CEO Roundtable Discussion - January 23
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The Minority Business Development Agency Business Center is organizing a CEO Roundtable Discussion on January 23, 2014 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at 2 Copley Place, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02116. Please view the invitation. Learn more here.
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You are invited to attend a GNEMSDC Export Event - January 28
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We hope you will be able to join the Bridgeport MBDA Business Center and the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council for a very informative event on how exporting can help your business grow. Even details
We urge you to RSVP as soon as possible to Jerilynn Clarke (jclarke@gnemsdc.com) as space is limited to the first 25 companies.
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MBE Pre-Certification Webinar - February 4
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The MBE Pre-Certification Webinar will be hosted on
February 4
, at
2:00 pm
GNEMSDC is offering a FREE Education seminar for applicants interested in becoming a certified Minority Business Enterprise via the NMSDC/GNEMSDC Certification Process. This session is held via an online webinar call. Please email Jennifer Little-Greer atjlittlegreer@gnemsdc.org for the details.
***The registration for the call will close at 1:00 pm on the day of the call***
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1st GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting - February 5
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On Wednesday February 5, 2014, Aetna will host the quarterly meeting at their location at 151 Farmington Ave, Hartford CT 06156 from 1:00 pm- 4:30 pm. Please arrive early. Aetna is a secure facility and you will need to show a valid form of identification when you check in. Please register early. If you are interested in attending, please email to jclarke@gnemsdc.com and provide your name and company.
Registration will close Wednesday January 30, 2014.
***For security reasons there will be no on-site registration***
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Growing to Scale Development Workshop - February 18
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 The Growing to Scale Workshop is a program for small business owners to expand and improve their businesses exponentially. The workshop will deliver powerful strategies for increasing sales by joint ventures, strategic alliances; results based marketing and other proven strategies. The Growing to Scale Development Workshop is the blueprint to grow your business quickly and safely. Gain knowledge from a faculty that has actually grown successful businesses and can help you grow yours.
The Growing to Scale program will run for two and half days from Tuesday, February 18 through Thursday February 20. The program will take place at our MBE Training Room at 333 State Street in Bridgeport, CT. Please mark your calendars. Learn more here.
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| Harvard Business School Professor Steven Rogers to Speak at 2014 Capital Summit - March 12 |
 The fourth annual GNEMSDC/MBDA Capital Summit will take place this year at Bank of America's main office in downtown Boston on March 12. In past summits we have featured Stare Treasurers from Massachusetts and Delaware. We have also had the presidents and CEOs of some of the major financial institutions in the region participate from Eastern Bank and Bank of America. We have also featured senior leaders from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. This year we are extremely proud to have Professor Steven Rogers from Harvard Business School as our keynote speaker. This event is free, and there are a limited number of seats available. Please call Sarah James in Boston or Jerilynn Clarke in Connecticut to reserve your seat. (If you reserve a seat and do not show up, we will charge you $250.00.) See the link below to see the event flyer for more details Even Flyer |
Diversity Business Summit
The premier employment conference and Procurement
Trade Fair in Sports! - April 14 & 15
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The premier employment conference and Procurement Trade Fair in Sports!
Co-hosted by New York Yankees
New York City April 14th & 15th
Diversity Business Summit
Jackie Robinson Day - April 15th.
Registration is now open! Matchmakers are available and filling up fast! More information and registration are available at www.mlb.com/diversitysummit Click here for details
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| David Hinson to Receive 2014 GNEMSDC President's Award |
 We are extremely happy to announce that David Hinson as accepted the 2014 GNEMSDC Presidents Award. Mr. Hinson's last day as National Director for the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency was last week. During his tenure he oversaw a significant increase in the amount of contracts won by minority business clients of the 44 MBDA Centers across the county. We at the GNEMSDC are particularly fortunate to be a beneficiary of his leadership. In 2011, the GNEMSDC won a five-year contract to operate the Boston MBDA Business Center. And in 2013, the GNEMSDC won a four-year contract to operate the Bridgeport MBDA Business Center. Director Hinson is one of the global leaders in minority business development. He has traveled the world to promote business relationships between domestic minority businesses and minority businesses in Brazil, Africa, Australia and Europe. We are honored to have Director Hinson as the GNEMSDC 2014 President's Award recipient. |
2014 Supplier and Corporate Award Nominations - May 06
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 Tuesday, May 06 at the Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, Connecticut
The following awards are open for nomination:
* Corporation of the Year (NMSDC National Member)
* Corporation of the Year (GNEMSDC Regional/Local Member)
* Buyer of the Year
* Advocate of the Year
* MBE Empowerment Award
Please click on the following links to view forms:
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Upcoming Events
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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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| Corporation of the Week: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts works hard to make sure that their nearly three million members have access to the high-quality, affordable health care they expect and deserve. For more than 75 years, their company has focused on making their vision a reality for the individuals, families, and businesses they serve. They are a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston, that is committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with their corporate promise to always put their members first, they are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.
Learn more about Supplier Diversity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA.
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| MBE of the Week: Aero-Bond Corporation |
Aero-Bond Corporation was founded in 1989 to produce liner bonds for structural aluminum and titanium helicopter components. The ownership changed hand in May of 1995. Aero-Bond is a minority owned business. Process capabilities since that time have evolved to include value-added composite components and assemblies, as well as metal sandwich structures. The firm is also recognized as a certified FAA Repair Station for commercial aircraft engine Blocker Doors.
Aero-Bond has people that have extensive experience with a wide range of composite and metal bond materials including fiberglass, graphite, aramid and silica reinforcements in epoxy and BMI matrix resins. The company has also developed a specialty process for bonding PTFE to rubber for demanding friction applications. The company is regarded as a key supplier of low-cost, high-quality military aircraft production and spare parts produced to exacting aerospace quality standards to military aircraft prime contractors, US Government agencies and departments, and first-tier subcontractors. |
| Roxbury Technology Joins U.S. Department of Commerce New Manufacturing Council |
 WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of five new members to the 2014 Manufacturing Council (Council). The Council, established in 2004, advises the Secretary of Commerce on challenges facing U.S. manufacturers and recommends programs and policies to help manufacturers maintain global competitiveness.
"As the federal agency responsible for leading the government's manufacturing policy, the Commerce Department is committed to doing everything we can to support this critical sector of our nation's economy," said Secretary Pritzker. "Our 'Open for Business Agenda' includes a strong focus on initiatives that will strengthen the manufacturing sector. The new members of our Manufacturing Council have unique expertise and perspective that will be integral to our efforts to shape policies that support American businesses and workers, boost our economic growth, and create jobs."
Manufacturing is a key indicator of our intellectual and innovative capacity. The industry accounts for 70 percent of private sector research and development and 70 percent of patents issued. Manufacturing also makes up the majority of U.S. exports, which support 10 million American jobs and contributed a record $2.2 trillion to our economy last year.
The newly appointed members of the Manufacturing Council are:
· Harvey Hughes, President, Immediate Response Technologies (MD)
· Avram Saunders, President and CEO, Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (CO)
· Anne Whitaker, President - North American Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi US (NJ)
· Beth Williams, President and CEO, Roxbury Technology LLC (MA)
· Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW North America (NJ)
The Council, which is directed by the U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, is comprised of up to 30 members that represent a diverse and balanced cross-section of the manufacturing industry according to sector, geographic location, demographics, and company size. The Secretaries of Labor, Energy, and Treasury serve as ex officio members of the Council to better collaborate on cross-cutting issues the Council will address.
At the inaugural SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit in November, Secretary Pritzker announced her approval to revisions to the eligibility requirements for the Manufacturing Council. The change allows for the appointment of representatives of U.S. subsidiaries of foreign-owned or -controlled manufacturers to the Council. The adjustment supports President Obama's SelectUSA initiative that aims to increase foreign direct investment in the U.S.
One of the Council's main efforts is working to ensure that the United States remains the preeminent destination for investment in manufacturing throughout the world. The Council also provides a forum for proposing solutions to industry-related problems and helps ensure that there is regular communication between the U.S. government and the manufacturing sector.
The next Manufacturing Council meeting is scheduled for January 14. For more information on the Council, including the full list of members, visit http://trade.gov/manufacturingcouncil/index.asp.
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Opportunity In Greater Boston
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Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation and CropCircle Kitchen have teamed up to redevelop a former meat packing facility in Dorchester into the Pearl Food Production Center.
This 36,000 square-foot, single-story building will contain three types of food production spaces:
(1) a shared commercial kitchen run by CropCircle Kitchen
(2) a food truck commissary kitchen also run by CropCircle Kitchen
(3) 7 to 8 separate spaces for lease by food businesses in a mezzanine stage of growth.
Pearl is now seeking food business tenants for all three space types. Pearl will open for business in April 2014 and tenants should be able to move in and begin production in April 2014.
To learn more about the project and to start an application, visit:
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Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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| FYI |
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| And Finally... |
| The last two weeks I have used this space to discuss how changes in the NMSDC network will impact our reciprocal MBEs and the other regional councils. Today I want to discuss the impact the changes will have on our local MBEs. Many, if not most, of the remaining 23 other regional Councils are increasing certification fees. In all of these instances, MBEs are going to be charged a certification fee based on their annual revenues which in the NMSDC nomenclature translates into Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. Some regional councils are will have certification and recertification fees over $1,000. In 2014, recertification fees for local GNEMSDC MBEs will be $300 regardless of the size of the MBE. For newly certified MBEs, MBEs will continue to pay $300 for their initial certification fee. We will re-evaluate this pricing before the beginning of 2015. As with any price for any good or service, the buyer needs to know what they are receiving in exchange for their money. The basic service that GNEMSDC MBEs will receive for their certification are:
The cost of these additional value-added services for local GNEMSDC MBEs is $300 for MBEs with annual revenues under $10 million and $500 for MBEs over $10 million in annual revenues.
I believe this structure clearly identifies what certified local and non-local MBEs can receive, and is very helpful in our efforts to support MBE business development. Your comments are welcome. Next week, i will look at how the NMSDC changes are likely to impact local GNEMSDC corporate members.
In your service
Dr. Fred
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