June 10, 2013

GNEMSDC  Connecticut Supplier Diversity Golf Classic
golf
The GNEMSDC  Connecticut Supplier Diversity Golf Outing is at the Lyman Orchards Golf Club on Friday, July 12.  Annual Sponsors have the choice of participating in either the Ferncroft Country Club MA outing or the Lyman Orchards Golf Club CT outing or both. 

We are asking for sponsors to provide us with the names of their guests by June 15. Due to the limited space, we will not be able to hold your slots if you do not send your names to the office by June 15.  One of the main attractions of this event is getting MBEs and Corporate members together.

If you are interested in a fun morning of golf, networking, food, drinks and relationship building please fill out the registration form and email it to Jerilynn Clarke at jclarke@gnemsdc.org
  
 
GNEMSDC CT Golf Classic July 12, 2013
We have reserved a block of rooms at the rate of $89.00 a night at the Fairfield Inn Wallingford -
100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
 To reserve a room please call (203) 284-0001 Reference Group Name: GNEMSDC
Deadline to reserve your room: June 20, 2013

 If you would like to donate any items for our very popular raffle, please contact the office (888-874-7114).                                              
 ***Volunteer  Opportunity  available for July 12, CT  - Contact Office***
Attend How to do Business with Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Prince LobelWednesday June 26, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm  at Prince Lobel Tye LLP        100 Cambridge St Suite 2200 Boston, MA 
 
Please join Prince Lobel Tye LLP and the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council for an evening of networking and opportunity. Prince Lobel, a Boston-based law firm, would like to partner with businesses and service providers that share its commitment to a diverse and community-minded workplace. By attending this event, you will have the opportunity to meet Prince Lobel partners and managers, and hear more about their interest in discovering new service providers.

Prince Lobel would like to identify certified minority owned businesses in areas such as IT, plant care, caterers and event suppliers, accountants, printers, private stenographers, subpoena services/constables, staffing agencies, car services, public relations professionals, translation services, Web designers, photographers, toner and printer suppliers, lawyers (out of state CT NH RI as referrals or business partners), investment advisors, and more.

For more information and the agenda click here.
 
Kindly RSVP to Allison Kemon at RSVP@PrinceLobel.com or 617 456 8191.  Click here to learn more about Prince Lobel. Click here for driving directions and parking information.
Upcoming Events
 
2013 GNEMSDC Expo Date and Location Set
September 24-25 at Connecticut Convention Center,  Hartford, CT
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 10, 6:30 -2:30pm, GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classic - MA, Ferncroft Country Club, 10 Village Rd, Middleton, MA 01949
  • June 11,9:00am - 11:00am "What Government Can Do for Small Business" Seminar from NW CT Chamber of Commerce -  additional information
  • June 14  1:00 - 7:00  Meet the Lender:  Connecting with Capital and the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce & SBA Small Business Awards Dinner  - Additional Information
  • June 20  National Black MBA Association - Career Expo  Additional Information
  • June 26 5:00pm - 7:00pm How to do Business with Price Lobel Tye LLP  100 Cambridge StreetSuite 2200  Boston, MA 02114
  • July 12, 6:30-3:00pm, GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classic: CT, Lyman Orchards Golf Club- Middlefield, CT
  • July 25, How to do business with Stop and Shop, MA
  • 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 14, 1-4:30pm, GNEMSDC 3rd Quarterly Meeting, CVS Caremark, 200 Highland Corporate Drive, Cumberland, RI 02864
  • August 19, 9-11:00am , MBE Orientation (CT),GNEMSDC Office, Bridgeport, CT
  • August 21, 8:30 -11:00am, MBE Orientation (Massachusetts), GNEMSDC Office, 100 Huntington Ave, Copley Place
  • September 24-25, GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo, Hartford Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06103
  • 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, - November 31,  NMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Conference, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX   
FYI
Opportunities
Bridgeport Housing Authority RFQ
BPSolicitation #014-PD-13-S
CO-DEEVELOPER FOR REPLACEMENT HOUSING FOR THE MARINA VILLAGE AND THE MARINA VILLAGE APARTMENTS SITE AND VARIOUS MIXED FINANCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The Bridgeport Housing Authority (BHA) is currently seeking proposals for Co-Developer for Replacement Housing for the Marina Village and the former MarinaVillage Apartments Sites and Various Mixed Finance Development Projects.  Sealed proposal will be received until July 22, 2013 @ 3:00 PM.
 A pre-bid conference will be held at 301 Bostwick Avenue, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06605  on June 26, 2013 @ 10:00 a.m.

Although attendance is not mandatory, bidding the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of BHA.  A complete copy of the Request for Proposal may be obtained from the purchasing department at 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605 beginning on June 10, 2013 @ 1:00 p.m.  Additional questions should be emailed only to Sharon Lee, Associate AIA, Project Manager at,slee@bridgeporthousing.org  no later than July 15, 2013 @ 3:00 p.m. All answers to the questions will be posted on BHA's Website:  www.bridgeporthousing.org  Please click on the link for Opportunities and then Vendors.
Banneker Industries Earns Supplier Performance Award from  Raytheon 
Banneker AdNorth Smithfield, R.I. (June 5, 2013) - Banneker Industries, a supply chain management services provider, earned a 4-Star Supplier Excellence Award from Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.  Annually, Raytheon recognizes the best from among its 4,000 suppliers, and this is the fifth consecutive year that Banneker has earned the award.

The Supplier Excellence Awards are based on three criteria: On-time delivery, quality assurance, and sustainable continuous improvement programs.

"We are honored to be recognized by Raytheon for our achievements in excellence," said Cheryl W. Snead, president and CEO.  "We pride ourselves on our world-class service, and our dedicated team works to fulfill this promise day in and day out.  We manage supply chains with precision so that our customers can focus on what they do best."

Banneker supports all of Raytheon's business units including Integrated Defense Systems; Intelligence, Information and Systems; Missile Systems; and Space & Airborne Systems. The company has had contracts with Raytheon for 21 years.

Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services.
One last ornate wooden desk available for free in Boston office
deskWe have one last desk available to give away for free to anyone who wants it.  You must be able to pick it up.  If you are interested or would like additional information contact Sarah at 617-578-8900. 
Are You Looking for a Business Loan or a Line of Credit?    
loanAre you a MBE looking to purchase large assets and/or increase long-term liquidity at flexible terms, or manage cash flow and prepare for long-term success by purchasing short-term assets, such as inventory and accounts receivable, or funds to help you finance a contract?

The GNEMSDC and the Boston MBDA Business Center can help!  
We have relationships with numerous banks and non-bank lenders who can help you get the financing you need.   Even if you have been turned down, we can help.   Contact the  office at 888-874-7114.  

One of our banking partners - Webster Bank  - saw this note and contacted the Council last week and sweetened the pot!  Any MBE who successfully gets a loan with Webster Bank will receive a $5,000 credit on the loan repayment. 
Do You Need to Reach 2,000 MBEs and Corporate Buyers a Week?
AD
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. 
GNEMSDC offices summer hours
GNEMSDCThe Bridgeport and Boston Offices will both be open from 9:00am - 4:00pm (M - F) from now until Labor Day.  Please make note of these hours of operation when reaching out to staff in either office.  But you can almost always find us in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. 
And Finally...
Fred in ohio
This weekend I had the pleasure of attending The Partnership's 25th Anniversary Dinner.  The keynote speaker for the event was American Express Chairman and CEO, Ken Chenault. The Partnership is a Boston based non-profit that promotes the development of diverse talent for area corporations with the intention to keep them here in the area, and progressing up the corporate ladder.   In many respects, this is a very complementary organization to the GNEMSDC and we share many of the same corporate supporters/members.  Mr. Chenault made some very thoughtful and interesting remarks during the evening's program.  He was interviewed by Liz Walker, of WCVB Channel 5. One of the more interesting stories Mr. Chanault told was of his hiring of a non-minority senior executive soon after his assuming the head of the American Express.  He emphasized to the new executive that diversity was a very important goal of the company under his leadership.  The new executive stated very clearly that he supported this goal completely.  Soon after the meeting the executive was dispatched to their Chicago office where he met with the regional leadership only to find that there was no diversity on the leadership team in the region. The senior manager in the region reassured the new executive that diversity was important to him as well, but that he was "color blind" and the fact that was no diversity on his team was something that he never noticed.  The newly hired senior executive fired that regional manager on the spot.  Mr. Chenault followed up with the new senior executive to get the story and was satisfied with the decision.  However, the story went viral within the company and the next thing you know managers from around the world were hiring women and minority managers and employees. But not only did the company become more diverse almost overnight, the company also began to be more effective in the increasingly diverse global market.  It is the case of diversity tying directly to positive market outcomes that makes diversity sustainable and supportable by top management of any organization.   Mr. Chenault's drew from this experience that it sometimes takes bold actions to move organizations to adopt behaviors that are important ,and that action speaks louder than words.  I wonder if ever there was a case in Corporate America, or in the public sector of a senior procurement officer who lost their job because of the lack of diversity in their supply chain.  Mr. Chenault had some other wonderful and thoughtful comments, that I will try to share, but this experience was the highlight of the night.

  
In your service,
   
Dr. Fred    
Fred QR