-ups. The First Five program has leveraged $1.7 billion in private sector investments across our state's economy; that program and others have brought numerous corporate headquarters to Connecticut from out of state, including NBC Sports, Charter Communications, and Jackson Laboratories. The Small Business Express Programs has invested in more than 700 small businesses across Connecticut, creating and maintaining thousands of jobs. And the four new "Innovation Ecosystems" located throughout the state are connecting entrepreneurs with capitol investors, cultivating the grassroots of our state's ideas economy.
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| Hartford Connecticut Mayor Pedro E. Segarra - Mayor Pedro E. Segarra will be our Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Tuesday, September 24. |
 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.
And we just learned this week that Mayor Segarra has been selected by the
U.S Conference of Mayors as the Mayor of the Year for Small Businesses. We are working with the Mayor's office and the U.S. Conference of Mayors so that the award can be presented on Tuesday (9/24) after his address. Congratulations Mayor Segarra. Read More...
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President of NMSDC Joset B. Wright-Lacy - Mrs. Wright-Lacy will be
our Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Wednesday, September 25.
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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... |
GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo Honorary Chair
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 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. |
| 2013 GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo Program |
Tuesday, September 24
Registration Opens: 7:30 am Level 3 Breakfast Session: 8:00 am - 9:00 am Ballroom A Level 6 Keynote Speaker- Dr. Maysa Akbar, Integrated Wellness Group "Emotional Intelligence: Navigating Supplier Relationships" MBE Session: 9:15 am - 10:30 am Meeting Room 24 Level 6 "Financing Your Business - Traditional and Untraditional Sources" Moderator: Jill Davis, VP of Marketing & Business Development, The MATLET Group, LLC. Panelists: . Bernard Sweeney, Connecticut District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration . Patrick Lorent, Vice President Government Lending, Peoples United Bank . Sam Hamilton, President, Hartford Economic Development Corporatiom MBE Session: 9:15 am - 10:30 am Meeting Room 25 Level 6 "U.S. Small Business Administration - 8(a) SYMPOSIUM" Moderator: Ron Williams, Managing Partner, RCI/W&R, LLC Panelists: . Darryl Hairston, Associate Administrator for Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration . Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani, Founder and CEO, SAI Systems International, Inc. . Fernando Tavares, President, Tavares, LLC. Corporate Member Session: 9:15 am - 10:30 am pm Meeting Room 23 Level 6 " Big Changes in NMSDC" & " Economic Impact Report" Moderator: Tom Davis, Vice President External Supplier Diversity, Cartus Presenter: . Marquis Miller, Vice President, National Minority Supplier Development Council . Dr. Fred McKinney, President and CEO, GNEMSDC Joint MBE & Corporate Member Session: 10:45 am - 12:15 pm, Meeting Room 26/27, Level 6 " View of What Success Looks Like From MBE and Corporate Member Prospective" Moderator: Lawrence Wooten, Supplier Diversity Manager, Pitney Bowes Panelists: . Alton Moss, Manager Supplier Diversity, Pratt & Whitney, United technologies Corporation . Carlton Oneal, Managing Partner, Light Speed, LLC. . Romance Watson, Diversity Business Development, SHI International Corporation Luncheon: 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm Ballroom A, Level 6 Keynote Speaker - Honorable Mayor of Hartford CT, Pedro E. Segarra One on One Matchmaking Program: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Meeting Room 21/22/23. Level 6 Shining Star Reception: 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm, Ballroom B Corporate Shining Star - John Brady, Connecticut Hospital Association Corporate Shining Star - James Daley, The Hartford MBE Shining Star - Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani, SAI Systems International Booth Set Up: 1:00 pm - 10:30 pm, Exhibit Hall B, Level 3
Wednesday, September 25
Registration Opens: 7:30 am, Level 3 Breakfast and Plenary Session: 8:00 am - 9:30 am Ballroom A, Level 6 Keynote Speaker - Honorable Governor of the State of Connecticut, Dannel P. Mally Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 9:45 am Exhibit Hall B, Level 3 Expo Begins: 9:45 am - 12:45 pm, Exhibit Hall B, Level 3 Luncheon: 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm, Ballroom B, Level 6 Keynote Speaker - Ms. Joset Wright-Lacy, President of the National Minority Supplier Development Council Expo Continues: 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm, Exhibit Hall B, Level 3 Post Expo Reception: 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm, Level 3 Booth Breakdown: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm, Exhibit Hall B, Level 3 |
GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo One on One - Register Now
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This year we are attempting to improve on our very successful One-on-One meetings between MBEs and corporate buyers. Last year we arranged over 1,000 meetings between buyers and MBEs.
It is very important for MBEs and Corporate Members to log into the One-On-One portal and fully describe their company and the goods and services they are looking to procure. MBEs that do not provide this information make it difficult for corporate members to fill their "dance cards". Corporate members that do not complete the information on what they are looking to buy make it difficult for MBEs to allocate their time.
This year are attempting to significantly increase the number of meetings between MBEs and the buying community. We are introducing a web based appointment application that both our buyers and sellers can use to more efficiently plan and schedule their time at the event. The program IS LIVE NOW! MBEs and corporate members can sign up in the One-on-One portal today by first registering for the program and then completing the information requests.
Please view this short You Tube video on the registration process.
For Corporations
Register and enter your profile information. Each registered buyer from your company should manage their own calendar for the One-on-One meetings.
For MBEs
You will need to check in periodically to check on the corporations that have registered and identified the types of goods and services they are looking for. MBEs need to clearly state the goods and services they offer. Do not get discouraged if there are not a lot of corporate buyers on the site right now. These will come in over the next 20 days. So check in periodically for corporate updates.
Here are some of the basics to expect from this technology solution:
1) Registered Buyers will be able to manage their own appointments. This is a demand driven system. Buyers can state in the program the types of goods and services they are interested in and want to see.
2) Registered Buyers will be able to see which MBEs want to see them and approve meeting times for the MBEs they want to see and put others on a waiting list.
3) Registered MBEs will be able to see what buyers are participating in the One-on-One sessions and what they are looking for.
4) Registered MBEs can request meetings with specific buyers/companies.
5) In order for MBEs and Buyers to participate in this One-on-One program they must be registered
for the Expo.
6) In order for MBEs and Buyers to see who is participating in the program they must be registered
in the Expo.
Over 50 GNEMSDC/NMSDC corporate members participated in One-on-One program last year. This year we will exceed this number significantly because we are partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense. The DOD's One-on-One program that has been very successful over the past few years, but did not occur this year. So we have invited their primes to participate in our event this year. We are looking forward to bringing these buying organizations to our event to meet with our MBEs during the One-on-One program, Tuesday, September 24 at the Connecticut Convention Center. This public-private partnership to increase MBE opportunities is unique and exciting.
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| Who's Coming? |
| We are over 700 unique attendees for the show. Here is a list of the exhibitors. It is going to be a full house. We will be closing on-line registration at 2:00 PM today. You are welcome to register at the site starting Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 am. |
And Finally...
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 I was asked recently by an MBE how they should prepare for the Trade Expo. My answer was not so brief, but it boiled down to - be prepared. It helps to have a perfect elevator speech that is informative, focused and short. It is even more important to do a little research on the corporations who will be in attendance at the event. I think we all get into the habit when we are selling or marketing to focus on our offerings, when the focus really should be on the customer. What is it that you do that will make the customer more profitable and their lives easier? Successful businesses solve specific customer problems. As you are meeting with potential customers be on high alert to issues that every company has, no matter how successful. So be prepared to listen, learn and be successful. See you next week. In your service, Dr. Fred  |
