Special Announcement - September 22, 2011

Initiative for a New Economy and Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Announce Merger BOSTON, Mass., September 22, 2011 -- The Initiative for a New Economy (INE) and Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) today announced an agreement to merge as they seek to expand their mission of helping minority-owned businesses grow by connecting them with major institutional purchasers. GNEMSDC recently received a five year $1.4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to launch the Boston Business Center, which will align and expand the skills and technical capabilities of GNEMSDC and INE. Both INE and GNEMSDC have played major roles in creating an inclusive economy in Massachusetts by assisting minority businesses enterprises in building profitable, long-term relationships with major corporations as well as municipal and state agencies. In addition to the federal grant, ongoing funding from public and private donors will support their efforts as they combine to expand the services of the MBDA Center. "The similar missions of INE and GNEMSDC make this a natural fit, bringing together two organizations widely recognized for their expertise in forging successful partnerships between minority business enterprises and purchasers," said Thomas Hollister, Chairman of INE's Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Global Partners, L.P. "The creation of the new the MBDA Boston Business Center will ensure that the high level of support and advisory services being provided to minority-owned businesses and purchasers will not only continue but expand," Hollister added. Dr. Frederick W. McKinney, president and CEO of GNEMSDC, will lead the new MBDA Boston Business Center and continue to lead the GNEMSDC. The staff of the new MBDA Boston Business Center will include employees from both INE and GNEMSDC. The new Center will be headquartered at the Boston office of the GNEMSDC at Copley Plaza in Boston. "I am honored to head the Center, which will build on the work of two great organizations and undoubtedly create more opportunities for both minority businesses and the corporations and agencies that buy their products and services," McKinney said. Hollister praised the leadership of both Dr. McKinney and Milton Benjamin, who has served as INE's president and CEO since the organization's founding in 2006. "Milton has been critical to the growth and success of INE and advancing it to a position where a merger like this now makes sense," Hollister said. Under Benjamin's guidance, INE has spurred the growth of dozens of minority-owned businesses in Massachusetts, helping create hundreds of new jobs and millions in additional revenues, increasing the number and size of purchaser contracts and significantly improving supplier diversity. "I am very proud of what INE has accomplished in the initial phase of its development and look forward to the continued contribution our work will make to the minority business landscape through the Center," Benjamin said. GNEMSDC, an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, has a 36-year-record of fostering business relationships between minority business enterprises and its corporate partners. In recent years, GNEMSDC has worked with more than 450 minority businesses with total gross sales exceeding $11 billion and has connected them to more than 200 corporate members. For more information about the Center, call 888-874-7114, or e-mail Dr. McKinney at fmckinney@gnemsdc.org.

And Finally... This has been a very busy month to say the least. Last week we announced the winning of the MBDA Minority Business Center 5 year - $1.4 million grant to increase MBE procurement and financing by $100 million. And this week we announce bringing the Initiative for a New Economy (INE), a Boston based non-profit whose mission is very similar to the Council's and the new MBDA Center, into the GNEMSDC fold. In addition to these changes, the MBDA MED Week is next week (September 27-30) in Washington, DC. The following week (October 3-5) we will have the GNEMSDC Trade Expo. And at the end of October we will be traveling to Atlanta to attend the NMSDC Annual Business Opportunity Conference and Expo. The INE transaction brings several important assets to the GNEMSDC. First and foremost the transaction brings high level relationships in the Greater Boston market that are absolutely critical to our future development and the development of MBEs. And secondly, the transaction brings resources to the Council in the form of trained MBE development professionals and financial resources that will make the GNEMSDC a more effective organization throughout the region. I plan on talking about all of these changes and what they mean for our corporate members and our MBEs at our Trade Expo Luncheon on Wednesday, October 5. In your service, Dr. Fred

September 19.2011

The mission of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council is to significantly increase business relationships between our corporate members and our certified MBEs. We believe that minority business development is a key component of reducing poverty, unemployment, increasing wealth, and integrating American society. You are receiving this email in order to keep you abreast of developments with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Supplier Diversity Issues and Minority Business Development. If you like what you read please share internally and externally. Ricardo Barrientos, Sr. Director Supplier Diversity Strategic Supply Management, PepsiCo to Speak at GNEMSDC Expo Ricardo Barrientos is the Strategic Supply Management Sr. Director of Supplier Diversity for PepsiCo North America. PepsiCo is the second largest food and beverage company in the world, and the largest in North America, with total revenue of around $62 billion and over 285,000 employees. PepsiCo owns some of the world's most popular brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Lay's, Doritos, Tropicana, Gatorade, and Quaker, and it's brands are available worldwide through a variety of go-to-market systems, including direct store delivery (DSD), broker-warehouse, and food service and vending. Ricardo is a thirteen year veteran with PepsiCo and has held various strategic sourcing roles both in the United States, Mexico, and internationally. He has joined the Supplier Diversity arena with vast procurement experience in Capital, MRO, Flexible Packaging and Cartons. In addition, he previously was the Value Engineering Director for Frito-Lay North America responsible for enabling productivity initiatives to deliver over $25 million of savings per year, and Procurement Director for Direct Materials for Frito Lay's Latin America Region. Prior to being transferred to the US, Ricardo was the National Procurement Director for Gamesa in Monterrey, Mexico. Before joining PepsiCo, Ricardo worked for Vitro Envases as a Raw Materials Procurement Director in Monterrey Mexico, and as a management consultant for Booz Allen and Hamilton in Mexico City. Ricardo has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Six Sigma Black Belt. He resides in Plano Texas with his wife Tessa, and three daughters Tessa, Luisa, and Fernanda. PepsiCo was the NMSDC Corporation of the Year in 2009. Mr. Barrientos and Ms. Strobel will be on the panel Tuesday morning to discuss how to communicate supplier diversity to other internal stakeholders. This will be a great learning opportunity for GNEMSDC corporate supplier diversity professionals. Marianne G. Strobel, Executive Director, AT&T Global Supplier Diversity to Speak at GNEMSDC Expo Ms. Strobel is responsible for the ongoing growth of AT&T's world class Global Supplier Diversity via her Channel Management, Business Development and Stakeholder Management teams. Strobel has 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry; she began her career in 1986 at Sprint, holding various sales, management and sales training roles in California and New York. In 1998, she joined Pacific Bell Internet as a Sales Director managing teams in Internet, Equipment and Managed Solutions eventually being promoted to Executive Director of Segment Marketing for Small Business. Her marketing programs supported a wide spectrum of divisions from direct to indirect sales teams, call centers, and on-line distribution channels. Ms Strobel has a proven track record for building successful marketing programs via her dynamic leadership style and her strategic insight about global business markets. Her enthusiasm and ability to recognize new opportunities within the business inspires to "Think outside the box" driving employees to exceed expectations. Ms. Strobel's passion continues with her new position, Executive Director Supplier Diversity Programs. Cognizant of AT&T's rich history of diverse suppliers, Strobel is moving the team in a new direction by growing the diverse supply chain solutions. Key responsibilities include creating new Supplier Diversity spend categories which will be accomplished by incorporating "Next Generation" services via emerging technologies such as wireless applications, entertainment solutions and broadband services. Quickly launching a variety of new initiatives, Strobel mobilized Operation Hand Salute and AT&T initiative that mentors Disabled Veteran Businesses and internal campaigns to develop employee awareness and new lines of opportunities through AT&T business partnerships. Strobel represents AT&T on the Women's Business Enterprise National Council 9WBENC) Board of Directors. She also supports AT&Ts internal non-profit organization, Women of AT&T for which she mentors a group of employees in career development. Beyond the corporate world she is very active in various CA Bay Area organizations. AT&T was the NMSDC Corporate Member of the Year in 2010. Preparing for the GNEMSDC Expo - Corporate Members & MBEs Please review this document below that outlines some key changes in the 2011 GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo. This information will assist you to make the most out of your Expo experience. Understanding the 2011 GNEMSDC Trade Expo Trade Exhibitors list Trade Expo Sponsors List How to Register GNEMSDC Expo 2011 Online Corporate and MBE Showcases On Tuesday afternoon, October 4 we will have the MBE and Corporate Showcases. These showcases are 15-20 minute presentations by corporate members and MBEs that highlight their businesses. For corporate members, we are asking for your representative to talk about the keys to successfully becoming a supplier to your company. Corporate members can also use the time to highlight opportunities coming up with their companies. This is an excellent and efficient way to get an unfiltered uninterrupted message out to a large number of certified MBEs. The showcase program should be exciting because we will have up to 40 corporate members presenting over a 3 hour period and up to 4 corporate showcases taking place simultaneously. And if that is not enough, we will also have MBE showcases taking place over the same period as the corporate showcases. The MBE showcases are down to two remaining spots! Corporate members who have completed their presentation are encouraged to visit the MBE showcases. We will have plenty of "traffic cops" to direct our guests to the right rooms. It is going to be hectic, fun, and informative. We need more corporate members to sign up for these. Please call Jerilynn Clarke at 888-874-7114 to reserve your space. Showcases, One on Ones, and Trade Show Booths We are very excited about the changes we have made in the GNEMSDC Conference and Expo. However, with changes come questions. One question we have received from both corporate members and MBEs is: What is the difference between the Showcases on Tuesday afternoon, the Trade Show on Wednesday morning and the One on One program on Wednesday afternoon? The Showcases are twenty minute sessions where corporate members will make presentations to a large group of MBEs. These presentations will focus on what MBEs need to know in order to be successful suppliers to their companies. MBEs will also be doing showcases where they will have an opportunity to talk about their companies, and why corporate members and others should do business with them. Both corporate members and MBEs will have time after their presentation to entertain questions. Currently, we have almost 40 companies signed up the Show Cases. We have room for a few more corporate members to participate in this exciting program. If you have signed up for a Show Case, please send us your power point presentation. The Trade Show the following day has over 100 corporate members and MBEs who have booths set up to meet with Trade Show visitors. Like most trade shows, the interactions in the booths are informative, usually short and very individualized. After the Sponsor's Lunch on Wednesday, the One on One program begins with MBEs and corporate members meeting to hopefully take the week's earlier meetings to the next level, or to simply pick up where earlier meetings were not sufficient to cover all of the things MBEs and corporate members need to know before moving forward. This year, corporate members will have complete control over their schedules. It is up to MBEs to convince corporate members to spend a little more time with them during this session. Each of these events, the show cases, the Trade Show booths and the One on Ones are different methods of bringing MBEs and corporate members together. We hope that everyone takes full advantage of the biggest minority business conference and expo in New England. Opportunities with Corporate Members A GNEMSDC corporate member is looking for a certified MBE that can provide all of the services listed below: Mailroom Copy Center Switchboard Shipping and Receiving Records Management, and Supply Order Monitoring "Sounds like a great opportunity. Need to respond before 9/23/11. If you can provide ALL of these services, please contact the GNEMSDC office for more details and ask for Dr. Fred." Invitation to bid Fairchild Wheeler Multi-management High School -State D.O.E. Project #015-0159 MAG/N-Information Sheet Opportunity to provide Security Services for a GNEMSDC Corporate Member - for more information contact office. Invitation to Bid Fairchild High School, Bridgeport D.O.E. Project #015-015MAG/N If you are a corporate member, and want the Council to spread the word about your opportunity we would be happy to do that for you anonymously and for free! NMSDC/GNEMSDC Upcoming Events, Activities and Information Please take a close look at the events listed below. The links will take you to detailed information about the events. We will have more information for those events that do not currently have live links, but please mark your calendars and call the office. Events and Activities: MBDA Grant Press Release Mass. Workforce Training Fund Grant Information Sessions The MSBDC Boston Regional Office & Minority Business Center conducts seminars and workshops: 9/20/11 & 10/25/11 (Boston), 10/26/11 (Quincy) SDP FY 2012 Annual Kick off & Networking Event - 9/20/11 6TH Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference (MED Week) - 9/23/11 NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Fair at Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta Georgia - 10/30-11/02/11 Let's Talk MBE Growth, 10/30/11, 1-5 p.m., Marriott Atlanta Marquis - all MBE Welcome & Admission is FREE Information: NMSDC Press Release - Conference emphasizes critical links betwwen Corporations & Minority Businesses NMSDC Quarterly Meeting in Boston Pictures are available to view -By Photographer Tom Ficklin View 2011 Supplier Golf Classic & NMSDC Quarterly Meeting in Boston pictures on Facebook Ten Tips for Benefiting from the Expanded Economy Video by Dr Fred Non-GNEMSDC Events Most of these activities our corporate members, MBEs and Council staff have been invited to attend. The links will take you to detailed information about the events The Initiative for a New Economy 4th Annual Supplier Diversity Best Practices Forum, 9/22/11, Fenway Park 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The 9th Annual Promising Scholars Golf Classic at Laurel View Country Club 9/30/11 If you have events and activities that you want to share with our network send us a PDF file at least two weeks before the event. We reserve the right to publish or not publish events and activities. Obama Administration Proposes Changes in Federal Acquisition Regulations Regarding SDB Program Last week the Obama Administration released proposed changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) in response to the recent ruling (Rothe Decision) challenging the FAR that allows Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) to have a price advantage in the competition for Department of Defense and NASA contracts. The changes also impact the five percent (5%) goal on DOD and NASA contracts. Currently, SDBs are allowed a five percent price advantage on Federal contracts, although the Administration states that these advantages have not been used or enforced in over a decade. There are over 24,000 SDBs that now self certify in the program. See the attached notice and article. I'm certain there will be more on this in coming weeks. SDBs and others are encouraged to comment on the proposed rule changes. Instructions, a description of the proposed changes and deadlines are included in the Federal Register article link.

And Finally... Several weeks ago I put out a humming bird feeder I had received as a birthday gift. In addition to the feeder I also got a packet of gooey humming bird food. After reading the instructions, I put the feeder outside a window and waited for those beautiful little birds to come. None came, or at least they did not come while I was watching. A week later the food was gone, but I did not know if it had evaporated or been eaten while I was not watching. I consulted with the local bird expert where I buy my bird food and he assured me to keep watching an refill the feeder, and that this is peak season for humming birds in Connecticut. Well today, I saw my first humming bird. Unfortunately my feeder was empty and after being verbally abused by the bird, he flew away. So now the feeder is filled and I am watching vigilantly. I learned from this experience that successful bird watching like successful business development and sales requires patience and being prepared. In your service, Dr. Fred