The GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP)
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We are pleased to announce the second year of 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, David Hinson, former National Director of the MBDA. 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. Last year the CEO faculty included 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 17, 2014 and ending on Friday, November 14.
The program is geared to the owner/entrepreneurs of firms with $1 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.
This year we are proud to have the generous support of the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Call the office if you are interested in being participant in this MBE educational program.
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2014 GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classics -
Registration Now Available!
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I am very happy to announce that we have over 180 registrants for this event! So if you want to participate in one of the largest golf outings in the region, call the office now to reserve your spot!
The GNEMSDC Connecticut Supplier Diversity Golf Outing will be on
Friday, July 11, 2014 Lyman Orchards Golf Club Middlefield, CT. The tournament begins at 7:30am.
If you are interested in a fun afternoon/morning of golf, networking, food, drinks and relationship building please register at: WWW.BOOTHLEADS.COM/GNEMSDC/GOLF2014
Please see the brochure for additional information and new Golf Sponsorship Opportunities. Enter our Putting Contest and you could win a cash prize! Not a golfer? We have several non-golfer activities or you can learn the game and be taught by a pro in the Golf Clinic.
Call the GNEMSDC offices with any questions: 203-288-9744 or 617-578-8900
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Accelerate with Google:
Google Is Coming To GNEMSDC Bridgeport on Thursday, July 17! |
 What: Accelerate with Google Academy is a 12-week intensive program that teaches underrepresented minority business how to be found online and generate business through their websites. It focuses on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Google AdWords.
Key Benefits: Use the web to attract new customers, make your business website easier to find, and learn how measure the results.
Deadline: Upcoming application deadline is June 9th, with more rounds of application available in July and August.
Success Stories:http://accelerate.withgoogle.com/success-stories
Please find more information on the PDF attached. Apply today at: http://accelerate.withgoogle.com/. For any questions, email acceleratewithgoogle@google.com and kakui@google.com
If you are interested in attending a luncheon and presentation by Google at the GNEMSDC Bridgeport on Thursday, July 17 from 12 noon to 3 PM, call the office. This event will be limited to certified MBEs only. Lunch will be provided and there is no cost to certified MBEs. And because of space constraints, only one person per MBE for this program.
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| GNEMSDC Trade Expo and Conference is Coming! REGISTRATION IS OPEN |
 The GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo and Conference is coming. This year the event will take place on Tuesday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 1 at the Mohegan Sun Casino and resort. Please mark your calendar. It is time for MBEs and corporate members to start preparing for the event. One of the biggest attractions is the very successful One-on-One sessions. These allow corporate members to schedule 15 minute appointments with specific MBEs for specific commodity/service opportunities. This year we will once again employ some great technology that will allow us to efficiently make these matches between corporate members and MBEs. We encourage all of our corporate members to participate in the Expo and the One-on-One program. This year we have some very important editions to the program. Stay tuned. (Photo is of CT Governor Dannel Malloy with Dr. Fred at last year's Expo.)
Here is the preliminary program:
Monday, September 29
6:30 PM GNEMSDC Board of Directors and Senior Advisory Dinner
Tuesday, September 30
7:00 AM Registration Opens
7:15 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Industry Opportunity Sessions - Part 1
10:30 AM Industry Opportunity Sessions - Part 2
12:00 Noon MBE Sponsors Lunch
2:00 PM - MBE "Shark Tank" ($5,000 in total prizes for the top 3 sales performances by an MBE)
4:30 PM Break
5:30 PM Shining Star Reception
9:00 Expo Booth Set Up
Wednesday, October 1
7:15 AM Breakfast
8:55 AM Expo Ribbon Cutting
9:00 AM Morning Expo Session
12:45 PM Corporate Sponsors Lunch
2:00 PM Expo Afternoon Session
2:00 PM One-on-One Meetings between MBEs and Corporate Members
4:00 PM Expo Closes
5:00 PM One-on-One Meetings End
5:30 PM Post Expo Reception
Here is the link for the Expo Registration. From this site you can also sign up to participate in the One-on-One program. You will need to register for the event before you register for the One-on-Ones.
Hotel Reservations
Single & Double Occupancy Rooms are available for $159/night
For online reservations: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/GNEMS14
To make a reservation by phone please call 1-866-708 1340 and reference the group code: GNEMS14
Reservations must be made by Tuesday September 9 any reservations made after this date will be based on room availability and regular hotel rates |
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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Corporate Member of the Week: Iron Mountain Inc.
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 Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) is a leading provider of storage and information management services. The company's real estate network of over 67 million square feet across more than 1,000 facilities in 36 countries allows it to serve customers with speed and accuracy. And its solutions for records management, data management, document management, and secure shredding help organizations to lower storage costs, comply with regulations, recover from disaster and better use their information for business advantage. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain stores and protects billions of information assets, including business documents, backup tapes, electronic files and medical data.
Iron Mountain works with suppliers that are chosen because of their commitment to the high standards and principles that are the backbone of our culture. We value the strong and long lasting alliances that we have built with our suppliers and strive to maintain close business relationships in order to promote optimal benefits for our suppliers, our customers and Iron Mountain.
At Iron Mountain, we are committed to supplier diversity. We recognize that minority, women and veteran-owned businesses, small business enterprises, and other diverse organizations contribute significantly to the overall economic strength of the country, the markets we serve and the communities in which we live and work. At the same time, the use of diverse suppliers helps Iron Mountain deliver to our customers the highest quality services at the best price. Through our Supplier Diversity Program, we promote the presence and growth of diverse suppliers in the market by providing qualified firms with an equitable opportunity to compete for business. Over the past 12 months, Iron Mountain purchased more than $150 million in goods and services from diverse suppliers and small business enterprises. We continue to seek opportunities to expand the use of diverse suppliers and encourage qualified vendors to register with us. Learn more about procurement at Iron Mountain here. |
MBE of the Week: Cheryl Harris & Associates, Inc.
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Cheryl Harris and Associates, Inc. launched in 2004 as an independently owned management consulting firm dedicated to authentic, purposeful and effective leadership. We assist clients in three areas of organizational effectiveness ; leadership coaching, tea m development, and diversity and inclusion .
With extensive experience, our seasoned consultants are trained educators, lawyers, psychologists, theologians, and human resource executives. Our diverse and rich backgrounds make it possible for us to weave effective leadership practices with a true understanding of the human condition.
Some of our clients include Pfizer, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, and individuals.
We can help you with:
Recently, we announced the start of a new group coaching program, specifically for leaders of Color.
For more information, contact us at questions@cherylharrisassoc.com; www.cherylharrisassoc.com, 508- 639-9431 (p) 857-220-3004(f)
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MBE Input Committee Retreat at Water's Edge August 8
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| GNEMSDC Wins Grant from Connecticut Health Foundation |
 On behalf of the GNEMSDC Board of Directors, I want to announce that the Connecticut Health Foundation has awarded the GNEMSDC a $50,000 grant to promote greater utilization of the Affordable Care Act by MBEs not currently offering their employees health insurance coverage All of the data suggest that offering health insurance and other benefits are critical for small businesses to attract the best talent and keep them. MBEs interested in learning more about the Affordable Care ACT can call the office for more information. |
Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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| Bridgeport Housing Authority Invitation to Bid |
Vacant Properties Grounds Maintenance Grass Cutting
Solicitation Number: 012-AM-14-S
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport, DBA Park City Communities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids from qualified Landscaping Contractor for Grounds Maintenance (Grass Cutting) of properties located throughout the City of Bridgeport. A complete copy of the Invitation for Bid may be obtained beginning on JUNE 30, 2014 @ 1:00 PM at PCC's Executive Office located at 150 Highland Ave. A pre-bid conference will be held at 150 HIGHLAND AVENUE, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604 ON JULY 15, 2014, @ 10:00 AM. Although attendance is not mandatory, bidding the project without attending conference and viewing the site is not in the best interest of PCC. Additional questions should be emailed only to Caroline Sanchez at bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than JULY 21, 2014 @ 3:00 PM. All answers to the questions will be posted on PCC's Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org. All bids must be received by JULY 25, 2014 AT 3:00 p.m., at the office of the Housing Authority, 150 HIGLAND AVE, BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time.
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| And Finally... |
In case you missed last week, this is speech from Luncheon Comments at ESPN by Dr. Fred McKinney
on June 20, 2014"What Do You As an MBE Have in Common With Disney?" On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors, let me thank The Walt Disney Company and ESPN for hosting this Supplier Diversity conference today. It is these types of events that provide great value to both MBEs/WBEs and the corporate host. As many of you know, the GNEMSDC has a long and rich history with Disney and ESPN. For the past two years, ESPN anchor, Jonathan Coachman has served as our Awards Gala Master of Ceremonies. Jay Harris, another ESPN anchor served as the moderator for the GNEMSDC "Sports and Entrepreneurship Conference" in Boston in 2010, where we had Herschel Walker, Magic Johnson and Sayers40 among other participants. Before Stuart Scott became a household name, he did a wonderful video on behalf of the GNEMSDC. And three years ago when we honored Jack Bryant of Bryant Engineering for serving as a Red Tail in World War II, we had George Lucas of Lucas Entertainment, now a Disney company as a video presenter. And to top this off, Andie Arnold is a director of the GNEMSDC. So thank you Disney for your support. The title of my talk this afternoon is: "What do you have in common with Walt Disney?" On the face of it, it seems like a ridiculous question. Disney has annual sales over $45 billion. Disney has employees on every continent. Disney has thousands of employees. In the biography by Neal Gabler points out that by the year of Walt Disney's death in 1966, 240 million people saw a Disney movie, 100 million people watched a Disney TV show, 80 million read a Disney book, 50 million listened to Disney records, 80 million bought Disney merchandize, 150 million read a Disney comic strip, 80 million saw a Disney educational film, and nearly 7 million visited Disneyland. Walt Disney still holds the record for most Academy Award nominations at 57 including one year in which he won 4 Academy Awards. Not many MBEs can match these accomplishments. However, every business, no matter how big starts somewhere, usually with zero sales. Every business has a leader, who is responsible for setting the course of the business. Every business leader makes mistakes and either learns from those mistakes, or is destroyed by those mistakes. So let me start with another question. How many people here have heard of a company called Newman Laugh-O-Grams? Newman Laugh-O-Grams was started in Kansas City in 1922. The company was named after a KC businessman, named Frank Newman who owned a movie theater. For some of us in the room, we remember that when you went to a movie theater in the 1950s or before, cartoons were shown prior to the featured movie. So it made sense that a movie theater owner would want to vertically integrate and have his own cartoon production operation. Newman provided some early working capital to a young cartoonist named Walt Disney to create cartoons for the theater. Disney hired his first employee and within a year the company was bankrupt. Disney moved to Hollywood in October 1923 and with the help of his brother Roy created Disney Brothers Studio. And they say the rest is history. But before we get to the $45 billion company that we know today, Walt Disney had the same types of problems MBEs face today. And all of this success started with a failure in Kansas City with a little firm called Newman Laugh-o-Gram. Walt Disney during those early days reportedly slept at the office, worried constantly about the financial viability of the company, but none of that stopped him from taking big risks. Is this not what you do as entrepreneurs today? How many of you believe that what you are doing is superior or at least as great as the competition? Despite the success of Disney, Disney has significant competition, including the likes of Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NBC Universal, Netflix, Play Station, Microsoft and Google. I was surprised to learn that EA Sports has sold 85 million copies of Madden Football, leading one analyst to state that there are more people playing Madden Football on Sunday than are watching the real thing. But before these global giants were Disney's competition, Disney and Mickey Mouse had other competitors, though animated, just as formidable. There was Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, and who could forget Popeye the Sailor Man with his fashionably thin girlfriend Olive Oil, Bugs Bunny, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Woody Woodpecker. So we all have competition. And we all have something in common as entrepreneurs: we have big dreams. Your success today and in the future with Disney and all of your customers is in your hands. So what should you being doing to maximize this wonderful opportunity today? Here are a few things for you to consider: 1) Focus on the Customer It has become the mantra of corporations around the world to repeat something that the 18th Century Scottish economist Adam Smith said long ago - "the customer is king". If you are in a market where you are not taking care of that king, you are doomed to failure. If you have a real problem with the customer being king, in general, you are doomed to failure. If you are being particularly abused by a day, the customer gets what they want eventually. Are you attending to your customer? Are you anticipating their needs? Are you thinking of ways to assist them accomplish their goals and solve their problems? If you do these things, you will have loyal customers who will sing your praises, but never forget, it is your customer that makes your success possible. 2) Focus on your business What are you doing today that is making your business noticeably superior to the competition? Is it development of technology that allows you to lower cost? Is it training your staff to be more productive? Is it exploring new ways of organizing your operations? Is it how you relate to the media and the public? Are you perceived as a leader in your industry? And if you are not perceived that way, what steps are you taking to become a leader? You must to something every day to improve how you manage your scarce resources and put your company in the best position to win market share and profitability. This is no different from what Walt Disney had to do to become not just a leader, but a cultural icon. In the book, the E-Myth by Michael Gerber, he talks about your role as the leader of your company using the metaphor of the cookie company. Yes, it is your job to make the cookies, but more importantly, it is your job to chart the direction of your company and see that it runs efficiently and effectively. 3) Focus on Yourself Walt Disney died of lung cancer at the tender age of 65. From all reports, he enjoyed a full life, but it was a life cut short by ill health. Walt Disney like many of his time was a chain smoker all of his adult life. He did not live long enough to see the opening of Disney World. He did not live long enough to see the acquisition of ABC or ESPN. He did not live long enough to see the globalization of the enterprise that bears his name, simply because he did not take care of his own health. I want to paraphrase the bible by saying "what profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his health." What are you doing to take care of yourself? Are you walking? Eating right? Sleeping right? Living right? If you don't take care of these things, somebody else will benefit from your hard labor, and they might never appreciate the sacrifices you made to create that wealth. In summary, I want to close with one of Walt Disney's dictums: "Provide a promise, not a product." Is this not what you do every day? You have so much in common with so many successful entrepreneurs throughout history. The limits are what you create for yourself. Dream big and do great things. I believe you can.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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