THANK YOU!!!
|
What an Expo! I want to thank all of the sponsors, directors, exhibitors, advertisers, speakers, attendees, volunteers, and staff for making the 2014 Expo and Conference at the Mohegan Sun a phenomenal event. We took some risks, changed the format and added some new features to the program. From all that we have heard, people enjoyed the changes immensely. We cannot fully express our gratitude to all for your support and participation, but I can say it borders on love.
 |
Boston MBDA CEO Roundtable Forum, October 30
|
October 30, 2014 * 10:00am -12:00pm
The Palladium Room * 2 Copley Place, 4th Floor * Boston, MA 02116
Featuring:
Rita Hardiman, Director, EEO, Diversity & DBE Management, Keolis
Bill Boodry, Manager of Purchasing & Materials, Keolis
Jill Griffin, Director of Workforce, Supplier and Diversity Development,MA Gaming Commission
The CEO Roundtable is designed to provide support for MBEs, by:
*providing topical information and insights
*promoting mutual business relationships
*providing a forum for sharing business intelligence and contacts
*facilitating mutual support and sharing best practices
Please RSVP by 10/24 to jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com
|
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:
|
Corporate of the Week: Turner Construction
|
 Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company and is a leading builder in diverse and numerous market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees and community.
The company fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion in which all employees contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, and have the opportunity to grow. Our diverse and inclusive workforce positions the company to grow, enhances our presence in diverse markets, and helps us build enduring relationships with each other, industry partners, and our clients. Turner is committed to expanding the opportunities available to minority and women owned businesses (M/WBEs). Our objective is to improve the economic viability of these growing firms through outreach and education as well as through direct partnership. In an effort to promote M/WBEs and expand the opportunities available to growing businesses, Turner developed a construction management training program in 1969. The program has helped attendees build networks, establish fruitful joint ventures win contracts with Turner and other industry leaders and form long-term business relationships.
|
Introducing new GNEMSDC Corporate Member: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
|
 We are very excited to introduce our new corporate member Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Through their Supplier Diversity Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI proactively increases their supplier base of women/minority business enterprises to ensure that it is representative of community, members, and employees. Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI believes that purchasing from women- and minority-owned businesses is essential for the business to remain local, independent, and nonprofit. For more information please visit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. |
RSVP for the 6th Annual Supplier Diversity
Best Practices Forum, November 20. |
 The Boston MBDA Business Center, Center for Women & Enterprise & the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council 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. The full list of speakers will be announced shortly.When: Thurs, 11/20 Where: State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park (40 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA) RSVP by November 12 at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-supplier-diversity-best-practices-forum-tickets-9906631000 |
Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
|
|
| FYI |
|
Massachusetts Diversity Coalition Formed
|
| 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. |
2014 GALP Program Schedule
|
 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.Carl Highsmith, (pictured above) founder and CEO of Specialized Packaging Group will be the luncheon speaker this Friday, October 10, 2014. Mr. Highsmith grew his business from a home-based business to an international enterprise before selling the business to a private equity company. And we have a special CEO guest coming on Friday. William Jennings, President and CEO of Bridgeport Hospital will join us at lunch. Talk about star power! Program Schedule:
Participants will receive a certificate signed by all professors in the program. This will be a val
This year we are proud to have the generous support of the Fairfield County Community Foundation. We also want to thank Bank of America for supporting an MBE to participate in this year's class. It is not too late to join the class. We have two slots left!!! Call the office if you are interested in being participant in this MBE educational program.
|
GNEMSDC Community Business School is Back
|
 The Community Business School (CBS) will start Saturday morning October 11, 2014 but 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 Jennifer Little-Greer at 203-288-9744. And if any MBE or corporate member would like to come and share their entrepreneurial experiences with the CBS students, you are welcome to join us. I guarantee you - you will be energized by the experience.
|
| And Finally... |
I am not a great speaker or writer. But I feel more comfortable writing in private than speaking in public. But at the recently concluded Expo, I decided that it was time that our stakeholders hear directly from me. So I prepared a dreaded PowerPoint presentation. (I typically do not use this sometimes effective communication tool, because it gets in the way of spontaneity.) the other thing that makes me cringe when organizing a speaker is the tendency for speakers to speak longer than the allotted time. So to not be guilty of this misdemeanor, that I accuse others of, I timed each slide so that my total presentation of 40 slides would be delivered in the "Ted Talks" time limit of 18 minutes. Quite frankly, I could have discussed each of these slides for 30 minutes, but I know that most in the audience would rather have a root canal than sit and listen to me for that long. So here is the presentation, feel free to comment and share.
In your service,
Dr. Fred
 |
