I am leaving to join the staff of the Tuck School
of Business in Tuck Executive Education program as a managing director.
The Tuck Executive Education (TEE) houses the "Building a Performance
Minority Business", the "Growing the Minority Business to
Scale", and several other programs designed to improve the performance of
MBEs and WBEs across the country. My role at Tuck will be to help develop
new and existing programs in the TEE portfolio.
I started my professional
career in higher education, first at Sacred Heart University, then at Brandeis
University and finally at the University of Connecticut. And now I have
the opportunity to return to where I started with the added benefit of joining
one of the most successful business schools in the world (Tuck was ranked
recently as the 7th best business
school in the world), and join the program that has provided executive
education to more MBEs than any other business school in the world.
I am leaving the GNEMSDC in great shape,
financially, organizationally and programmatically. Through the support
of all of our stakeholders, the GNEMSDC has the financial resources to execute
its programs at the level they deserve. When I started with the CMSDC in
2001 there were two employees on the staff, Delores Holley and Gloria
Yopp. I made number three. Through organic growth, acquisitions,
mergers and aggressive grant writing and program development, we have been able
to grow the staff of the GNEMSDC to 16 minority business development
professionals. This staff is highly capable and motivated to continue the
excellent work without me. The test of good leadership is the
ability to build an organization and a team that can quickly adjust to changes
in leadership.
I love what I have been doing for the last 14
years as the leader of the CMSDC and then the GNEMSDC. I will miss
working with my colleagues at the GNEMSDC. Every current staff member of the
GNEMSDC I hired. They are the best and will continue to be the
best. I will miss my directors. They have provided great
guidance and support for me and the organization. I want to particularly thank
Tom Davis my chairman for his encouragement over the years. I will miss
the representatives from our corporate membership. You have demonstrated
with your support that you share the vision of strong and successful minority
suppliers. And I will miss the MBEs of the GNEMSDC. MBEs have
provided me with the inspiration and motivation over the last 14 years.
Together we are walking up the "rocky side of the mountain." Where
I am going will allow me to stay engaged with all of you, albeit in a new
capacity. And, you should all know, I will be calling on you. So missing
you is really not an option!
I want to thank the NMSDC and all of my colleagues
who lead regional councils across the country. This journey has created
bonds that will last a lifetime. The network is strong and will get
stronger. I want to particularly acknowledge the leadership of two
outstanding ladies, Harriet Michel and Joset Wright-Lacy. We are fortunate
to have such leaders.
In leaving, I also must thank the U.S. Department
of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency for giving us the opportunity
to expand our services to MBEs across the country from both our Boston and
Bridgeport Centers. I thank Governor Malloy and the Department of
Economic and Community Development for their commitment to MBEs in construction
and their support of the BondSure program. I thank Mayor Walsh and the
City of Boston for providing us the opportunity to increase our services for
Boston based MBEs. I thank the Connecticut Department of Transportation for
their support of our efforts to build stronger DBEs. I thank the
Fairfield County Community Foundation for their support of our Advanced
Leadership Program. I thank the Connecticut Health Foundation for their support
of our efforts to increase health insurance enrollment of MBEs in the
Affordable Care Act. I thank the Bridgeport Regional Business Council,
the Metro Hartford Alliance, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the
Connecticut Business and Industry Association, the Boston Chamber of Commerce
and the Fairfield Business Council for their support on numerous efforts to
bring MBEs and the larger business communities together. I am confident the
GNEMSDC team and my successor will continue to provide the excellent services
you deserve and more importantly, our MBEs deserve.
My plans, board willing, are to
remain on staff until the end of April. I want this upcoming 2015 GNEMSDC
40th Anniversary
Awards Gala to be a memorable and spectacular event. (Ever the promoter -
please become an annual sponsor and buy your tickets now. Let's make this a
really special night.) I am committed to also help insure a smooth
transition. I will do all in my power to promote the continued
development of the GNEMSDC and its mission. So please keep me in your thoughts
and prayers as I keep you in mine. And as always,
