| GNEMSDC Trade Expo and Conference 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 PM Expo Booth Set Up
Wednesday, October 1
7:15 AM Breakfast
8:55 AM Expo Ribbon Cutting
9:00 AM Morning Expo Session
12:30 PM Expo Closes
12:45 PM Corporate Sponsors Lunch
2:00 PM One-on-One Meetings between MBEs and Corporate Members
5:00 PM One-on-One Meetings End
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. |
| One on One Business Match Makers on Wednesday, October 1 |
 One of the most popular activities at the GNEMSDC Trade Expo is the One-on-One sessions. These are "demand" driven meetings between corporate and public sector buying organizations and certified MBEs. We have automated this process with the assistance of Global Nest (dba Boorthleads).We are now using Globalnest's matchmaking software for registration. This software will allow small businesses to sign up for their prime contractor appointments during small business registration. This means that you will have a detailed list of your small business meeting schedule ahead of time. We expect this to make the day more efficient and productive for all. To assist small businesses in determining the best fits for their prime contractor meetings, please make sure that you have completed your registration with a company description and a succinct, yet comprehensive list of procurement opportunities available. If you need to return to your registration page and review/update these items:
So far the following companies have signed up for One-on-One meetings:
1. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
2. Connecticut Department of Transportation
3. Iron Mountain
4. The University of Connecticut
5. Sanofi
6. Takeda Pharmaceutical International
7. Kelly Services
8. New England Office Supply
9. EMC Corporation
We are expecting this list grow dramatically over the next few weeks.
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| Trade EXPO Important Information and Dates |
Booth Registration due September 17th (Booth Exhibitor Kit Link). |
| GNEMSDC "Shark Tank" at the Trade Expo September 30 |
 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 5 minutes to state your 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 for the entire Expo and must contact Jennifer Little-Greer by email at jlittle-greer@gnemsdc.org to 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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| MBE Breakfast Speaker - Kelvin Bernard of Panther Global Group |
 Kelvin Bernard, President and CEO of Panther Global Group will be the Tuesday morning breakfast speaker at the GNEMSDC Expo on September 30 at the Mohegan Sun. Mr. Bernard has started and managed several large MBE firms, including NMSDC Corporate Plus firm, Total Technical Services. Total Technical Services was recognized by the GNEMSDC as the Category 4 Supplier of the Year in 1994 and 2004.
After graduating from Central Connecticut State University , Mr. Bernard began his career as a temporary employee for one of the largest local and national temporary agencies in the Boston area. An enthusiastic and hard working employee, he was hired directly as a recruiter and later promoted to account executive for the same agency. He worked in the temporary placement industry for five years, gaining knowledge and experience in the administrative, medical and technical temporary industries in both local and national markets.
Mr. Bernard will share some of the things he has learned that has helped him and his companies reach the pinnacle of minority business development in the country.
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| MBE Luncheon Speaker - Beverly Kuykendall |
 We are pleased to announce that Beverly Kuykendall has accepted our invitation to speak on September 30 at the GNEMSDC MBE Sponsors' Luncheon at the Mohegan Sun. Ms. Kuykendall is the President of Government Business for American Medical Depot out of Miramar, Florida. American Medical Depot is one of the largest MBE firms serving the health care and hospital industry. I have had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Kuykendall for many years and have seen her make inspiring, informative and stimulating presentations at events acres the country on the topic of contracting with the public sector and with health care. Please see her bio. For MBEs interested in public sector contacting, particularly with the Federal government, you will not hear a more knowledgeable business leader.
American Medical Depot was founded in 1993 by Sukrit Agrawal. Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, the company boasts of over 350,000 product, 2,000 suppliers, 180 employees, multiple distribution centers and a comprehensive line of products, equipment and services.
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| Peter Van Loon - COO of Access Health CT to Speak at Expo |
Peter Van Loon, COO of Access Health CT will be our Wednesday, October 1 Trade Expo breakfast speaker. Access Health CT is Connecticut's official health insurance marketplace, established to satisfy the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act. Our mission is to increase the number of Connecticut residents who are insured, lower their costs, promote health, and eliminate obstacles to getting health care. Access Health CT will operate at no cost to the state or its taxpayers.
Peter Van Loon has a diverse background, including Fortune 500 and startup experience in healthcare services and technology companies. Mr. Van Loon most recently worked at Cigna, and in general has a strong background in operations, IT, and finance. He also worked at Aetna, as a consultant in the IT sector, and spent a year recently in Afghanistan and in Africa with the Reserves. Mr. Van Loon has performed duties as an overseas combat and logistics leader while a Captain in the United States Navy. Mr. Van Loon has a Bachelor's of Science degree from Trinity College, and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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| Dr. Fred McKinney - Wednesday Lunch Presenter |
 Dr. Fred McKinney will be the luncheon Keynote Speaker on Wednesday, October 1 at the GNEMSDC Expo at the Mohegan Sun. The title of Dr. McKinney's remarks is "Lessons Learned from 30 years of MBE and Corporate Minority Supplier Development: Things that You Can Do Now". This is a multi-media presentation you will not want to miss.
I will be honing my remarks at talks I am giving on September 16th at an MBDA Conference in Detroit, MI, then I will be speaking in Boston at the Commonwealth Compact event on September 23rd, and then in Toronto, Ontario on September 24th at the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council Expo and Gala. If you are interested in attending any of these events, give the office a call for more details.
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| GNEMSDC 2014 Shining Stars |
Ms. Davis Kone has 20 years experience as a marketing professional working in a variety of industries at companies such as 1-800-Flowers, World Color, Columbia Business School, and most recently, The MATLET Group, a certified minority business enterprise.
During her time with The MATLET Group, she has been active with the Greater New England MSDC, serving as chair of the MBEIC Education sub-committee and assisting at New MBE orientations.
In June of this year, Jill joined the team at The New York and New Jersey MSDC as Director of Corporate Services. In this role, Ms. Davis Kone will be expanding the Council's outreach to develop relationships with corporations and agencies in New York and New Jersey that are looking to hire and work with certified minority-owned businesses. Jill lives with her husband, Jack in New York City.
Lawrence is past chairman of the GNEMSDC Board of Directors and manager of supplier diversity for corporate member Pitney Bowes Inc. Lawrence is now the President of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC) based in Oakland, CA. He is responsible for the growth and sustainability of supplier diversity development across Northern California, Hawaii, and Nevada. Lawrence brings many years of supplier diversity and supplier development experience to his role as president. He has managed and directed supplier diversity programs for a number of well-known Fortune 500 companies across the country. As the president of the WRMSDC Lawrence hopes to continue to build on the success of the organization and highlight the value of minority business development to both corporations and minority business enterprises.
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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, 9/10/14
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GSA SCHEDULES BASICS
September 10, 2014 * 9:00am -11:00am
NEW LOCATION: GNEMSDC Boston Office * Copley Place, Dartmouth Shops, 2nd Floor
Featuring:
Len Green, Procurement Advisor,
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Learn about the following services offered by PTAC: GSA Schedule benefits, process for application, pitfalls,Marketing & competition
Space is limited!
Please RSVP to Joanne Wang by 9/3: jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com
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Legal Series for MBEs Starts - Friday September 12
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   Pullman and Comley is facilitating a legal seminar. The choice of a business entity is often a confusing decision. This presentation will explain the differences among the various entity types. Specifically, the presentation will cover:
The Seminar will be held at the GNEMSDC Bridgeport Office Conference Center, 333 State Street, Bridgeport CT at 9:30 am - 11:00 am. Click here to reserve your seat! For further questions contact the Council at (203)288-9744. |
Clark and Skanska Construction Companies to Offer Construction Classes in Boston with the Support of the GNEMSDC and Others
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| The Joint Venture of Clark Skanska invites you to participate in their Strategic Partnership Program, an intensive, five-month program for executives of Small, Minority-Owned, Women-Owned and other Disadvantaged Businesses (SBE, MBE, VBE).
Developed almost ten years ago in conjunction with a leading professor from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and with more than 500 graduates to date, this program is designed to provide specific management and technical expertise to grow their businesses by successfully pursuing and managing increasingly larger, more complex projects.
The program is free to qualified participants, but classes are limited to 35 participants. Click here for more information about the program and to complete an application.
The class meets one evening each week for three hours over the course of a five month term with additional special sessions. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, and are pre-qualified for project opportunities with Clark Skanska and other large general contractors.
Who Should Attend
Managers from MBEs, WBEs, SBE, DBEs are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should fill out and return the attached application before September 30.
About the Training
The Strategic Partnership Program covers the full array of strategies, management practices, processes and tools that small, minority, women-owned and DBEs need in order to succeed in today's construction industry. Faculty includes experienced industry practitioners from Clark Skanska and recognized industry experts in risk management, bonding and insurance.
The intensive five-month curriculum will cover:
Clark Construction and Skanska Construction are both corporate members of the GNEMSDC, and we are proud to support this comprehensive and exciting program.
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Corporate Member of the Week:
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 MassHousing's mission is to increase affordable housing options for Massachusetts residents by being the leading provider of responsible lending resources to address the underserved housing needs of low-and moderate-income residents and communities. As a self-supporting not-for-profit public agency, MassHousing has provided more than $17 billion in financing for homebuyers and homeowners, and for developers and owners of affordable rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars, but sells bonds to fund its programs.
The vision of MassHousing is to be recognized nationally for excellence in execution and advocacy of policies and programs that advance its mission. Through collaboration and engagement with like-minded partners, MassHousing has collaborated with a broad coalition of public, private and non-profit partners. MassHousing facilitated these partnerships through efficient and responsive administration of public funds and programs. While continually striving to break down financing and administrative barriers that impede housing creation and preservation, MassHousing has remained committed to operating with the highest ethical standards and sound financial management principles.
MassHousing is committed to promoting equal opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and providing quality programs for all communities in Massachusetts. The Diversity & Inclusion Division provides a number of tools, resources and programs to that end.
For more information on minority- and women-owned business opportunities contract opportunities and upcoming events, please visit:
https://www.masshousing.com/portal/server.pt/community/diversity_programs/236/diversity_programs |
Harvard Professor Steven Rogers Back for 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 (pictured on the left) 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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Massachusetts Diversity Coalition Formed
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| The GNEMSDC, the Boston MBDA Business Center along with the Center for Women Enterprises, the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce and others have created the Massachusetts Diversity Coalition. These advocacy and business development organizations first came together to promote the utilization of MBEs, WBEs and VBEs in the gaming industry. We have since expanded our focus to include all public and private sector developments. Warren Bacon, the Project Director for the Boston MBDA Center is the Chairman of the Coalition. For more information, visit our new blog, www.madiversitycoalition.wordpress.com. |
| FYI |
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Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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| And Finally... |
This past week, President Barack Obama was in Wales for an important meeting of NATO members. This was rightfully billed as one of the most important NATO sessions in years. However, during this important meeting the President and Prime Minister Cameron took time off to visit an elementary school near to where the conference was taking place. How did this happen?
This unlikely visit was the result of hundreds of Tweets and other Social Media entries made by those whippersnappers from Wales. I thought about that in light of our efforts to use Social Media to spread the word about opportunities and GNEMSDC events. If those kids can bring the President and the Prime Minister to a 3rd grade math class, I have to believe that our network of corporate members and MBEs can bring hundreds of MBEs and corporate buyers to the GNEMSDC Expo on September 30 and October 1 who otherwise would not have attended.
So I am asking all of the readers of this column to take out their Tweet machines (you could say I am dating myself again) and start Tweeting and doing your Social Media thing - advertising the Expo. Here is a sample Tweet you might try:
"Join me at the #GNEMSDC #Expo at the #Mohegan Sun Casino on 9/30 and 10/1. For more info visit www.boothleads.com/gnemsdc/expo2014."
Let's see what happens. Thank you for your support. Who knows, those whippersnappers from Wales might show up.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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