| ISM-CT/GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Panel Discussion - March 4th SOLD OUT!! |
On Tuesday, March 4, the GNEMSDC and ISM Connecticut will be co-hosting a workshop on corporate supplier diversity. GNEMSDC is inviting interested MBEs who want to spend some time with corporate procurement professionals to join us at this 3 hour program from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in Bridgeport. As is the case for many of our events, this event is an excellent opportunity for certified MBEs to get to better know influential decision makers in corporate procurement.
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| GNEMSDC 4th Annual Capital Summit - March 12 |
You are invited to attend one of our very exciting signature events: The 4th Annual MBE Capital Summit. This year's event will be hosted by Bank of America at 100 Federal Street in Boston, MA on March 12th from 8:30am - 12:00pm.
The event will start with opening remarks from Bob Gallery, Massachusetts President of Bank of America and Dr. Fred McKinney. There will be two panel discussions, beginning with "Access to Capital; Choosing the Right Funding for your Business" moderated by Craig Fowler, Managing Director, Bank of America. This panel will include the following panelists: Daphne Dufresne, founding partner and a Managing Director of RLJ Equity Partners; CarolosSignoret, Partner and co-founder of HCP & Company; Ed Shea, SVP, Business Banking Market Executive - Market President Central Massachusetts at Bank of America; and Vikrant Raina, Managing Partner of BV Investment Partners.
The second panel will be on "Growth Strategies through Acquisition" moderated by Warren Bacon, Director of the Boston MBDA Center. Next, we are extremely proud to have Professor Steven Rogers from Harvard Business School as our keynote speaker discussing "The Right Money for the Right Need." Steven Rogers is a Senior Lecturer in General Management and teaches Entrepreneurial Finance in the executive programs, "Launching New Ventures" and "Owners, Presidents and Managers (OPM)". He was also a professor for the GNEMSDC GALP program in 2013 and will be participating in 2014 as well.
This event is free, and there are a limited number of seats available. To register online
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| Step Up Offers Wage Subsidies, Grants To Businesses Wanting To Hire Unemployed Connecticut Residents |
Bridgeport, CT (February 7, 2014) -The state's Subsidized Training and Employment Program (Step Up)offers subsidized wage and manufacturing training opportunities to Connecticut businesses looking grow their company while giving an unemployed Connecticut resident a chance, a job, and a Step Up!
Step Up Step Up is an initiative of the Connecticut Department of Labor and the five Connecticut Workforce Investment Boards, including The WorkPlacein southwest Connecticut. The program promotes job creation and worker opportunity for Connecticut small businesses and unemployed workers. Since 2012, over 650 Connecticut businesses have taken advantage of Step Up and more than 2,100 workers have found employment.
Companies can request wage reimbursement grants of up to $20.00 an hour when hiring a qualified, unemployed candidate to work between 32-40 hours a week for a period of up to 6 months, depending on availability of funds:
Step Up Subsidized Wage & Manufacturing Training Grants available through May 31, 2014 to:
Step Up Unemployed Armed Forces Member Grant available through June 30, 2015 to:
Companies interested in applying for any grant can call Carmen A. Nieves at (203) 610-8478. Find out more information about Step Up and how to apply by visiting.
About The WorkPlace: The WorkPlace conducts comprehensive planning, and coordinates regional workforce development policy and programs to prepare people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers. As national leader in the field, The WorkPlace regularly shares ideas and best practices with lawmakers, foundations, think tanks and other workforce development organizations around the country. For more information, visit www.workplace.org or
The GNEMSDC is a participant in this program. We have been able to get cash for two employees that we brought on. America is great place!
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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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| 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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Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Opens Community Business School in Bridgeport
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The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council opens the GNEMSDC Community Business School at its 333 State Street offices in Bridgeport. The school is designed to develop minority entrepreneurs in the area by providing them access to the tools they need to thrive. We had a great first meeting. Bill Jennings, President and CEO of Bridgeport Hospital was in attendance and stayed the entire program. Also Virgilio Lopez a senior executive at Peoples Bank was also in attendance along with Jay Wesley of the MDC (Jay is also a GNEMSDC director). We had a full house, with every seat taken. I expect business leaders from our network to drop-in every week. We will be back this coming Saturday and every Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30 am.
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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.The Award will be presented at the Black-Tie 2014 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT on Tuesday, May 6. It is not too early to reserve your tickets. Call Jerilynn Clarke at203-288-9744 for ticket information. |
| Photo Memories from the GNEMSDC Gala 2010-2013 | ||
The 2014 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala is Tuesday, May 6 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.
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| Corporation of the Week: Xerox |
 For more than a half a century, Xerox has been a leader in document technology and services. We continue to build on this heritage of innovation. We now are the world's leading enterprise for business process and document management, offering global services from claims reimbursement and automated toll transaction to customer care centers and HR benefits management. The new Xerox is dedicated to innovation, service and giving our customers the freedom to focus on what matters most: your real business. The Xerox Supplier Diversity Program As a global leader in business process and document management, Xerox recognizes that having a diverse supplier pool is a major competitive advantage and a powerful business tool. Xerox's supplier diversity mission is to proactively identify, build relationships with, and purchase goods and services from certified small businesses as well as enterprises owned by minorities, women, veterans, gays and lesbians, and disabled persons that can help Xerox achieve its corporate objectives. Read the Xerox CEO Commitment to Supplier Diversity here. Learn more about the Xerox Supplier Diversity Program here. Learn about the Xerox Supplier Diversity Requirements here. Suppliers interested in doing business with Xerox Corporation should submit the Supplier registration form. Read Xerox Supplier Diversity FAQs here. |
| MBE of the Week - SpineFrontierSpine Frontier |
 SPINEFRONTIER
Harvard-trained spine surgeon and CEO, Dr. Kingsley R. Chin and a group of spine surgeons who formed the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), founded SpineFrontier, Inc. to focus on satisfying the needs of surgeons and their patients. SpineFrontier Inc., has grown organically since releasing its FacetFuse screws in 2008 to generate a disruptive portfolio of Less Exposure Surgery (LES) technologies for less invasive and tissue-sparing surgeries. Coupled with a focus on partnering with one surgeon at a time, the Company is growing at a controlled annual double-digit rate and is gaining market share in the $10 billion global spine market.
SpineFrontier provides product development and design, custom manufacturing, and marketing services for operative instruments, medical devices, diagnostic equipment and rehabilitation aids used in the treatment of spinal diseases.
SpineFrontier headquarters is located in Beverly Massachusetts and has another location in Long Beach California. Click on the link to view SpineFrontier Press Release. To visit SpineFrontier website click here.
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| MED Week Awards program |
 The MBDA is calling for nominations for MBDA awards. See the link below for more information. Also feel free to call the Boston or Bridgeport MBDA Business Centers operated by the GNEMSDC, 617-986-6366 or 203-288-9744.
http://www.mbda.gov/
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| SBA Offers Free 8a Consulting |
 The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now offering companies interested in applying for 8a certification FREE consulting. The purpose of the 8a program is to develop "Small Disadvantaged Businesses" that are looking to win Federal government contracts. The SBA contracted with Stover & Associates to conduct the online training. The training takes approximately one hour to complete. If you are interested in the training, please visit the link below. We are strongly encouraging GNEMSDC MBEs to take advantage of this program. Some of the largest MBEs in our network were once 8a certified firms. In recent years, the number of MBEs in the program in New England has fallen dramatically.http://stoverteam.adobeconnect.com/applicationtrng/event/registration.html |
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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The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport
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The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport has the following Request for Proposals:
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| FYI |
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| And Finally... |
The Community Business School (CBS) opened this Saturday in Bridgeport, CT at the GNEMSDC Learning Center. (Hopefully we will get a donor to provide a real name for the Center and the great work that is going on in this room - hint, hint, hint) It is important to listen to the dreams of entrepreneurs who have yet to cash a check from their first customer. I guess, like these early-stage entrepreneurs, I am a dreamer at heart. I believe in those who believe that they can create something from nothing. This is what entrepreneurs do. For entrepreneurs who have little experience and even less capital, but still dream of a business that will support themselves, their families and their communities, it is inspiring to breathe the same air filled with such hope and fear.
Most of our certified MBEs have been where the participants in the Community Business School are today. The CBS participants are the earliest of the early stage business owners. Some might question why I am spending time with these entrepreneurs when we have so much work to do with our existing MBEs. I question this myself. But the answer is that we must find the time to build the next generation of MBEs. I believe if we can influence these MBEs early in the arts and science of business we have the chance to build stronger MBEs in the future. And I also believe historic entrepreneurs like William Boeing, Frederick Rentschler, Edward Land, and Steve Jobs would be proud of the CBS participants, who like them are placing a bet on themselves.
I am taking the approach of being brutally honest with the participants of the CBS. I do this not to discourage them, but to prepare them for the realities of business. It is likely that this entrepreneurial effort will be the most difficult journey they have ever embarked on. In my own journey I have witnessed the dried bones of failed businesses that once also had great hope. I even have seen some of my own failures. But it is from these setbacks (a setback really is just an opportunity to comeback) that I have learned the most from in my journey. I have learned discretion in the face of opportunity. I have learned to be practical when there seemed to unlimited opportunity. I have learned patience when it seemed that speed was the key to success. I have learned to have faith in myself in the face of fear and destruction. I hope to share these experiences with the participants in the Community Business School. And I hope that other entrepreneurs within our network will offer to come in on a Saturday to share their experience and wisdom with entrepreneurs who are just starting out on their journey. The Tao says that a journey of one thousand miles starts with a first step. The CBS participants are starting on that journey. I am inspired to see it. I am absolutely convinced that if you come to offer your time and wisdom, you will also be inspired in ways that will help you in your journey.
In your service
Dr. Fred
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