And Finally... February 23, 2015

It was the second of the major snow storms this season. It started blowing and snowing on Sunday February 1 and by Monday everything from the NY line to Boston was closed. So that Monday morning, like every morning, despite the snow I let my two Springer Spaniels, Princess Aurora AKA Rory and Lord Bentley, AKA Bentley out to play in the snow. (Springer Spaniel breeders have this haughty tradition of giving their dogs, particularly show-dogs honorific names. Who am I to change traditions?) After a few minutes outside, I heard this uncharacteristic loud and persistent barking, so I put on my coat and snow boots and went around the back of the house through two feet of snow and found my lovely dogs had cornered a skunk.

I could immediately smell that the skunk defensively had sprayed both dogs. So I grabbed Bentley and while backing away from the skunk, I stood up underneath the four foot deck and hit the back of my head so hard that I fell to the ground. While on the ground with one dog still in hand, the skunk slinked right past my head. I am eye level with the critter, hoping that he does not also see me as a threat. Fortunately, he does not. I get both dogs into the house and the skunk runs off into the woods behind my house.

Two days and six showers later, I let them out again thinking that both the dogs and the skunk had learned their lessons and had arrived at some sort of territorial truce. Wrong! Again I hear the loud barking coming from the side of the house. I was literally on my way to work for a GNEMSDC board meeting that morning. Again, the skunk sprays both dogs. I get both dogs into the house again and into the shower for another set of showers. After my fourth shower of the morning, sans canines, and get dressed again to go the board meeting. In my haste and because by now, I cannot smell the pungent aroma of skunk on me anymore, I put on the same suit I had on when I retrieved the dogs from the skunk an hour earlier.

As soon as I walk into the office, Julia, Jose, Jennifer, Jerilynn and Diane start sniffing and they ask, "Do you smell a skunk?" I have to admit that I am the source of the offense. But now it is too late to go back home and change to be on time for the board meeting. So I start the board meeting with an apology for smelling like a skunk.  It was a meeting that unfortunately, did not have the smell of success.

After the board meeting I had a meeting with New Haven Mayor Toni Harp. On the advice of all I had come within sniffing range, I returned home, took another shower put my suit in a bag and changed clothes.

I wonder if there is a lesson here for anybody other than to not let your dogs play with skunks. Or perhaps more philosophically, if you hang out with people (dogs) who hang out with skunks, don't be surprised if you smell like a skunk - and you might not even realize it!

  

And Finally... February 17, 2015

One truth I have often shared with MBEs is that one day, they would be separated from the business that they created.  This separation could be the result of a change in control transaction, an illness or death, or the end of the business.  This truth also holds for those who lead any organization.  This day has come for me as well.  It is with a mixture of joy and sorrow that I announce my resignation as President and CEO of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council. 

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 7^th 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 40^th 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,