2014 GNEMSDC Supplier Diversity Golf Classics -
This Friday!!
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I am very happy to announce that we have over 200 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 |
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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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: PepsiCo, Inc.
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 PepsiCo's supplier diversity program formally launched in 1982. Its intent was sourcing diverse suppliers who could provide our company with high quality goods and services at competitive prices. Today we have spent over $8 billion with minority and women-owned entrepreneurs (MWBEs). We are proud to say that we utilize MWBEs in virtually all areas of our company. We also strive to develop WMBEs to be successful not only with our company but in all aspects of their business. Our supplier diversity program has allowed our company to be proactive in the economic development of our communities. We continue to grow on our successful experiences with the many diverse companies that add value and measureable performance to our business environment. PepsiCo's comprehensive strategy for integrating these businesses into the supplier development process supports our supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the company's bottom-line.PepsiCo continues to be recognized as a leader and champion in supplier diversity. Most recently The National Minority Business Council, Inc. (NMBC) honored PepsiCo at its Forty-Second (42nd) anniversary celebration and awards program. PepsiCo received the outstanding corporate diversity award based on its exemplary record of diversity initiatives in the work place, in the communities that it is located around the world and its first class corporate supplier diversity program. If you would like to participate in PepsiCo's Supplier Diversity program please register your company at:http://app.suppliergateway.com/pepsico/Login.aspx. Completing your online supplier registration will provide us with information we will need to determine your company's suitability to provide goods or services to PepsiCo. |
MBE Input Committee Retreat at Water's Edge August 8
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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... |
Like many Americans, I was glued to the TV screen watching the U.S. football team play the Belgian team in the knock out round of the World Cup. Yes I played hokey for an afternoon. It did not turn up roses for the valiant U.S.team, but the game and the entire tournament is demonstrating why this game has such avid, I would say rabid fans. The U.S. is not yet a football (soccer) power, but based on the interest of this World Cup, the legions of youngsters playing the game, and the money the top and even mid-level players are demanding, it will only be a matter of time.
After the loss, I daydreamed about U.S. professional athletes in other sports who could have been world class football players had they chosen this sport over American football, basketball, track and field, or basketball. Imagine Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, John Stockton, Chris Paul, Tyson Gay or Jason Kidd on a soccer pitch.
But after getting over the loss and my daydream of a "Dream Team" of soccer players, I had to marvel at the talent and the diversity represented by the teams in the tournament. Unlike baseball's self proclaimed "World Series", this World Cup is truly an international competition at the highest level. And the diversity on the field from almost all the teams demonstrates that it is increasingly the case that we live in a world where diversity is the norm not the exception. Skills and intelligence when combined with opportunity are most likely distributed normally. No group has a monopoly on talent. This means that when you look at the supply chains of corporate America where minority firms are generally underrepresented, we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go before we field the best business teams. But if football is an indication of things to come, the future is bright.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
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