Thank you!
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 I cannot express my full and sincere appreciation to all of the sponsors, the exhibitors, the advertisers, the volunteers, the staff, the workers at the Connecticut Convention Center, the board of directors, the speakers, the panelists, the moderators and the attendees for their participation and support of the 2013 GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Trade Expo. Every year I wonder can it get better, and I have to share my view that this year was special. Not only did the changes in the location, program design seem to increase the energy level, but every session seemed to speak to the needs of attendees. Thank you from my heart! |
Congratulations to 2013 GNEMSDC Shining Stars:
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 Corporate Shining Star - John Brady, Connecticut Hospital AssociationSpecial Shining Star Award Posthumously to James Daley, The Hartford MBE Shining Star - Dr. Ramesh Wadhwani, SAI Systems International |
| GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP) |
We are pleased to announce the start of an exciting new program, the GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP). The program consists of 5 full-day sessions led by outstanding business professors and writers. The professors in this program represent the best executive educators in the world, and are from the top business schools in the world. The GALP faculty includes, Steven Rogers of the Harvard Business School, Len Greenhalgh of the Tuck School of Management, Olav Sorensen of Yale School of Management, and Jeffrey Fox, best-selling author of "
How to Become a Rainmaker" and other top selling business books.
At lunch during each day of the program, we will have corporate CEOs and other C-Level executives speak to the program participants. The CEO faculty include Anne Noble, President and CEO of the CT Lottery, Kevin Kelleher, President and CEO of Cartus, William Jennings, President and CEO of Bridgeport Hospital, Rodney Powell, President and COO of Yankee Gas, Carlton Highsmith, Retired Chairman of Specialized Packaging Group and Joseph Black, Chief Procurement Officer of Aetna. The program begins on Friday October 4, 2013 and ending on Friday, November 8. (There will be no class on November 1 because of the NMSDC conference.)
The program is geared to the owner/entrepreneurs of firms with $10 million in annual sales or more who are looking to significantly grow their business's top and bottom lines. Participants will not only experience the wisdom of the assembled professors, participants will benefit greatly by learning from the other high powered MBE owners in attendance. Space is limited to 25 MBEs. Think of the value of simply making the connections that being part of this program can do for your business; that alone is worth the investment of your time and resources.
Participants will receive a certificate signed by all professors in the program. This will be a valuable reminder of the time invested in this innovative program. Program Details CALL TODAY!
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Leonard Greenhalgh - GALP Professor - Strategy and Positioning
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 Leonard Greenhalgh, Professor Tuck School of ManagementLeonard Greenhalgh is professor of management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he has taught since 1978. He is also Director, Programs for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, as well as Director, Native American Business Programs. He teaches an MBA elective course in Managing Strategic Business Relationships. His research interests include changing workforce demographics, supply chain management, negotiation, top management team effectiveness, and managing strategic alliances. He is the author of Minority Business Success: Refocusing on the American Dream, Stanford University Press, 2011; and Managing Strategic Relationships: The Key to Business Success, The Free Press, 2001.  Also speaking at lunch that day is Anne Nobel, President and CEO, Connecticut Lottery Corporation.Anne Noble has been President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation since 2008. Her focus has been on maintaining and increasing the revenue return to the General Fund with the highest standards of good public policy and social responsibility. This is attained by offering products to players that are fun and entertaining and by ensuring the public's trust through integrity and honesty. Last year, the CT Lottery provided a record $312.1 million to the General Fund to support a variety of valuable state programs and services. Prior to her tenure with the CT Lottery, Anne was a Partner at two different law firms in Connecticut, Robinson & Cole, LLP and Pepe & Hazard, LLP. She has more than eighteen years of legal experience in litigation and counseling employers in both the public and private sectors. Anne is a graduate of Cornell University (B.S.) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (J.D.). She serves on the Board of Directors of the Multi State Lottery Association, the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the Children's Law Center of Connecticut. She is also a proud mother of two sons and enjoys cycling and other outdoor fitness activities. 
Also speaking at lunch that day is Carlton Highsmith, Chairman CLH Holdings
Mr. Carlton L. Highsmith serves as an Executive at Specialized Packaging Radisson LLC. Mr. Highsmith founded The Specialized Packaging Group, Inc., in 1983 and served as its Chief Executive Officer and President. He has several years of corporate experience in marketing and product development. He serves as the Chairman of I Have A Dream, and New Haven. He serves as the Chairman of Finance Board of Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church-the oldest formally recognized African American church in America. He has been a Director of First Niagara Financial Group Inc. since April 15, 2011. He serves as Director of Achievement First. Mr. Highsmith has been a Director of New Alliance Bancshares Inc., and its subsidiary, NewAlliance Bank since October 2006. He serves as a Director of Amistad Academy Charter School in New Haven. He serves as a Trustee of Yale-New Haven Hospital Inc. He serves as a Trustee of Quinnipiac University. He serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Community Development Advisory Council of New England.
Mr. Highsmith worked at Rexham Corporation and after a few years, he was transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut operation. He was well known Connecticut and highly respected for his business acumen and for his community involvement. Mr. Highsmith was named to list of 2006 "Top Black Entrepreneurs" by US Black Engineering & Information Technology magazine, and has been named Businessperson of the Year by Business New Haven Newspaper. Mr. Highsmith was recognized last year by the U.S. Department of Commerce's MBDA as its 2005 Manufacturer of the Year award recipient. He Honored at Tuskegee University Alumni Scholarship Breakfast. Mr. Highsmith graduated from University of Wisconsin.
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WE WON!!!
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 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. MBDA Press Release
An article in today's CT Post on our MBDA Bridgeport grant. Please feel free to share with your colleagues.
We are now in the market for a Project Director for the Bridgeport MBDA Business Center. The qualifications and responsibilities are:
Requirements of Applicants:
Interested applicants should contact Fred McKinney at 203-288-9744.
Now we have to get to work!!! More to come. |
Corporate Member of the Week: Connecticut Health Foundation
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Welcome to our new Corporate Member: Connecticut Health Foundation!
The Connecticut Health Foundation:
-Funds innovative programs and initiatives that change health systems to improve the health of all.
-Promotes policy change.
-Develops influential leaders who can champion health justice.
-Changes structures and opinions that contribute to health inequities.
-Elevates the voice of the consumer to ensure that the health care system reflects diverse consumer needs and preferences.
The mission of Connecticut Health Foundation:
Everyone deserves the opportunity for optimal health-regardless of race, background or income level. The Connecticut Health Foundation strives to improve the health and well being of people all across the state by using a systems change approach to unlock greater access to quality, affordable care, especially for populations of color and undeserved communities.
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MBE of the Week: Orbit Design LLC
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 Orbital Design, LLC is an integrated branding, marketing and communications firm that provides strategic branding solutions. We know that firms that align their messaging with the marketplace increase their value and market position. This is why we always begin a project by understanding the strategic plan. It's the foundation of any marketing initiative.How can we help? We start by developing a true understanding of your brand by working collaboratively with our clients: conducting brand and communications audits, competitive and marketplace analysis, and surveys of key constituencies. We look at every aspect of your business from top to bottom, working closely with the senior management team, moving from the inside out - not the outside in - because we know that all successful companies require a strong brand at the core. We love innovating. We go the extra mile for our clients because we love what we do. We enjoy success and we want our clients to be successful too. Our approach delivers results that are compelling. That's why great brands like Royal Purple and Stewart Title engage us to inspire, challenge and collaborate on a diverse range of communications projects. Try us and you'll see why they do. SpecialtiesMarketing, Advertising, Brand Consulting & Development, Brand Strategy, Graphic Design, Writing, PR, Media Relations, Corporate Communications, Internal Communications, Operations Management, Corporate Strategy, Website Development, Social Media |
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:
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| MBEIC Meeting |
 Tuesday October 8th 9:00am - 12:00pm at the GNEMSDC Office 333 State Street Bridgeport, CT
Please plan to join us on the 8th. If you have not visited the new GNEMSDC offices this will be a great time to do so and if you have not been there since the second building renovations were completed this will be your opportunity to do so.
We will plan to cover recent NMSDC announcements, preview the NMSDC trade fair in San Antonio and cover other major topics as we head into the 4th quarter of another year. Please rsvp to Gstiffler@thematletgroup.com to confirm your attendance. A reserved count is important to make sure we have properly allotted for the size room for our meetings. |
| Denise Nappier, Treasurer State of Connecticut to Speak at GNEMSDC Luncheon at The Hartford Club - October 16 |
Connecticut Treasurer Denise Nappier will be the lead panelist at a luncheon at The Hartford Club on Wednesday, October 16, Treasurer Nappier is a four-term Treasurer of the State of Connecticut and a leading proponent of public sector investors for corporate diversity. Treasurer Nappier will talk about her efforts to nudge corporations towards greater diversity by using the leverage and influence of the State's billion investment fund.
This luncheon is open to Corporate Members of the GNEMSDC and certified MBEs in financial services. The luncheon is free, but space is limited. We are asking our corporate members to see if there is interest by their CFOs and Treasurers to attend this informative and interesting luncheon. Please contact jclarke@gnemsdc.org if you are interested in attending. Space is limited. Additional Information |
| Celebrating Diversity in the Greater Bridgeport Business Community |
October 23, 2013 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
People's United Bank Lobby
850 Main Street, Bridgeport
Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served
R.S.V.P.
We look forward to seeing you!
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Opportunities
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| FYI |
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And Finally...
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One of my favorite artist is Sinead O'Connor. She starts the song "Seems So Different with the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr's serenity poem:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
I really need to work on the wisdom part. I perfectly accept the reality that I have no control over a dysfunctional Congress as we head into yet another Federal government shut-down. I accept that I have no control over the civil war in Syria, or the status of talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians. There is much that I accept, albeit without serenity. But I do accept it. However, I do not, I cannot, accept the current disparity between MBEs and non-MBEs. Intellectually, I understand that I have no control over the buying decisions of large global corporations. I understand that I am similarly powerless to make the seemingly infinite decisions MBEs must make in the course of running their businesses. I understand these things, yet I refuse to accept that I am powerless to change things for the better. So we work to change the status of MBEs. Our recently concluded Trade Expo and Conference took a small step in the direction of that change. I learned at the show that one of our largest national corporate members inked a deal this week with one of our largest MBEs that was worth well into the nine figures. The corporate member came to me during the show with the very happy representative from the MBE, all smiles, and thanked me for making the introduction and encouraging them to use this MBE. This was music to my ears. We often do this work in darkness, never knowing where and how specifically we have assisted anyone. So it is emotionally salubrious to learn of these successes. It confirms our sanity. Our mission is not simply swinging at windmills thinking they are dragons. The illusion is real for those who make it real. These stories of success are what gives us the courage to continue - the courage to change the things that we can.
In your service,
Dr. Fred  |
