GNEMSDC 3rd Quarter Meeting hosted by Covidien
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 August 6th, 2014 1:00pm - 4:00pm hosted by Covidien, 15 Hampshire St Building #3 Mansfield, MA
Please attend the upcoming GNEMSDC Quarterly Meeting to learn the latest updates from the Council, hear from the Covidien Procurement Department and see engaging MBE showcases.
This is a great opportunity to hear first hand of opportunities at Covidien and learn latest on the impact of proposed merger/acquisition of Covidien by Medtronic.
To register, email Jerilynn Clarke by August 1st at jclarke@gnemsdc.org
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MBE Input Committee Retreat at Water's Edge August 8
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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 |
| GNEMSDC "Shark Tank" at the Trade Expo October 1 |
 Before there was a "Shark Tank" program, the GNEMSDC had a "Speed Presentation" program as part of our Trade Expo. This was one of the most popular and fun parts of the Expo, and for some inexplicable reason, we dropped it. Well it is back for the 2014 GNEMSDC Trade Expo with a revised focus and structure.
This year on Tuesday, September 30 after the MBE Sponsors' Luncheon, we will feature a program that gives MBEs a chance to compete for $5,000 in cash that will be awarded to the best presentations on your "Value Proposition". That's right; $5,000 in cash. Here are the rules. You must be a certified MBE or DBE or MBDA client. You will have 10 minutes to state you value proposition. A panel of senior procurement officers from the GNEMSDC corporate membership will make the call on who made the best value proposition presentations.
This year on Tuesday, September 30 after the MBE Sponsors' Luncheon, we will feature a program that gives MBEs a chance to compete for $5,000 in cash that will be awarded to the best presentations on your "Value Proposition". That's right; $5,000 in cash. Here are the rules. You must be a certified MBE or DBE or MBDA client. You will have 10 minutes to state you value proposition. A panel of senior procurement officers from the GNEMSDC corporate membership will make the call on who made the best value proposition presentations.
All interested MBEs, DBEs and MBDA clients, must be registered or the entire Expo and must contact Jennifer Little-Greer by email, indicating your interest to participate in the program. Space and time are limited. So get your emails in early.
The goal here is not simply to have a good time. The goal is to have MBEs work on presenting their value proposition concisely and effectively. There will be no power point presentations or props allowed. It is just you, your brain and your mouth. If we are over subscribed we may contact all of the interested parties and hold a preliminary qualifying competition. Get ready!
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| Volunteers Needed for the GNEMSDC Trade Expo |
If you are interested in volunteering to work at the GNEMSDC EXPO this year. Please email Jerilynn Clarke for Additional Information.
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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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Boston MBDA Business Center CEO Roundtable
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 GSA SCHEDULES BASICS
August 27, 2014 * 8:00am -10:00am
The Palladium Room * 2 Copley Place, 4th Floor * Boston, MA 02116
Featuring:
Len Green, Procurement Advisor with
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Learn about the following services offered by PTAC:
GSA Schedules:
Benefits
Process for application
Pitfalls
Marketing
Competition
Space is limited!
Please RSVP to Joanne Wang by 8/22: jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com
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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. Here is what Ron Williams, a participant last year had to say about his experience:
"As a participant of the Inaugural Session of GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP), who also attended (AMEP/Kellogg in 2005), I was most impressed with the program content, as well as, the presentations of several quality Speakers, such as Steven Rogers, who was a Professor instructing at my Kellogg session.
I would encourage any MBE Supplier who is able to attend this years' GALP to do so. Please let me know your impression of the program as well."
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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Corporate Member of the Week: State Street
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 State Street is the world's leading provider of financial services to institutional investors, including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. For more information, visitwww.StateStreet.com or follow us on Twitter @StateStreet.We are engaged in an ongoing effort to build diversity and inclusion into every aspect of our company, including our supply chain. State Street has built a strong core of diverse supplier partnerships in the communities where we operate, providing opportunities for certified minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, service disabled veteran-owned and GLBT-owned businesses.
We drive the success of the supplier diversity program through the following:
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Ferlandos Davis - Raytheon
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On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors and the Certification Committee, I want to thank Fernando Davis for his service. We cannot do this important work of certification without the dedicated support of corporate members and their employees. We wish Mr. Davis the best.
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NMSDC Leadership Awards 2014
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Please enjoy Light Speed's latest creation on the NMSDC Leadership Awards 2014.
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Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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Prequalification forms icon can be found on the left corner of the page.
Invitation for Subcontractors can be found in the Prequal Library which provides a good summary of the bidding process and bidding packages (ranging $20,000 to $15,900.00)
More information will be provided for the next outreach program in West Hartford in the next newsletter.
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University of Connecticut Opportunities
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REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE FOLLOWING ON-CALL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:
004 - Hazardous Material
005 - Environmental Services
006 - Surveying
008 - Vertical Transportation
009 - Architectural Services Supplemental
010 -Landscape Architecture Supplemental
011 - Geo-Technical Services
012 - Engineering Services Supplemental
045 - Power Plant Engineering
The University of Connecticut (the "University") is requesting the submission of Statements of Professional Qualifications for consultants to provide the services in the on-call design sub-categories set forth in this solicitation. The services requested will be for projects on the University's main campus at Storrs-Mansfield, the eight regional campuses and University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) in Farmington...(See more by clicking on the project number)
Project Number: 061614AA
RFQ Due Date:
July 29, 2014, 2:00 PM
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Haynes Construction Invitation to Bid
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INVITATION TO BID
Anticipated bid date: August 8, 2014 @ 3:00 PM
Project : Chatham Street Development
Demolition and Remediation of Asbestos Material (ACM), Lead Based Painted Surfaces and Regulated Materials of the former Warehouse Facility (approximately 52,300 sf +/-) to its existing foundation.
Project Address: 197 Chatham Street, New Haven, CT 06513
If interested in bidding: Please send email ASAP to: infochatham@haynesconstruction.com to request link to Haynes ftp site for access to project documents
HCC encourages the participation of all Veterans, S/W/MBE Certified Businesses
Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Avenue, Seymour, CT 06483
WE ARE AN AA/EOE EMPLOYER |
| And Finally... |
This coming Friday I will be meeting with Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut to discuss minority business development in the State. To the Governor's credit we have begun several important initiatives with his support. Earlier this year we started the MBE/DBE bonding guarantee program. This program has $2 million in bond guarantee funds which we use to support bid and performance bonds. This is a collaborative effort with our partner Community Capital of Bridgeport and the Department of Economic and Community Development. Last year, we started a DBE technical assistance program for the Connecticut Department of Transportation. This program allows us to offer hands-on executive and management assistance to CT based DBEs who have been identified by CONNDOT as having the potential to be excellent and successful suppliers with our assistance. We are also working with the State DECD to spread the word about the Small Business Express and Loan Program. Minority businesses are underrepresented among the borrowers and grantees currently. These activities are encouraging examples of how the GNEMSDC can help Connecticut and other states and large municipalities in the region.
But there is still much to do. For as long as I can remember, I have advocated for changes in the State certification law and processes. The State can and should accept the GNEMSDC certification and the certification of the WBENC affiliates to certify MBE and WBEs, respectively. There are too many holes in the current State certification process, which is basically, self-certification. Too many businesses claiming to be MBE and WBE are not legit, and this is taking valuable resources and sales away from legitimate MBEs and WBEs. This would end if the State ceased to do certification. This is not suggesting that the State cease to do MBE development. They should double down on development with the resources they could save if they eliminated their weak certification activity and focused on helping MBEs and WBEs win State contracts.
The State because of our advocacy and the advocacy of others allocated some funds to conduct a disparity study. Unfortunately, it was not enough money and as they say, you get what you pay for. I have to take some responsibility here, because I was one of the advocates to start even knowing that the funds were not sufficient to complete the task. Now we have to complete the task. Without a new statewide disparity study, the State cannot revise goals for MBE and WBE spend. And importantly, the State cannot separate out MBE goals from WBE goals. Currently, MBEs and WBEs, for the purposes of goals, are treated interchangeably, leading to the not surprising result that WBEs - many of whom I question their legitimacy - are "winning" over 80 percent of the MBE contracts. This commingling of goals has to stop.
The State also needs to invest in compliance. There is very little compliance in the area of contracts that are let to primes on whether in fact they utilize the MBEs they include in their proposals. MBEs report to me that they are used unfairly to help non-MBE firms win contracts only not to get the work. Earlier this year, the Federal government prosecuted a large CT non-MBE prime for claiming spend with a phantom MBE. I believe this kind of activity is also going on with State contracts, and the only way to eliminate this behavior is to let the industry know that somebody is watching.
But I am pleased that the Governor has called this meeting. I believe we have much in common and that our case for MBE development is in the interest of all citizens and taxpayers in the State, and it is good for all businesses in the state. MBE development is not a zero-sum game. We can accomplish this, in fact, we must accomplish this for the long-term health of the State and the region.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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