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.
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GNEMSDC Trade Expo Summary
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The GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo is turning out to be an event full of great speakers, networking events, and business opportunities. Here is a summary of the three day program.
Wednesday, September 12
10:00 AM - Stakeholders Meeting of GNEMSDC Board of Directors, MBEIC, Senior Advisory Board, and other interested parties to learn about the direction, performance and plans for the GNEMSDC. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts, experiences and suggestions directly to the GNEMSDC leadership.
12:00 Noon: MBDA Luncheon - This luncheon will feature MBDA Boston Business Center Project Director, Warren Bacon and his team. They will discuss and summarize the first year of the program and how MBEs and corporate members can participate in this exciting and successful program.
1:30 PM: "Corporate Collaborative Learning" Workshop - This workshop will features Tom Davis (Cartus), Bill Boodry (Liberty Mutual), Kristen Hickey (Aetna) and Larry Wooten (Pitney Bowes). They have prepared brief presentations in the areas of "Selling Supplier Diversity Internally", "Making the Connection between Supplier Diversity and Corporate Sales", "Corporate Spend Analysis" and "Helping MBEs Make Connections". This session is for corporate members only!
1:30 PM: MBE Workshop - This session will feature Google and a separate session on "Promoting MBE Growth Through Strategic Alliances, Private Equity and Venture Capital". The Google presentation will cover some of their latest small business technology designed to help small businesses become successful in this digital age. Chris Genteel of Google will be making this presentation along with members of his team. The second section will feature Charles Corpening, President and CEO of Joshua Partners. Joshua Partners is one very successful model of private equity growing MBEs to scale. This is a must see program for MBEs interested in growth.
5:30 PM: Bowling at High Rollers - Luxury Lanes and Lounge Reception. If you have not attended this event in the past, you missed out on a fun evening of bowling and networking. Even if you can't break 100, you are sure to have fun mixing it up with our corporate members and MBEs.
Thursday, September 13
7:30 AM: CPO Breakfast - This event features CPOs from several GNEMSDC corporate members. They will discuss developments in corporate procurement and their impact on minority business development. Confirmed for this panel as of Thursday, August 22 are John Mayes of Yale University. We expect the other panelists to confirm this week. You will be impressed. Stay tuned for the full lineup of participants.
9:00 AM: Corporate and MBE Showcases - We have 28 excellent corporate and MBEs ready to spend 20 minutes making Powerpoint presentations about their businesses and value propositions. This very popular program gives corporate members and MBEs a chance to learn much about each other.
12:00 Noon: Luncheon Featuring Jeffrey Fox - This award winning author and consultant is making his second appearance at the GNEMSDC Expo. He had rave reviews when came and spoke about his new book at that time "How to Become a Fierce Competitor". Now he is back to share information from his new book "The Transformative CEO". Mr. Fox's engaging real life examples are lessons MBEs and corporate members will not want to miss.
1:30 PM: One-on-One Meetings - This year the one-on-one meetings are back. We have over 70 tables set up for corporate members and MBEs to spend 15 minutes together discussing their companies and their opportunities. Corporate members and MBEs are encouraged to participate in this event. Corporate members can target specific categories of MBEs and MBEs will have visibility on which companies are looking for the services they provide. This event has proven track record of turning potentials into actuals. Do not miss this!
6:30 PM: Shining Star Reception - This year we recognize and honor Kevin Kelleher, President and CEO of Cartus and Marianne Lancaster of Lancaster Packaging as our 2012 Shining Stars. This will be a fun evening of food, drink, dancing, and networking. Past Shining Stars are encouraged to join us to welcome Kevin and Marianne into the fraternity.
9:00 PM: Booth Set Up - I just wanted to note that this year the GNEMSDC has contracted with an MBE, White Exposition, to handle the logistics of the booths. We welcome them to our program.
Friday, September 14
7:30 AM: Sponsors' Breakfast - We are fortunate to have Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator for the Small Business Administration join us a our Keynote Speaker. Ms. Johns bio is listed above. This will be a great way to start this important day.
9:00 AM: Ribbon Cutting and Morning Session of Trade Expo - Once again the Expo floor is sold out. We are also using new technology (supplied by another MBE) that will make your trade show experience more enjoyable and efficient. This year your name badges will have your basic information encoded on the badge. This will allow anyone with a droid or IPhone or IPad to record information which can later be downloaded into a database. This is exciting stuff for an exciting program.
12:30 PM: Sponsors' Luncheon - Our Keynote Speaker this year is Maggie Anderson, author and activist. Ms. Anderson has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, the Huffington Post and elsewhere for her experiment of buying only from African American businesses for a full calendar year. She documented her exeperiences in the "Empowerment Experiment". Ms. Anderson has many lessons to share that are broadly applicable to our efforts to build minority businesses across the board.
2:00 PM: Trade Expo Afternoon Session - The afternoon session is actually a great time to catch MBEs and corporate members when they are ready to talk business. During this session we will also announce the winners of the silent auction. Corporate members and MBEs are encouraged to donate items for the auction. Not only does your gift go to a worthy cause, MBE scholarships, it is a great way to market your business.
5:30 PM: Post Expo Reception - Wind down with those hearty souls who have relished three days o f networking, business development and education. Then drive safely home!
What's Trending on Twitter? Our Expo will today...with your help.
Our upcoming Business Fair and Expo is the largest minority business development event in the Northeast, and we want every regional corporation and minority business to benefit. Here's an easy way to share with others. Just tweet our hashtag #gnemsdcexpo to let everyone know. We've also created a Tweet below for you to make it easy. Please post your Tweet today to help us trend!
Tweet:
Largest minority business dev event in Northeast #gnemsdcexpo Sept 12 to 14. Details at www.gnemsdc.org. Major CT Corps will attend.
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Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration to Speak at GNEMSDC Trade Expo
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We are very pleased to announce that Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration will be our Keynote Speaker on Friday, September 14 at the GNEMSDC Sponsors' Breakfast. We are honored to have her participate in our program.
Marie C. Johns is Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where she is responsible for management of the agency and development of SBA programs and policies. Johns was nominated by President Obama on December 17, 2009, and confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate on June 22, 2010
Under the Deputy Administrator's leadership, SBA had a record year in 2011, supporting more than $30 billion in lendingto more than 60,000 small businesses across the country. That is the most capital going to small businesses in the history of the SBA. As the economic recovery takes root, Deputy Administrator Johns is focused on ensuring that entrepreneurs in underserved communities have the resources, relationships, and tools they need to start businesses and create good-paying jobs. She also works closely with President Obama's most senior advisors at the White House to ensure that more federal contracts are awarded to small businesses. In addition to other duties, the Deputy Administrator has the privilege of serving as the chair of the President's Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development.
Prior to joining the SBA, Johns held senior positions in the telecommunications industry, including serving as President of Verizon Washington. In that role, she was responsible for nearly 2,000 employees and more than 800,000 customers, including many small business owners. And she's an entrepreneur herself. After retiring from Verizon, Ms. Johns started L&L Consulting, LLC, an organizational effectiveness and public policy consulting practice.
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| Charles Corpening of Joshua Partners to Speak at MBE Seminar at Expo |
 Chairman and Founder of Joshua Partners, Charles Corpening brings decades of Wall Street experience to his highly focused acquisitions holding company. A longtime Partner in the Industrials Group with Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC), one of the world's oldest and most admired private equity firms, the firm managed a $10 billion fund with global reach and focused on partnering with Fortune 500 firms. CVC has been a pioneer in sophisticated deal structures, strategic partnerships with blue chip operating companies, and its understanding that increasing investment in technology can create long-term competitive advantages. Charles most recently was one of the key Partners leading the effort in General Industrial buyouts for the independent successor firm to CVC, Court Square Capital Partners, which manages $6 billion. Previous to that, he was a private equity executive with The Rockefeller Group and Roundtree Capital, after beginning his career as an investment banker with PaineWebber in the M&A and Merchant Banking groups.
Charles is a graduate of Princeton and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Action Resources, Raw Essentials and is Chairman and CEO of Tabitha Holdings LLC (formerly known as Medicia Holdings LLC). He has recently served on the Board of Directors of Chase Industries, Davco, Erico, FastenTech, MSXI, Royster-Clark and Western Dental Services. To address his long held passion to improve educational opportunities in inner cities, he is the Treasurer and a board member of Mastery Charter Schools in Philadelphia. In addition, Charles is Chairman of the Trustee Board of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. |
| GNEMSDC Trade Expo Highlights: |
 Rodney A. Butler, Chair of Mashantucket Pequots to Receive Special Recognition
The GNEMSDC is going to recognize Rodney A. Butler for his leadership and support for minority business development at the GNEMSDC Expo on Friday, September 14.
Rodney A. Butler serves as Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council as of January 1, 2010.
 Author Maggie Anderson to Speak Friday Luncheon
Author and MBE activist, Maggie Anderson has agreed to be the keynote speaker on Friday, September 14 at the GNEMSDC Sponsors Luncheon. Mrs. Anderson has become a national advocate for minority businesses as a result of her work on the "Empowerment Experiment".
Jeffrey Fox To Speak Thursday Luncheon 
Back by popular demand, author, consultant and sales guru, Jeffrey Fox will be speaking at the 2012 GNEMSDC Trade Expo. If you missed his presentation two years ago, you missed one of the highest rated programs we have ever hosted. At the time, Mr. Fox had just published the book "How to Be a Fierce Competitor". Now Mr. Fox's visit is timed perfectly for the release of his new book: "The Transformative CEO".
 Chris Genteel of Google to Present to MBEs
Chris Genteel of Google will be presenting to the MBE Training Session on Wednesday, September 12 in the afternoon. His presentation will cover some of the latest business technology designed for small businesses. Google will also be participating in the one-on-one sessions on Thursday.
T. Blair Decker of Electric Boat - Corporate Chair
We are pleased to announce that T. Blair Decker, Director Material Acquisition, Material Engineering Services/Information, Document, & Configuration Management for Electric Boat/General Dynamics has agreed to serve as the 2012 GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo Corporate Honorary Chairman.
Belsarios Rosas of WEI- MBE Co-Chair 
We are very pleased to announce that Belsarios Rosas, President and CEO of WEI has agreed to serve as the MBE Co-Chair for the GNEMDC Business Opportunity Fair and Expo.
Kevin Kelleher, President and CEO Cartus - Corporate Shining Star 
We are very pleased to announce that Kevin Kelleher, President and CEO of Cartus has agreed to serve as the 2012 GNEMSDC Corporate Shining Star. Kevin has been a fixture with the GNEMSDC and we want to recognize his support and leadership.
 Marianne Lancaster, President of Lancaster Packaging - MBE Shining Star
We are pleased to announce that Marianne Lancaster of Lancaster Packaging will be our MBE Shining Star. Ms. Lancaster was a leading voice for the merger between the NEMSDC and the CMSDC. We appreciate her leadership and support and look forward to presenting her the 2012 Shining Star |
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. In order to help you organize your own calendars and keep things straight, we have begun sending out invitations using Constant Contact. This way we can include directions, agendas, share with you who else is attending, and allow you to register. If it seems like we are busy, it is because we are. As I like to tell people, business is a contact sport. 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:
- 2012 Upcoming Events
- August 31- MBDA CEO Roundtable - At Raytheon 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Come and meet other MBE CEOs and learn about opportunities at Raytheon from the Raytheon procurement team.
- September 12-14 - GNEMSDC Business Opportunity Expo and Conference at MGM Grand at Foxwoods.
- September 17-18 - PA-DE-NJ MSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Conference - Caesars Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ - I will be a keynote speaker at this event on September 17. For more information visit affiliate.nmsdc.org/panjde/app/template/index.vm.
- September 29 - Joslin Latino Diabetes Initiative Inaugural Benefit Concert and Reception. Click Here for More Information. The GNEMSDC is proud to support improving the health of all residents in Boston.
- October 28-31 - NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Fair - Denver, CO. For more information visit www.nmsdc.org.
- November 15 - Supplier Diversity Best Practices Day at Fenway Park, Boston, 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Join us for this joint meeting of MBEs and corporate members to demonstrate case studies of the best practices of minority supplier development in New England. There is limited space for this meeting. Contact Joanne Wang to register at jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com.
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MBEs Are Looking to Buy Corporate Assets and Business Units
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 The next phase of minority business development will be characterized by minority entrepreneurs buying business units or whole businesses that were once owned by non-minority owners or were publicly traded businesses. We want to encourage all of our corporate members to consider the GNEMSDC as source of willing and capable entrepreneurs who are interested in taking over divisions, business units, product lines or facilities. If your company is considering such strategic moves, we want to be in the mix.
We will keep all inquiries confidential. You should contact me directly at fmckinney@gnemsdc.org.
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The Housing Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB)
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Charles F. Greene Lighting Improvements
Solicitation No: 030-PD-12-S
Solicitation Date: August 16, 2012
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport is requesting sealed bids to replace existing light fixtures with new vandal resistant fixtures at Charles F. Greene Homes.All bids must be received by 10 a.m., Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 301 Bostwick Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time.
A Pre-Bid Conference/Site Walkthrough is scheduled for Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604, at 10:00 a.m. All interested bidders are strongly encouraged to attend to clarify the scope of work and the intent of the bid documents.
Proposed forms of contract documents are on file at the Purchasing Department, 301 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605 and can be picked up on Monday, August 27, 2012 after 1 p.m. attn: Ms. Caroline Sanchez, (203) 337-8820. A non-refundable check for $25.00 made out the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport is required. The Housing Authority City of Bridgeport reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any minor informality in the bidding process.
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Construction Opportunity at University of Connecticut Health Center
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Bid Opportunity:
Please find attached invitation to bid for UCHC Ambulatory Care Center, Farmington, CT. This project has SBE / MBE / WBE goals. SBEs / MBEs / WBEs ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE! (State of Connecticut certification is required). If you are interested in bid opportunities on this project, please complete the attached paperwork and email back to Angelo Trapani (sbdevelopment@walshgroup.com) or fax to 312-429-0651. Feel free to contact me (Angelo Trapani) if you have any questions.
Description:
Scope includes construction of new core & shell, site-work, and parking garage for UCHC Ambulatory Care Center (ACC). New core and shell building will be approximately 300,000 Gross Square Feet. Project also includes a new parking structure of approximately 1,200 cars.
Only interested construction industry specialty trade subcontractors and vendors need respond.
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Federal Government Opportunities - The OSDBU
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The federal government is entering into the final days of Fiscal Year 2012. Usually at this time of year, most departments of the federal government have money in their budgets that have not been spent. At a recent meeting I attended in Memphis, the Director of the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the Department of the Interior commented that there is a policy directive for departments across the federal government to use as many small businesses as possible when spending the remainder of their budgets.
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Office of the Secretary, is the primary point of contact for every federal department's small business program. The website for the Department of the Interior is http://www.doi.gov/pmb/osdbu/index.cfm. This website has informative documents including "Doing Business with DOI" and "Introduction to Interior Acquisitions: A Guide for Small Businesses". These documents provide an in-depth understanding of the Interior Department's procurement and small business program, and their eight decentralized bureaus and individual offices. Via the same website you may also obtain a directory of Small Business Specialistswho are positioned to assist you in gaining access to program managers and other decision-makers. The even better news is that they have OSDBUs within every department of the federal government.
Before you contact a Small Business Specialist, please ensure that you have a suitable capability statement (a sample capability statement is also available via the website above). Once you have produced your capability statement, please ensure that it addresses the need of that bureau or office. The Small Business Specialists is your direct contact for information regarding present and future solicitations or procurement opportunities.
Remember, the federal government is the largest procurement organization in the world. Have you tried to enter their supply chain?
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