March 24, 2014

Please Support Your Council by Attending the 2014 
GNEMSDC Annual Gala: May 6
 
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.  
You will be receiving your invitation to the Annual Awards Gala soon.  
Please RSVP by April 15, 2014 tp  www.boothleads.com/gnemsdc/gala2014
Penn National Gaming  - Access & Opportunity Event - March 25th
 March 25th, 2014 4:00pm - 6:00pm
 PNG Access and Opportunity Event
 Plainridge Racecourse
                                                      301 Washington Street, Plainville, MA 02762

We highly encourage construction related businesses to attend the Access and Opportunity Event.
There will be an interactive forum that will provide an overview of the work and certications necessary for the projects and it will focus on the opportunities that are available for bid. 
For more details.  click here .  RVSP for this event at click here
National Grid and CVS Caremark present:  
Rhode Island Power of Connections 2014, April 11 
April 11th, 2014 9am - 4pm
Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms Street,  Providence, RI  
 
Get ready to take your business to the next level during The Rhode Island Power of Connections 2014. This premier networking and educational summit is designed for minority women and diverse business owners to build business relationships and connect with National Grid and CVS Caremark procurement teams, as well as local agencies and organizations.
 
Learn:
- "How to do business" workshops with National Grid, CVS Caremark and their top prime suppliers
- One-on-one "matchmaking" with National Grid buyers and prime suppliers
- One-on-one "matchmaking" with CVS Caremark buyers and prime suppliers
- How to become certified through CWE-WBENC, GNEMSDC, MA Supplier Diversity Office, US
  Small Business Administration, and the RI MBE Compliance Office
- Keynotes from National Grid and CVS Caremark senior leadership
- Academic enrichment opportunities and resources to grow your business
- And much, much more!

Register now: http://nationalgrid-cvscaremark.eventbrite.com.  Deadline to register: March 28, 2014
Event is free of charge.  Please see the event flyer for additional information.
GNEMSDC 2nd Quarterly Meeting hosted by RBS Citizens - April 17
GNEMSDC
April 17th, 2014 12:45pm - 4:30pm, 
One Citizens Plaza, Providence, RI  02903 
 
RBS Citizens will be hosting the upcoming Quarterly Meeting on April 17th.  Please be sure to attend this meeting to get the latest updates on GNEMSDC and hear exciting MBE showcases.  
 
MBEs will have the opportunity to hear showcases from members of the RBS Citizens Procurement Department and RBS Citizens Primes.  There will also be networking opportunities with RBS Citizens primes.  To RSVP to this event please contact Sarah James.  
Ahold USA Vendor Fair on Sept 17 & 18
Ahold USA will be hosting a vendor fair for W/MBE's that are not currently doing business with Ahold USA (which includes Stop & Shop, Giant/Pennsylvania, Giant/Maryland, Martin's and Peapod).  The vendor fair is only for vendors that have retail product that they want to sell on our stores' shelves.

The event is planned for September 17 and 18 and will be held in Carlisle, PA.  Depending on the turnout, the event may be either a one-day or two-day event.  At this event, prospective vendors will have face-to-face time with the buyers of the category and will be able to educate the buyers on their product line.

Any interested vendor, should contact Nhgiep Dang @ nghiep.dang@ahold.com.  Nghiep will ensure that the vendor receives further information on our vendor fair as it gets closer to the event.  
2014 GNEMSDC Award Nominees - Congratulations 
On behalf of the GNEMSDC MBE Input Committee I am proud to list the 2014 Nominees for Corporate Awards.

Corporation of the Year - National Category
1. Aetna
2. Cartus
3. Chevron
4. Comcast Cable
5. CVS Caremark
6. Dominion
7. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
8. National Grid
9. TJX Corporation
10. United Technologies Corporation

Corporation of the Year - Local Category
1.. Pratt & Whitney
2. Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
3. Yale New Haven Health System
4. Yale University
5. The Metropolitan District Commission

Buyer of the Year  
1. Ed Frey, Yale University
2. Ron Swatt, Sikorsky Aircraft
3. Michael Jovovich, Yale New Haven Health Systems
4. Janice Beckner, Connecticut Lottery
5. Erik Collins, Dominion

Advocate of the Year
1. Bob Pilney, The Hartford Insurance Company
2. Joyce C. Eriksen Eggers, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Inc.
3. Alton Moss, Pratt and Whitney4. Erik Collins, Dominion
5.Carla Hunter-Ramsey, National Grid
6. Al Tawrel, Northeast Utilities
7. Thomas Ray, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
8. Joan Davidson, UTC Areospace Systems

MBE Empowerment Award 
1. Eileen Hasson, The Computer Company
2. Arvin Chaudhary, Nadicent Technologies, LLC

Congratulations to all the nominees on jobs well done.  Once again we have a very competitive field of nominees.  THe MBE Input Committee will have a difficult time selecting one winner in each of these categories.  All of these nominees are deserving of recognition for the great work that they do to support our mission of minority business development.  It will be an exciting evening on Tuesday, May 6 when the winners are announced.   
2014 Annual Gala MC - Jonathan Coachman
jcWe 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). 
David Hinson to Receive 2014 GNEMSDC President's Award
David HinsonWe 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
with Magic Johnson at GNEMSDC, 2010 Gala
One thing to inspire you to sign up for the 2014 is to take a look at these photos from the 2010 - 2013.  Hundreds of BEAUTIFUL MBEs and Corporate members.  Also see Governors, Senators,  Mayors, other elected officials, CEOs and other business leaders who attend our Gala.  Take a look and share!

The 2014 GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala is Tuesday, May 6 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.

GNEMSDC and SBA to Hold Session in Bridgeport, April 29
The GNEMSDC is proud to be partnering with the SBA Connecticut office to host a session on how MBEs can and should apply for 8a certification on Tuesday, April 29.   The 8a program is the U.S. Government's development program that has resulted in billions of dollars of contracts for MBEs, and was the launching pad for some of today's largest MBEs.

Attending the meeting will be CT Director Bernard Sweeney and SBA New England Regional Administrator Seth Goodall.   You will learn everything you need to know about how to become 8a certified.  Most GNEMSDC corporate members report to the Federal government on their utilization of 8a firms.  This is a very helpful certification to have.

The meeting will take place from 10:00 AM to 12 noon at the 333 State Street GNEMSDC offices.  Please reserve you seats.  We are limiting this program to 25 GNEMSDC Certified MBEs who are interested in growing their business with the Federal government.   
Upcoming Events 
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:  
  • March 25, 2014 4- 6pm, PENN National Gaming  Access & Opportunity Event, Plainville MA 02762 
  • March 27, 2014 6 - 8pm, Architecture, Construction & Engineering Networking Event 281 Summer St, Boston, MA  Additional Information
  • April 1, 2014 GNEMSDC MBE Pre-Certification Webinar RSVP to Jennifer Little-Greer
  • April 3, 2014 - Bridgeport Re-Entry Awards at Housatonic Community College 6:00 PM. Dr. Fred has been nominated by the Bridgeport Council of Churches for the Community Partners Award.  If you are interested in attending the GNEMSDC will purchase a table.
  • April 10 -Commonwealth of MA Economic Development Strategy Program -  "Choosing to Compete in the 21st Century" 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the Boston Marriott Newton.
  • April 11, 2014 National Grid and CVS Caremark present:  Rhode Island Power of Connections 2014 in Providence, RI.  Additional Information
  • April 14-15 - Diversity Business Summit The premier employment conference and Procurement Trade Fair in Sports!
  • April 17, 2014  GNEMSDC 2nd Quarterly Meeting hosted by RBS Citizens, Providence, RI
  • April 24, 2014  MassHousing's 24th Annual Greater Boston M/WBE Trade Fair  More Information 
  • April 30, 2014  Sam's Club Food &Beverage Merchandising Division Diversity Supplier Summit, Bentonville, AK  more information 
  • April 30, 2014 TD BANK First Time Home Buyer Seminar at GNEMSDC Community Business Conference Center 333 State Street Bridgeport CT more information 
  • April 30, 2014  Pulman & Comley hold a Strengthing Yur Business With LGBT Diversity at the Hartford Club 46 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT more information 
  • May 6, 2014 - GNEMSDC Annual Awards Gala, Aqua Turf, Southington CT
  • May 8, 2014 -W.E.B. DuBois  Public Policy Series Dinner, 127 State Street Springfield MA.  Dr. Fred is the Keynote Speaker.  For more information contact Vincent Jackson at vince@mktgmoves.com.
  • May 13, 2014 - Anti Defamation League Torch of Liberty Award Ceremony Honoring Carl Highsmith (Dr. Fred will present Carl the Award.) Program is at Congregation B'nai Jacob Woodbridge, CT.  For more information contact jmagid@adl.org.
  • May 15, 2014 - SBA - GNEMSDC Matchmaker at Microsoft Corporation, Cambridge, MA
  • June 2, 2014- GNEMSDC MA Golf Outing, Ferncroft Country Club, Danvers MA  
  • July 11, 2014- GNEMSDC CT Golf Outing, Lyman Orchards, Middleton, CT
  • September 30-October 1, 2014 - GNEMSDC Expo and Conference, Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort, Uncasville, CT
  • October 10 - GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program, Bridgeport, CT (First Weekly Session)
  • November 20 - GNEMSDC/MBDA Best Practice Forum, Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Corporation of the Week:  Staples   
 
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it's in-store, online or on mobile devices. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Supplier Diversity
We believe that strengthening diverse businesses contributes to the overall economic success in the communities where we live and work. The mission of our Supplier Diversity Program is to work with diverse businesses to reduce supply chain costs and to increase revenues by bringing superior products to market.  By including and supporting diverse businesses in our supply chain, we create jobs, opportunity and growth for the diverse customers and communities we serve.

In 2013 the Staples Supplier Diversity program continued to engage with diverse suppliers, organizations and the larger community in several ways. The Staples Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, now in its fifth year, promotes professional and business development among diverse business enterprises. Through this program, Staples has mentored companies across a wide range of industries, from law firms to marketing companies to manufacturers, allowing them to utilize Staples' expertise in these areas to help their diverse business grow.

Staples is also an active supporter of several organizations that promote minority- and woman-owned business development, including serving on regional and national boards of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Board Member of Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
 Learn more about Supplier Diversity at Staples here and here.  Register on the Staples online portal for suppliers here.
  MBE of the Week:   King Han Inc.
  King Han Inc. (KHI) is a privately held, custom cable manufacturer located in Stafford Springs Connecticut. KHI has been a minority and woman owned business since 1997. Founded by Tokcha Robertson, KHI is a supplier to major defense contractors and has been recognized as a preferred vendor for multiple years. Our engineering and management staff has over 67 years of industry experience.
KHI is a contract manufacturer serving OEMs domestically and internationally that require electro-mechanical assembly. At KHI, we take pride in building a quality product that is delivered on time. In order to maintain our commitment to the highest level of quality service, we have been ISO 9001 registered since 2006 and AS 9100 REV C. registered since 2010.

KHI specializes in cable assemblies, wiring harnesses, custom molded cables, electro-mechanical assembly, box build, flat ribbon cables, test cable repairs, circuit board assembly and prototypes. Processes used include soldering, epoxy bonding, potting and encapsulation, crimping, pull testing, abrasive blasting/tumbling, product reclamation/salvage and value added services. We also provide high reliability microscopic soldering by J-STD-001D certified workers.

KHI can you help you by providing fast turnaround on deliverables and excellent customer service. Give us a call today for a free quote. Click here to visit our website.
Become a GNEMSDC MBE Subscriber
GNEMSDCGNEMSDC provides additional services to out of network MBEs certified with the NMSDC.Below is the cost to obtain Subscription Services with the GNEMSDC.
Out of Network MBEs are MBEs certified by other affiliated councils of the NMSDC.
 
List of Services Provided
  1. Registration of your business as a MBDA client with the Boston and Bridgeport Business Centers.
  2. A business development plan for your business.
  3. Registration on the on-line MBDA Boston and Bridgeport Center Smart Track Opportunity Portal.
  4. Registration on the portal advertising Federal opportunities.
  5. Access to free business consulting where specific contract and financing opportunities exist.
  6. Review of existing capability statement, or the help with the creation of a capability statement.
  7. Participation in the MBE CEO Roundtable Program - a Forum for MBE CEOs to discuss business.
  8. Support with our U.S. Department of Commerce and MBDA partners to assist your company to go global.
  9. Full participation in the GNEMSDC/Google marketing program.
  10. Ability to attend GNEMSDC MBE development programs at lower cost.
  11. Discounted fees to attend all events.
  12. Ability to exhibit at GNEMSDC Trade Expo.
  13. Eligibility for GNEMSDC Awards for Supplier of the Year.
  14. Ability to attend NMSDC events at the preferred MBE pricing.
  15. Listing in the database accessible by corporate members.
Contact the MBE Services Group for more information at (203)288-9744 or sent email to Jennifer Little-Greer.
Opportunity In Greater Boston
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: 
Invitations for Bid  and Opportunities
  • MBE looking for an experienced sales rep to cover the CT market, selling into the Biotech and Manufacturing industries.  Highest commissions paid in the industry, and working for a company with over 23 years in business.  
  • Experience required, the right person could exceed 100,000 in total compensation.  Needs to grow the region, but will also be given accounts to expand on in the CT area.  All interested applicants can either email you and you can forward their info to me or they can email me directlyatfrankq@qaisupply.com .
  •  State of Connecticut Department of Transportation job opportunity:  Transportation Public Transit Administrator 
  • Department of Revenue job opportunity:  Office Support Specialist I   
  • The Boston Public School Department is seeking bid proposals  "T0 provide hot and cold vended meals for the Boston Public Schools -  Mu;ti Year contract (3 years) - RFP# 866" and for the "Purchase of fall sports equipment and supplies for Boston Public Schools - BID# BPS 867"  If interested please contact Andie Kim for a complete bid proposal packet.
  • One Source Mechanical Solutions is looking for Licensed HVAC Piping Refrigeration Installer for more information contact jlittle-greer@gnemsdc.org
  Employment Opportunities with Mass.Gov
Positions with the Treasury can be found on the mass.gov website or by clicking on this link https://jobs.hrd.state.ma.us/recruit/public/3111/index.do and selecting Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General under the agency option. Currently, the Treasury has the following opening(s): Treasury Employment Summary Communications Coordinator, and  Senior Investment Officer - Public Equities 
Turner Construction Company Invitations for Bid   
Project: NHPA Project #'s 13-006, 13-006A, and 13-006B -Sherman/Tyler Parking Lot
Bid Due: April 9, 2014 3:00:00 PM EST 
Location: Route 34, New Haven,CONNECTICUT 06519 
UCI Code(s): 001001 - Estimating 
 
Project Description:
The New Haven Parking Authority will receive sealed bids for the Sherman-Tyler Parking Lot Project, NHPA Project #13-006, #13-006A, and #13-006B, until 3:00 PM local time on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at the New Haven Parking Authority, Temple Street Parking Garage Office, One Temple Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received after the time set for opening will be rejected.

This project has been divided into 3 Separate Bid Packages:
#13-006: This Bid Package includes all work associated with the project with the exception of Furnishing and Installing the Fencing and Trees, which will be furnished and installed by the 2 Small Business Set-Aside Packages defined below.

#13-006A:  This bid package includes the Fencing as required per the contract documents.  This is a Small Business Set-Aside Package.

#13-006B: This bid package includes only furnishing and Installing the trees as defined per the Plant Schedule on Drawing L1.01.  This is a Small Business Set-Aside Package.
 
Turner Construction Company CT- uses GradeBeam.com to distribute construction information and project opportunities to its subcontractors and suppliers. If you have questions, want to register for full access, need to update your company information, or prefer to be removed from the GradeBeam.com Construction Directory, please contact: Support@GradeBeam.com 866-TBS-NOW (866-482-7669) MsgID: 102695984
Health Care and Hospital Opportunities
If  you are an MBE and have not spent some time thinking about providing goods and services to the health care and hospital industry, you are missing out on one of the largest industries in the U.S. economy.  As a director of Bridgeport Hospital, part of the Yale New Haven Health System, I know that there are significant opportunities for businesses that can improve patient satisfaction, increase operational efficiency and improve financial performance.  In 2010 US national health care expenditures totaled $2.6 trillion or 17.5 percent of total GDP.  And while expenditure growth has slowed to about 4 percent a year, this is an industry that will continue to grow.  

Why are you not participating in this industry?
FYI
Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Opens Community Business School in Bridgeport 
GNEMSDC
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.  

Our plan is not to reinvent the wheel.  We plan on working with other great organizations in the region that offer business development services.  This Saturday we had representatives from Workshops in Business Opportunities, WIBO and SCORE.   You are welcome to come join us this Saturday when we will be talking about the business plan.   Read more     
GNEMSDC Classroom and Conference Room is Available!
Reserve the GNEMSDC Community Business School for your next business or training event.  The contract rate is $100.00 per hour or $500.00/per day (9:00 am - 5:00 pm).

The GNEMSDC Comunity Business School is free to all GNEMSDC Corporate Members and GNEMSDC certifed MBEs.  For more details and to check availability call (203)288-9744
 And Finally...
Well I am back to work today.  I entered the Warren Buffett, Quicken Loans Billion Dollar March Madness contest.  I was doing great the first day.  I was perfect the first day until North Dakota State beat Oklahoma that night.  Fifteen out of sixteen ain't bad, but it is not perfect, so I have no chance of winning the billion dollars.  When I was 10 for 10 through Thursday evening, I began fantasizing on how a billion dollars would change my life.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I did not want a billion dollars because of how it would impact my life in negative ways.  Now I have the privilege of working with MBEs and corporate members where I am called on for how I might be helpful.  If I were a billionaire, I believe all of my relationships would change and not necessarily for the better. 

But this epiphany did not stop the fantasy.   One part of my billionaire fantasy that I did think was interesting was the establishment of million dollar "gift" to the supplier diversity director/manager who had the greatest impact on the utilization of certified MBEs.  Forgetting whether corporations would want this intrusive motivational tool impacting decisions,  my thought was that it would create a significant amount of buzz in the supplier diversity community while at the same time stimulating MBE utilization.  This is not a bad idea even if I cannot personally afford to underwrite it.  Think of all the economic development that might occur simply because there was a financial incentive to perform at very high levels.  Maybe there is a billionaire out there reading this who will also see this is a great idea. 

Back to reality.  Back to work.  Damn North Dakota State.

In your service

Dr. Fred