[NCMSDC Newsletter] Protect Your Company in Today's Economy, Green Talks, & More

Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council

NCMSDC Newsletter
Vol. 4, Issue 1

April/May 2009

Welcome

Welcome to the 2009 April/May edition of the NCMSDC newsletter. As most of you know, Scott A. Vowels has joined NCMSDC as President - please take the opportunity to meet him and provide your input regarding the Council. This newsletter is one of the ways the Council will be getting information to you in a timely manner. The NCMSDC website also has the latest information on events and opportunities - bookmark and visit it often.
Dave Vergara, NCMSDC Board Chair

A Special Message from the President

As President of the Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council (NCMSDC), I am constantly faced with finding the best methods for encouraging growth in the minority business sector. It is an important issue for both the 565-plus certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and our many NCMSDC Corporate Partners.

Before going any further, I think it is important to understand today's economic environment, which has led to making the success of minority businesses an important issue for ourselves and others.

The Changing Face of America

According to the latest figures from the Census, Latinos are 13.4 percent of the American population, African Americans 12.7 percent, Asian Americans 4.2 percent, and Native Americans 1.5 percent. Melvin Gravely, author of the best-selling book, When Black and White Make Green: The Next Evolution of Race, says that "a person over the age of 70 has a 20 percent chance of being a person of color. Yet a child under the age of 10 has a 75 percent chance."

In a recent article, Partnership: The Path to Economic Empowerment, Carl Darden, Sr. Vice President of U.S. Operations for UPS, quoted a study from the Milken Institute that concluded "economic growth can't be sustained without the inclusion of minority businesses and an infusion of capital into those businesses."

This conclusion is based on the premise that entrepreneurs tend to drive innovation, which leads to job growth, and that minority businesses are a key part of that equation. There is no disputing the correlation between the current need for job growth within the minority community and the growth of minority businesses as a source of job creation.

Therefore, resolving the mismatch between minority businesses serving as a major source of job creation and their historic lack of access to capital has been called one of "the greatest economic policy challenges in this country and this century."

The solution lies in the ability of the MBE community to create viable relationships that are both relevant and mutually beneficial to all parties involved. I will be exploring, defining and offering advice concerning this relationship dynamic in future newsletters... it is that important!

NCMSDC in 2009
Major corporations have only three requirements for doing business with them: (1) the right product (2) the right price and (3) on-time delivery. There are several NCMSDC certified MBEs that are either capable right now or, with a little tweaking, will be able to meet Corporate America's needs.

In 2009, you will be hearing the NCMSDC name in conjunction with several other progressive, like-minded organizations throughout the state of California. These relationships will allow NCMSDC to grow, evolve and better serve both our corporate partner customer base and our certified MBE community.

At NCMSDC, our vision is to promote and advance minority supplier development by being the premiere organization in the Northern California/Hawaii region that connects Minority Business Enterprises with corporate members committed to supplier diversity. Rest assured that I, as your new President, am committed to this vision.

Council News

News from D.C.

NCMSDC President Scott A. Vowels, Vice President Melissa N. Buss, and MBEIC Chair Don Stoneham visited Washington, D.C. from April 20th-April 24th with more than thirty presidents from the NMSDC network, each of whom met with their respective representatives. NCMSDC's focus was to make our Congresspeople aware of the new direction of the Council and to begin creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the Council and our Representatives.

Prior to traveling to D.C., President Vowels and Vice President Buss also met with Ricci Graham from Representative Barbara Lee's office. Both parties are looking forward to working more closely with Representative Lee in future to determine how they can best leverage their resources for mutual benefit.

Protect Your Company in Today's Economy

The Council would also like to alert our MBEs about many corporations' alarming responses to the current economy: dissolving supplier diversity programs and limiting MBE spend. Two of our prominent MBEs from Classes 1 and 2 have experienced this firsthand when corporations slashed their lines of credit and forced them out of deals.

What should you do to protect yourself? 1. Be aware that this is happening to MBEs that you know and could happen to you; 2. Be prepared, proactive, and ready to safeguard your business; 3. Remember that the Council is here as your advocate; and 4. Remember that you belong to a network of over 560 other MBEs who collectively have the buying power of a multi-billion dollar business.

Together, by continuing to support each other and engaging in MBE-to-MBE spend, we will not just survive but thrive. Also, be sure to thank our corporate members for their unparalleled support during these challenging times! The Council is proud that our corporate members recognize (and have always recognized) the importance of supplier diversity and acknowledge that diversity is crucial in any economy, as well as a vital element of a healthy supplier landscape.

One MBE's Experience with Credit Line Cutbacks and How They Saved Their Company

MBE Demographics

<CLICK HERE FOR MORE>

Meet the MBE Input Committee

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the NCMSDC Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC). The MBEIC is a Standing Committee of NCMSDC that acts as the voice representing NCMSDC's certified MBEs and functions as an influential and results-driven body... <READ MORE>

Congratulations to our 2008 Excellence in Supplier Diversity Award Winners!

Click Here to View Our Winners!
Click Here to View Our Gala Thank You Page!

Check back soon to view the awards video and live footage from the gala.

How To Access Our Contracting Opportunities Page

We are constantly striving to provide increased value to our certified minority businesses. As part of that mission we are providing a list of contracting opportunities on our website, available only to our certified MBEs.

Here is how to access this information:

Login under MBE Login
Click on the Vendor Opportunities link
You will see a list of all available contracting opportunities
Click on the name of the opportunity to view more information

As we receive contracting information it will be posted and individual opportunity notifications may not be sent, so check back frequently to prevent missing out on these opportunities.

NCMSDC Corporate Advocate

Denise Coley

Director, Global Supplier Diversity

Business Development

Cisco Systems, Inc.

For over 10 years, Denise Coley has been an active NCMSDC Board Member, going above and beyond the call of duty to provide the Council with leadership and insight strengthened by her years of experience working within supplier diversity. Since 2006, Denise and Cisco have won 13 awards, most notably The First Lady of Supplier Diversity and Corporate Advocate of the Year. Additionally, she has been featured as one of Diversity Plus Magazine's Top 25 Women of Power Impacting Diversity. Denise's work as Director of Global Supplier Diversity Business Development has enabled her to have a global impact on Cisco's supplier diversity program: since she began Cisco's program nine years ago, it has successfully gone global in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, China, and South Africa. The program's mission to increase customer satisfaction and enhance sourcing through global supplier diversification has greatly enhanced Cisco's business reach and further demonstrated its enduring commitment to supplier diversity.

NCMSDC would like to thank Denise for her dedication to the Council and honor her extraordinary work within the field of supplier diversity. She is an outstanding example of supplier diversity advocacy and we feel extremely fortunate to have her support and leadership.

NCMSDC Corporate Advocate

Mitzi Murakami

Senior Consultant, National Supplier Diversity
Kaiser Permanente

For the past 15 years, Mitzi Murakami has served as an advocate and mentor to many minority businesses and organizations supporting supplier diversity. As Kaiser Permanente's Senior Consultant for National Supplier Diversity, she is responsible for supplier diversity efforts and outreach in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Colorado. Additionally, Mitzi is actively engaged with SCMBDC, serving as Chair of their Programs Committee, a member of their Board of Directors, and an Executive Committee Member. She also currently serves as Chair of the Programs & Training Committee for NCMSDC and as a member of the Business Advisory Council for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California. Her past involvement includes serving on the Business Advisory Council for the ABA and the MBOC for the Mayor of San Francisco's Office of Economic Development, among many other roles. She has also won numerous awards, such as NCMSDC's 2004 Corporate Coordinator of the Year Award and ABA, Inc.'s 2004 Community Outreach Award.

The Council is grateful for Mitzi's involvement and would like to thank her for her dedication to both NCMSDC and the field of supplier diversity. Her exceptional work as a champion of minority supplier development and her passionate advocacy on the Council's behalf demonstrate her outstanding leadership in the field of supplier diversity, and the Council deeply appreciates her participation and support.

NCMSDC & TSAO Design Group Featured in NMSDC Article

Click here to read the June 2009 Newsletter of the Regional Council Presidents of NMSDC, "Sustaining Businesses, Creating Jobs." The newsletter features President Vowels in the article "Working on a New Spend" and Jonathan Tsao, Founder & Principal of TSAO Design Group, a NCMSDC-certified MBE and winner of NCMSDC's 2008 Supplier of the Year Award, Class 2.

DBA Announcement in Oakland Tribune

NCMSDC's Doing Business As (DBA) Announcement will run in the Oakland Tribune's May 5th, May 12th, and May 19th issues. The Tribune made the first announcement on April 28th.

Strategic Alliance Partners

NCAABA

The National Council of Asian-American Business Associations (NCAABA) is a 501(c)-3 organization that serves as the national voice for the Asian American business community. Because Asians have over 30 ethnicities in one major minority group, it is essential to have a non-profit organization like National CAABA unite Asian business organizations and chambers to create effective positive change...
<READ MORE>

American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California is an organization committed to providing opportunities for networking and support of American Indian business people in California, providing a mentor's environment for those individuals beginning new endeavors, and establishing a vehicle for education, networking and growth opportunities... <READ MORE>

Green Talks: A Q&A Series with Companies Going Green

Maurice H. Brewster

President, Mosaic Global Transportation NCMSDC-Certified MBE
Industry: Transportation

Why and how did you decide to make your business green-and how has it contributed to your success?

We wanted to make a statement that the transportation industry, one of the industries that negatively contributes to greenhouse gases in our environment, could make every attempt to make a difference. With the combination of paying for Carbon Offsets and adding Hybrids to our limousine fleet, we are doing our corporate duty and helping the environment... <CLICK HERE for Tips on Going Green>

If you would like to participate in Green Talks or would like to recommend a green company, please email us.

Success Story: Meet the Buyers

As a direct result of the Chevron Meet the Buyers April 6th matchmaking sessions, Crunchy Foods was offered the opportunity to do business with Guckenheimer. Vasquez Coffee Company will also be working with Guckenheimer to identify opportunities of mutual benefit. Congratulations to our MBEs and thank you once again to Chevron for making this event a success!

Success Story: ATR International

ATR International
won CalWORKs' 2008 Employer of the Year Award for their participation in hiring and providing support to CalWORKs clients, as well as their active role in assisting participants to create plans for success and acquire the tools they need to prepare for employment. ATR International was recognized at the CalWORKs award ceremony in San Jose, California.

Success Story: Cook & Schmid and D.W. MORGAN

Cook & Schmid credits the Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council (NCMSDC) for their six-figure contract with D.W. Morgan. Both firms are NMSDC-certified and their participation in MBE-to-MBE spend is emblematic of President Vowels's 360 degree spend concept, wherein cash flows from MBE to MBE, MBE to corporation, and corporation to MBE. While the Cook & Schmid and Morgan cultures turned out to be an excellent match, both firms attest to the important role that NCMSDC played in establishing their business relationship. "We literally would never have found each other without attending the Council's networking events," said Jon Schmid, Partner of Cook & Schmid.

Success Story: GoAhead Solutions, LLC

GoAhead Solutions, LLC, has experienced dynamic revenue growth from 4.5 million in 2007 to 7.1 million in 2008, which President and CEO Jaime Mendoza attributes to becoming certified with NCMSDC and attending events (he opened up a new line of business with an MBE he met at his first networking event). Jaime believes that the Council has given his company an edge as a minority vendor that has enabled it to compete with larger companies. Additionally, its minority status has positioned GoAhead Solutions, LLC to do business with national companies looking to meet their minority spend goals. Jaime's recommendations for other MBEs struggling to survive in today's economy are ...<READ MORE>

Success Story: Jeff Hatchell