| GNEMSDC Trade Expo and Conference 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
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 |
| GNEMSDC "Shark Tank" at the Trade Expo September 30 |
 Before there was a "Shark Tank" program, the GNEMSDC had a "Speed Presentation" program as part of our Trade Expo. This was one of the most popular and fun parts of the Expo, and for some inexplicable reason, we dropped it. Well it is back for the 2014 GNEMSDC Trade Expo with a revised focus and structure.
This year on Tuesday, September 30 after the MBE Sponsors' Luncheon, we will feature a program that gives MBEs a chance to compete for $5,000 in cash that will be awarded to the best presentations on your "Value Proposition". That's right; $5,000 in cash. Here are the rules. You must be a certified MBE or DBE or MBDA client. You will have 10 minutes to state you value proposition. A panel of senior procurement officers from the GNEMSDC corporate membership will make the call on who made the best value proposition presentations.
All interested MBEs, DBEs and MBDA clients, must be registered or the entire Expo and must contact Jennifer Little-Greer by email, indicating your interest to participate in the program. Space and time are limited. So get your emails in early.
The goal here is not simply to have a good time. The goal is to have MBEs work on presenting their value proposition concisely and effectively. There will be no power point presentations or props allowed. It is just you, your brain and your mouth. If we are over subscribed we may contact all of the interested parties and hold a preliminary qualifying competition. Get ready!
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| MBE Luncheon Speaker - Beverly Kuykendall |
 We are pleased to announce that Beverly Kuykendall has accepted our invitation to speak on September 30 at the GNEMSDC MBE Sponsors' Luncheon at the Mohegan Sun. Ms. Kuykendall is the President of Government Business for American Medical Depot out of Miramar, Florida. American Medical Depot is one of the largest MBE firms serving the health care and hospital industry. I have had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Kuykendall for many years and have seen her make inspiring, informative and stimulating presentations at events acres the country on the topic of contracting with the public sector and with health care. Please see her bio. For MBEs interested in public sector contacting, particularly with the Federal government, you will not hear a more knowledgeable business leader.
American Medical Depot was founded in 1993 by Sukrit Agrawal. Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, the company boasts of over 350,000 product, 2,000 suppliers, 180 employees, multiple distribution centers and a comprehensive line of products, equipment and services.
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| GNEMSDC 2014 Shining Stars |
Jill Davis Kone
Ms. Davis Kone has 20 years experience as a marketing professional working in a variety of industries at companies such as 1-800-Flowers, World Color, Columbia Business School, and most recently, The MATLET Group, a certified minority business enterprise.
During her time with The MATLET Group, she has been active with the Greater New England MSDC, serving as chair of the MBEIC Education sub-committee and assisting at New MBE orientations.
In June of this year, Jill joined the team at The New York and New Jersey MSDC as Director of Corporate Services. In this role, Ms. Davis Kone will be expanding the Council's outreach to develop relationships with corporations and agencies in New York and New Jersey that are looking to hire and work with certified minority-owned businesses. Jill lives with her husband, Jack in New York City.
 Lawrence Wooten is now the President and CEO of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. Earlier this year and for the previous three years, Mr. Wooten served as the Chairman of the Board for the GNEMSDC while working as the Supplier Diversity Leader at Pitney Bowes. I have known and worked with Lawrence for over 12 years, and over that time I came to respect his passion and dedication to Supplier Diversity. Lawrence is being recognized as a Shining Star because of long service to the GNEMSDC. Mr. and Mrs. Wooten will come back to Connecticut for the Expo. Lawrence and Janice now live in Oakland, California. |
| Volunteers Needed for the GNEMSDC Trade Expo |
If you are interested in volunteering to work at the GNEMSDC EXPO this year. Please email Jerilynn Clarke for Additional Information.
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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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Boston MBDA Business Center CEO Roundtable
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 GSA SCHEDULES BASICS
August 27, 2014 * 8:00am -10:00am
The Palladium Room * 2 Copley Place, 4th Floor * Boston, MA 02116
Featuring:
Len Green, Procurement Advisor with
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Learn about the following services offered by PTAC:
GSA Schedules:
Benefits
Process for application
Pitfalls
Marketing
Competition
Space is limited!
Please RSVP to Joanne Wang by 8/22: jwang@bostonmbdacenter.com
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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. Here is what Ron Williams, a participant last year had to say about his experience:
"As a participant of the Inaugural Session of GNEMSDC Advanced Leadership Program (GALP), who also attended (AMEP/Kellogg in 2005), I was most impressed with the program content, as well as, the presentations of several quality Speakers, such as Steven Rogers, who was a Professor instructing at my Kellogg session.
I would encourage any MBE Supplier who is able to attend this years' GALP to do so. Please let me know your impression of the program as well."
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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Corporate Member of the Week: United Rentals
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 United Rentals, Inc. (URI) is the world's largest equipment rental company. At United Rentals, Inc., we proactively seek diverse suppliers. We believe that companies that actively embrace diversity and consistently demonstrate their commitment to the many communities they serve, establish a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. United Rentals' Supplier Diversity program plays an important role in our company's overall commitment to enhance the growth and development of the communities we serve. The ever-changing nature of the economy requires us to remain competitive. All companies must proactively reach out and include the broadest range of people, ideas, products and services possible. United Rentals' Supplier Diversity program does just that.
Please click for more information.
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| Supplier Diversity Online Course |
 BENEFITS:
* Participants earn 18 Continuing Education Units (ISM) and gain valuable new skills at their own pace.
* Self-paced
* Participants who complete and pass a final assessment earn a completion certificate of 18 credits in Supplier Diversity from NMSDC/Rutgers University.
The course is open to NMSDC Affiliate Council Presidents.
Questions? Send questions to SDOnline@nmsdc.org or contact Maggie.Chaparro@NMSDC.org. |
Legal Series for MBEs Starts September 12 at GNEMSDC Bridgeport
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 Choosing a Corporate Structure and Understanding the Tax Implications - The choice of business entity is often a confusing decision. This presentation will explain the differences among the various entity types. Specifically, the presentation will cover the types, formation and management requirements, differences in liability protection and tax consequences of each business entity. At the end of the program you should have a good understanding of which entity is best suited for your business. |
| FYI |
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Penn National Gaming Opportunities
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 Penn National Gaming (PNG) is a new corporate member of the GNEMSDC. I am working very closely with PNG on their development and expansion of their Plainville, MA race track to include slot machines. As a member of their diversity committee, I have been provided insight into their plans and their opportunities. There will be over $75 million in new construction opportunities on this project and many millions of dollars of on-going product and service needs once the doors to the new facility are open. We know that things like furniture, signage, audio visual, IT equipment, landscaping, and janitorial will be open for bidding. PNGG has set an internal goal of 16 percent minority spend on the project.
I encourage MBEs interested in these opportunities to register on PNG's website,
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Invitations for Bid and Opportunities
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Prequalification forms icon can be found on the left corner of the page.
Invitation for Subcontractors can be found in the Prequal Library which provides a good summary of the bidding process and bidding packages (ranging $20,000 to $15,900.00) More information will be provided for the next outreach program in West Hartford in the next newsletter.
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| And Finally... |
Diversity is a fact, not a strategy.
This has truly been a summer of discontent. From the brutal and savage wars between Israel and the Palestinians, the Ukrainians and the Russians, Sunnis and the Shias, the Syrians and the Syrians, the Ebola virus and the West Africans, the police force of Ferguson Missouri and the community of Ferguson and the Americans and the children of Honduras, the world appears to be on fire. If there are lessons from the turmoil impacting every corner of the world, one such lesson is that diversity is not a strategy - diversity is a fact.
Because of improved communication, technology, and transportation the world is considerably smaller than it was even twenty years ago. We are now literally and figuratively, on top of one another. This proximity to one another combined with the fact that our technology of destruction has advanced beyond our technology of tolerance, has resulted in much of what is wrong today.
The diversity that we praise is evident in every part of the world. Diversity is a reality that no one can deny. Yet, we have demonstrated that diversity in and of itself can be as divisive a force as it can be basis of a more just and humane society. It is clear to me that religious diversity, ethnic diversity, racial diversity , political diversity continue to the source of what Bob Marley sang about in the song, "So Much Trouble in the World."
We need to go beyond diversity to embrace strategies that turn this unchanging reality into a better world. We do not need a strategy to become more diverse. We are more diverse. We need a strategy to take advantage of that diversity. This must start with three things that are the basis of a strategy; tolerance, empathy, and compassion.
Diversity without tolerance can motivate exploitation, death and destruction. Tolerance requires something that goes beyond religion, ethnicity, gender and race. Tolerance requires humility and acceptance. We must be humble enough to accept the fact that we are all special, and that we are no more special than anyone else. This is hard in a world where people are taught to believe that they are chosen or superior to others. This tolerance must in fact trump our religious tendencies to believe that our God is better than your God. If given the philosophical choice of religious intolerance or the belief in no-God with human tolerance; I would say the latter is a superior belief system from the perspective of peace. We are all chosen, or we are all infidels any other combination is deadly.
In addition to tolerance, we must also exhibit empathy. As business leaders, we are in a position to help those who need our help. We know that in business we make choices every day and that we cannot assist everyone that needs our help. Yet, in this diverse world, empathy towards the needs of others allows us to appreciate the diversity in our world. Walking a mile in someone else's shoes makes possible the conversion of a purely intellectual understanding of diversity to a visceral and behavioral understanding of diversity. We are familiar with the right words on corporate statements supporting diversity, but how many corporate CEOs have visited with an early stage minority entrepreneur that dreams of business success against great odds? The fact of the matter is, an individual or a corporation cannot pay for empathy with money. The only currency empathy accepts is time.
And finally, without compassion diversity is only a shell without a soul. Action to correct discrimination, past and present, is required. Action is the life force that coverts the goal of diversity into a reality. In our world of corporate supplier diversity, it is a passive act to provide MBEs and WBES with opportunity information. This is good and necessary. But compassion in supplier diversity requires us to go beyond being a disseminator of information. We must become active advocates for diverse businesses that include converting information into contracts, employment and growth. Professionals in positions that include diversity as a responsibility cannot be successful without this compassion. I wish I knew how to teach compassion, but we clearly need more of it.
We have great problems around the world that are related to the fact of diversity. Unfortunately, there are "leaders" who are exploiting that diversity in ways that divide us instead of uniting us. We need leaders that show tolerance, empathy and compassion. If you are in a position to make a decision, you are potentially one of those leaders. While you may not bring peace to the world, your tolerance, empathy and compassion can improve your small corner of it.
In your service,Dr. Fred  |
