You are Invited Mohegan Sun Vendor Fair - February 4
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You're invited to attend Mohegan Sun vendor fair on February 4 from Noon to 2 PM and 6 to 8 PM (2 sessions). at Comfort Inn and Suites, 85 American legion Highway, Revere, MA 02151. Please note date changed from February 3rd to 4th.
For those who already RSVP via email, you DO NOT need to click below. You will be added to the online RSVP. Noon to 2 PM session - click here to register 6 PM to 8 PM session - click here to register
These sessions will be led by Paul Suprenant, Mohegan Sun's Director of Purchasing
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MBE Pre-Certification Webinar - February 4
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The MBE Pre-Certification Webinar will be hosted on Tuesday,
February 4
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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 at jlittle-greer@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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**Registration is CLOSED! For security reasons there will not be on-site registration**
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.
The meeting will begin with opening remarks from Joseph C. Black, Jr., Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for Aetna. Read his bio here.
In addition to presentations by Aetna, we will also have a presentation by Google where GNEMSDC MBEs will learn more about the collaborative effort by the GNEMSDC and Google. We are going to be talking about how business over the next decade will be done!
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Growing to Scale Development Workshop - February 18 to 20
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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. To RSVP email Sarah Jamessjames@gnemsdc.org 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 Event Flyer
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| Photo Memories from the GNEMSDC Gala 2010-2013 |
 One thing to inspire you to sign up for the 2014 is to take a look at these photos from the 2010 - 2013. Hundreds of BEAUTIFUL MBEs and Corporate members. Take a look and share!
The 2014 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala is Tuesday, May 6 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.
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| 2014 Annual Gala MC - Jonathan Coachman |
 We are very pleased to announce Jonathan Coachman is a Sports TV Personality for ESPN and ESPN Radio will be joining us at the Gala this year as our MC. Jonathan Coachman began his career in 19997 in Wichita, KS at KAKE-TV. He continued on to Kansas City in 1999 where he worked in the same sports department with NFL legend and Super Bowl MVP Len Dawson. In the fall of 1999 his career took an abrupt turn as Coachman took a hob as a TV personality in WWE.
He spent the next 9 years traveling the world working for Vince McMahon. In 2006 he began also doing sports again at CSTV and MSG network in New York City. In 2008 Jonathan left the road and the WWE for the friendly confines of Bristol, CT and ESPN. In His almost 4 years with the company Jonathan has done just about every sport but he has found a niche as a main host on the flagship show SportsCenter. You may have heard Coachman as you are driving around in your car on ESPN Radio.
In 2011 Jonathan joined forces with Freddie Coleman for "The Coach and Coleman Show" on ESPN Radio. Jonathan is married to Amy and has 2 beautiful kids, Kayana (3) and JJ (1).
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2014 Supplier and Corporate Award Nominations
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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: General Dynamics |
General Dynamics is a market leader in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technology. The company is organized into four business groups: Aerospace, Combat Systems, Information Systems and Technology and Marine Systems. Some of its business units include:
Bath Iron Works is a full-service shipyard specializing in the design, engineering, construction and support of complex surface combatants for the U.S. Navy. Bath Iron Works is the lead designer and builder of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) and the Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) guided-missile destroyers.
C4 Systems designs, integrates and manufactures secure communication and command-and-control systems and operational hardware for customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community and federal/civilian and public safety agencies.
Electric Boat At the forefront of submarine technology for the past century, Electric Boat has set the standard of excellence for design, construction and lifecycle support of the U.S. Navy's ballistic missile and attack submarines, including the latest Virginia class of ships.
Learn about the General Dynamics Supplier Diversity Program
here.
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| MBE of the Week: Essex Newbury North Contracting Corporation |
 Essex Newbury Contracting Services Corp. was established in 1994 to provide as its specialty, construction management, general contracting, asbestos and lead abatement as well as interior demolition. On January 1, 2001 Essex Newbury North Contracting Corporation enveloped Northeast Remedial Management.ENCC other capabilities include: design, capital planning & forecasting, estimating, budgeting, value engineering, scheduling & time management and project management. To learn more about Essex Newbury North click on the link: http://www.essexnewburynorth.com/ |
| Banneker Earns Defense Logistics Agency QSLD Certification |
 NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. (January 27, 2014) - The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has awarded Banneker Industries its approval for Class 2 and Class 3 Threaded Fasteners, Rivets and Quick Release Pins."We are pleased to add this classification to our cadre of qualifications," said Cheryl W. Snead, president and CEO of Banneker. "As an ISO 9001-certified company, we strive to continuously improve our operations in service to all of our customers and most especially to those in the aeronautics and defense industry." The QSLD qualification program encompasses the best industry practices and incorporates these elements into the DLA Troop Support Construction & Equipment and Industrial Hardware Organization's acquisition process. It prequalifies vendors who supply certain items - in this case, fasteners, rivets, and pins - and assures buyers of their quality as well as conformance to specification and contractual requirements. Banneker received QSLD certification for Class 3 threaded fasteners, which are generally used in aerospace applications, and Class 2 threaded fasteners, primarily used in land and maritime applications. The QSLD certification followed an onsite survey conducted by the DLA in September 2013, in which the agency evaluated Banneker's quality management system and inspection procedures. Banneker Industries is a world-class provider of supply chain management solutions who for more than 20 years has specialized in delivering value to customers through innovative third-party logistics (3PL) services. Headquartered in North Smithfield, R.I., Banneker offers a wide-range of supply chain services including value-added warehousing, procurement, inspection, kitting, distribution, packaging and fulfillment, and more. The company is ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100 certified and incorporates Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement methodologies into their business processes. Banneker is consistently named among the leading privately held 3PL providers, and is one of the leading disadvantaged, minority and woman-owned small businesses in the country. For more information, visit www.banneker.com. |
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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| 2014 MBE Performance Survey |
| Each year since 2009 we have conducted the MBE Performance Survey. The 2014 survey helps us better understand how MBEs are doing and what changes they are making or considering making in their businesses. If you are an MBE, please take 10 minutes to complete the survey. Your answers are confidential. Thank you. |
| And Finally... |
The State of Connecticut is struggling to have a minority supplier development program that has any impact on minority businesses within the state. To the Governor's credit, the administration is reaching out to organizations like the GNEMSDC and HEDCO to help recruit minority businesses to take advantage of the Small Business Express loan and grant program. However, an equal amount of attention needs to be paid to the State's supplier diversity program. Currently, the State has a policy that sets aside 6.25 percent of "eligible" spend on minority or women owned businesses. The "or" is one of the main reasons why the State is and can make it's MBE goals because they can make those goals by only spending money with women owned enterprises. Many of these women owned enterprises are of questionable eligibility, i.e. they are fronts for non-WBE firms drinking from the pool designed to help legitimate women and minority owned enterprises. Aside from the need to create separate goals for minority and women owned businesses, and have an effective certification program, a bigger problem is that the state "exempts" almost ninety percent 90% of its spend. This exempt spend is not subject to the State's set-aside goals. Having so much taken off the table makes it all but impossible for the State to have a positive impact on minority business development. The State spends close to $2 billion per year on non-labor expenses (click here for current CT 2014-15 Budget). Taking $1.8 billion off the table needs to addressed. Talk about reverse discrimination. The State's current policy amounts to nothing short of a 90 percent set aside for non-MBE, non-WBE businesses. Ironically, this sweetheart deal for majority businesses is a great deal for businesses who are often the most vocal critics of set asides.
In your service
Dr. Fred
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