RSVP for the 6th Annual Supplier Diversity
Best Practices Forum, November 20
8am - 12pm * State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park (40 Yawkey Way, Boston)
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The Boston MBDA Business Center, Center for Women & Enterprise & GNEMSDC invite you to attend the 6th Annual Supplier Diversity Best Practices Forum! This event will feature a discussion of winning Supplier Diversity practices by Corporate and W/MBE Business Leaders. Keynote Speaker Marquis Miller of the National Minority Supplier Development Council will talk about the National Perspective of Supplier Diversity Programs and John F. Barros, Chief of Economic Development of the City of Boston will speak about Supplier Diversity in Boston.
Please RSVP by November 12 at:The full list of speakers includes:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-supplier-diversity-best-practices-forum-tickets-9906631000
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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 GALP Participants
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North Eastern Region - Class 1 Supplier of the Year Winner
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 Congratulations to Lori Johnson, President of commVerge Marketing for being the 2014 NMSDC Supplier of the Tear for Category 1. This is quite an honor for Lori, commVerge and the GNEMSDC, but mostly Lori! There are over 12,000 certified MBEs in the NMSDC network. This year, Lori and commVerge Marketing are at the top of this group of excellent businesses.
We are fortunate to have great MBEs in the GNEMSDC. In less than two months we will be asking our corporate members to nominate MBEs for the 2015 GNEMSDC Suppliers of the Year. This could be the start of something great for another GNEMSDC certified MBE. Please think about those outstanding MBEs in your supply chain. Who knows, we might have another winner next year. But this year, congratulations Lori!
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Can your business survive a disaster?
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According to the Red Cross 40% of businesses do not reopen after a disaster. A Disaster Recovery Plan can increase your chances of survival. Please go to www.PrepareCT.com for more information or email Andres Lopez alopez@gnemsdc.org for one on one consultation. Get ready today to develop a Disaster Recovery Plan.
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Corporate Member of the Week: Access Health CT
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 Access Health CT (AHCT) is Connecticut's official health insurance marketplace established to satisfy the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act to help more people get insured, improve health care quality and increase transparency of health care coverage costs.
Looking for health care coverage for your small business, you or your family? Visit the consumer shopping website www.accesshealthct.com or call (860) 757-5300. We have trained certified professionals to assist you.
Open enrollment starts November 15, 2015 - February 15, 2015. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you! |
Congratulations Domitek
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 Congratulations to Domitek for We were recently nominated for the BBB Torch Award (the ceremony is tonight, and we were recently spotlighted as a rising business on Channel 5 a popular TV show called Chronicle which aired Thursday (10/23/14). See clip here: (http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/whats-up-in-worcester/29316384). |
Bridgeport MBDA Business Center Celebrates National
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"Proud and Prosperous in Indian County"
Each year, our Nation takes time to reflect on the profound ways that Native Americans shaped the character and culture of our Country. As the First stewards of the environment, Native American values are tightly woven into our unique tapestry and shaped how we view and govern ourselves.
Today, the Bridgeport MBDA Business Center celebrates their spirit and many contributions that continue to enrich our communities and strengthen our country. During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor their legacy and we recommit to strengthen our partnerships with our Native American and Alaska Native brethren.
Join the Bridgeport MBDA Center Clients to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
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Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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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.
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GNEMSDC Community Business School is Back
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 The Community Business School (CBS) is every Saturday morning at 9:00 AM at the 333 State Street in Bridgeport. Last year was the inaugural year for the CBS. This year, we are looking forward to another excellent program that is providing targeted entrepreneurial education to local small businesses and local entrepreneurs. I want to thank Valerie Cooper of Picture That, LLC and Ted Hsu of Horizon Services for taking a leadership role and organizing the curriculum and the speakers. Last year, Valerie and Ted were presenters, this year they are the "deans' of the CBS.
If you know any early stage entrepreneurs who want to attend this 12 week course in Bridgeport, please have them call (203)288-9744 or RSVP Diane Thomas. And if any MBE or corporate member would like to come and share their entrepreneurial experiences with the CBS students, email Jennifer Little-Greer at jlittle-greer@gnemsdc.org. I guarantee you - you will be energized by the experience.
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| Dr. Fred Honored by Bridgeport Regional Business Council |
 Dr. Fred will be presented the 2014 Regional Impact Award for Small Business on December 11 by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC). Along with Dr. McKinney, Paul Antinozzi (President Antinozzi Associates) , Dr. Evan Pitkoff (Executive Director, Cooperative Educational Services), Mayor Bill Finch (City of Bridgeport), William Jennings (President and CEO Bridgeport Hospital), and Dr. Stuart Marcus (President and CEO St. Vincent's Health Services) will be honored. The keynote speaker for the event is Johnny Morris, the Founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to build a new store in Bridgeport in 2015.The reception for the event starts at 5:30 followed by dinner at 6:30. For more information see flyer. Event sponsors include TD Bank, Peoples United Bank, St. Vincent's Health Services and Bank of America. Seating is limited. |
| And Finally... |
"
Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."
Aristotle
One of the many reasons we wanted to have space in our Bridgeport office was the ability to offer and conduct meaningful programs for both MBEs and corporate members. So far we have used this space for the GALP and Community Business School along with other training activities. I have experienced several hunches in the past for other uses of the space which was a reason why we put white boards all around the room. Somewhere lurking in the back of my overcrowded and under utilized brain there was a thought of using the space to assist small groups of MBEs and possibly corporate members to come together and work on creative ways to help MBEs improve their strategies and processes.
So here is what we are going to do.
I am inviting MBEs and corporate representatives to volunteer to participate in small (non-competitive) groups - perhaps 5 to 7 MBEs. These small groups will meet in the training room to hear presentations by one MBE at a time. The MBE will present a challenge that they are currently facing. The non-presenters will provide honest and constructive advice to the presenting MBE. Each member of the group will present over the course of 5 to 7 weeks. At the end of all of the presentations, the MBEs will present on either how they have solved the problem presented or present a new problem.
I am looking for at least 5 to 7 guinea pigs, I mean MBEs, who are willing to participate in a trial. If you are interested, call me. We will tentatively set the first meeting on Monday, December 1 at 12 noon in Bridgeport. In this first meeting we will organize the businesses into groups. If that date does not work for you, I still encourage you to call. We will set up more groups based on interest.
I believe - I am confident that we can dramatically improve the performance of MBEs. All of our programs are designed to make this a reality. It is not chance - it is choice. Choose success!
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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