Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council 
NCMSDC Newsletter
Vol. 4, Issue 3
August/September 2009 

Message from Our Board Chair

 
Dave
 
Three-quarters of the year has already passed, and during this time NCMSDC has worked to host efficient networking and matchmaking events for our Corporate Members and MBEs and offer educational seminars to help our MBEs grow their knowledge base on a variety of topics... <READ MORE>
 

A Special Message from the President

 
Scott (small version)
What you know will make or break you in today's environment!
This is the first of a 2-part series I am writing and probably one of the most important pieces I have ever written for our MBE community. It has been said many times and I believe that we as Entrepreneurs are always either coming in to the storm, in the midst of the storm or coming out of the storm.  Right now I think it is safe to say that most of us are still in the midst of this economic storm. I believe there are signs that we will soon emerge, and I know "soon" is a relative term, but nonetheless in times like these we need to focus on the fundamentals, i.e. what we need to "know" in order to not only survive but thrive in today's economy.

Below, I have listed what you MUST KNOW TODAY about your company to thrive... <CLICK HERE TO READ SCOTT'S LIST>
 

Do's & Don'ts for Identifying Your Company as a Certified MBE

 
Certified MBE Logo
 
DO's
On your marketing materials, collateral, banners, website, and any additional marketing outlets, you may use any of the following... <CLICK HERE FOR GUIDELINES & DOWNLOADS>
 

Council News 

 
Council News
NCMSDC President Scott A. Vowels and Vice President Melissa Buss were pleased to have the opportunity to attend the following events to network with new and current MBEs and corporate members, as well as promote the Council... <READ MORE>
 

Lt. Governor Helps NCMSDC Re-Open Doors to Hawaii

 
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Duke AionaIn August, NCMSDC staff traveled to Oahu to begin establishing communication and outreach to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) in the state of Hawaii.  As a key component of its outreach strategy, the Council hosted a series of six events featuring the themes "Are You Ready to Do Business with Corporate America?," "How to Navigate Corporate America," and "Doing Business with Disney & Johnson Controls, Inc."  Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona opened our first event with an informative overview of MBEs in Hawaii today (there are over 58,000).  His belief that diversity is Hawaii's strength as a state, as well as his concern that out of the more than 15,000 NMSDC certified MBEs across the nation only 22 were Hawaii MBEs both served to emphasize his point that MBEs must take advantage of the opportunities offered to grow their business... <READ MORE>
 

What Corporate Buyers Expect Webinar

 
What Corporate Buyers Expect You to Do
 (and How to Do It!)
Presenters
 
Hewlett-Packard Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Akraya Inc.
 
Who: ALL Certified & Non-Certified MBEs
When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, 11:00AM - 12:15PM PST
Where: Online Webex Webinar 

Contact: [email protected] or www.ncmsdc.org

All Money is Green: A MBE-to-MBE Spend Event

 
Sponsored by
 Kaiser Permanente
 
Who: ALL Certified & Non-Certified MBEs
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, 5:30PM - 7:30PM PST
Where: Maxwell's Restaurant & Lounge

Contact: [email protected] or www.ncmsdc.org
 

MBE Input Committee Update

 
MBEICAs Minority-, Small-, Women-, and Disabled Veteran-owned Business Enterprises we are very fortunate to have President Obama in office.  The President really believes in the future of small and minority businesses, as evidenced by the more than $100 Billion that the government is pumping into California's economy... <READ MORE>
 

NCMSDC Corporate Advocate

Tanya NixonTanya Nixon
NCMSDC Corporate Advocate
Senior Supplier Diversity Consultant
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
 
Tanya Nixon is responsible for internal and external supplier diversity operations at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which includes collaborating with their line of business champions, sourcing and key stakeholders to develop and align business and functional strategies to drive PG&E's supplier diversity goals... <READ MORE about Tanya>
 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company initiated supplier diversity in 1980 to promote business and increase opportunities for women, minority, and service disabled veteran owned suppliers...<READ MORE about PG&E>
 

Virgin America & Way To Be Designs

 
NCMSDC is proud to announce that Virgin America, a new corporate member and sponsor, has selected a NCMSDC certified MBE, Way To Be Designs, LLC, as their business partner to create the Virgin America Company Store, which will provide logo merchandise for employees and eventually the general public.  Virgin America approached the Council to assist them in finding companies that matched their requested needs and created its bidding pool using only NCMSDC certified MBEs.  When selecting a finalist from the list of capable and competitive MBEs, Virgin America chose...<READ MORE>

 

Strategic Alliance Partner

 
BEC
The Importance of the Black Economic Council

The mission of the Black Economic Council (BEC) is to promote the self-sufficiency of Black American and Low to Moderate Income communities overall.  Why is the BEC needed?  This organization is needed to ensure that Black Americans are included in the economic development of America, especially in communities of color... <READ MORE>
 

How to Build a Lasting Relationship w/Corporations: Kaiser Permanente & World Wide Technology

 
World Wide Technology, Inc.'s highly successful business relationship with Kaiser Permanente was not formed overnight.  Through the diligent efforts of both World Wide Technology (WWT) and Kaiser Permanente, they have established a mutually beneficial, solid relationship that exemplifies the ideal business exchange between a NCMSDC certified MBE and a corporate member... <CLICK HERE FOR TIPS>
 

AABE Northern CA Chapter Seeking New Members

  Tita Gray
Founded in 1977, the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is an energy policy and educational organization with 36 active chapters in seven geographic regions in the United States.  On June 13th 2009, the Northern California Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) was reactivated and is now actively recruiting all minority professionals who work, teach, or are studying in the energy industry and all energy related disciplines (oil, gas, electricity, nuclear, renewables, government, technology, energy services and water).  Please note that if you would like to join the Northern California Chapter, you must send an email to AABE Northern California Chapter President Tita Gray at [email protected]...<READ MORE>

 

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

 
TSAO Design SFOAmber Zimmerman
Marketing Director, LEED AP 
TSAO Design Group, NCMSDC Certified
Industry: Architecture & Interior Design Services


What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is the building certification program of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).  Of the many "green design" designations and credentials, LEED AP is the most difficult to achieve, the most sought after and therefore the most widely accepted program... <TIPS FOR TAKING THE LEED EXAM>
 
If you would like to participate in Green Talks or would like to recommend a green company, please email us.
 

"No Pomp, No Circumstance, Strictly Business" Expo Recap

 
2009 Minority Business Opportunity Expo
 
Our "No Pomp, No Circumstance, Strictly Business" Expo in San Jose on August 6 was a success, with more than 420 corporations, minority business enterprises, and affiliates in attendance.  Sponsored by Apple Inc., the Expo helped the Council connect its MBEs with corporations and Top Tier MBEs with viable contracting opportunities... <READ MORE>

Business After Hours Mixer a Success

 
On July 23, 2009, NCMSDC co-hosted a Business After Hours Mixer with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, and the Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce.  Certified MBE Silicon Valley Systech, Inc. sponsored the event, which attracted more than 50 NCMSDC certified MBEs and corporate members and over 180 total attendees.  The Council would like to extend a special thank you to all the participating Chambers of Commerce and Silicon Valley Systech, Inc.'s CEO and President Harry Singh for making our Business After Hours Mixer a great success!

 

Government Contracts through BidSync

 
Interested in government contracts?  Check out BidSync, an online database of government contracts, government bids, and RFPs.  BidSync's free registration offers you unlimited access to thousands of current government bids... <READ MORE>
 

Success Story: D-Unique Tools

 
D-Unique Tools Nanette D-Unique Tools, a NCMSDC Certified MBE, was included in an article in Black Enterprise Magazine written by Gloria Johnson-Goins, Chief Diversity Officer for The Home Depot.  The article "Building Strategic Partnerships through Supplier Diversity" describes how Nanette Hunter, President of D-Unique Tools, grew her business from "a single store to an all-store program."  It also highlights the success of supplier diversity in the procurement process.
 
If you have a success story you would like to share, please email us!

Success Story: Agape Enterprises Consulting

 
Agape Enterprises Consulting, a NCMSDC Certified MBE, was interviewed by San Mateo County Times reporter David Morrill about business matchmaking.  In Morrill's article, "These First Dates are Serious Business," Agape President and NCMSDC MBE Input Committee Chair Don Stoneham describes his experiences as an attendee of many trade shows...<READ MORE>
 
If you have a success story you would like to share, please email us!
Promoting Minority Supplier Development for Over 30 Years
New logo
In This Issue
Do's & Don'ts for Identifying Your Company as a Certified MBE
Council News
Lt. Governor Helps NCMSDC Re-Open Doors to Hawaii
9/30 Webinar
All Money is Green (10/7)
MBEIC Update
Corporate Advocate: Tanya Nixon
Virgin America & Way To Be
Strategic Alliance Partner: BEC
Kaiser Permanente & World Wide Technology
AABE Northern CA Chapter Seeking New Members
Green Talks: TSAO Design Group
Expo Recap
Business After Hours Mixer a Success
BidSync
Success Stories
Special Community Service Issue
Certification Tip
Featured in Our Blog
Resources
Board of Directors
About Us
Photograph Credits
Sign-up for our Newsletter 
NCMSDC
Annual Sponsors
Leadership
Union Bank
 
Diamond 
 Chevron Corporation
 Cisco
 
Gold
Brocade
Hewlett-Packard Company
Kaiser Permanente
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
 
Silver
Lockheed Martin Corporation
 
Bronze
Apple Inc.
AT&T
Robert Half International
Virgin America
Wells Fargo 
 
Visit Our Sponsor Page
Special Community Service Newsletter
MBEs & Corporate Members: Send Us Your Stories!
The Council will be devoting our Oct/ Nov e-Newsletter to your community service stories.
If you would like to be featured, please send an article (less than 180 words) about your company's volunteerism and an applicable photo, if available, to [email protected] by COB on Oct. 28.
MBEs: remember that per National the article can't contain promotional info, e.g. "X is a multi-billion dollar co. specializing in x."
Certification Tip of the Month
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Director of Certification
Christine Liwai Garcia
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Valerie Hill
Website Services & Office Manager
Mission
Our mission is to provide Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) in Northern California and Hawaii with nationally-recognized certification and to connect corporate members with NCMSDC-certified minority suppliers.

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P. 510.686.2555
F. 510.686.2552
[email protected]
 
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