Last year when we came out with the first community giving newsletter, I knew many of my NCMSDC certified MBEs had experienced a difficult year. This made me question the efforts of the Council--my efforts--and then I heard a story of one of my MBEs who had a very difficult year, but still found the time and resources to give back to the community...<Read More>

If you live in the United States, you've heard of the San Francisco Giants.  If you follow sports, you also know that in November the Bay Area erupted in celebration as the Giants won the 2010 World Series.  Now, my purpose here is not to brag about the Giants-even though series MVP Edgar Renteria's homerun in the seventh was arguably one of the finest moments in the recent history of baseball.  Rather, my purpose is to show you how the Giants winning the World Series should serve as a metaphor for the Council in 2011...<Read More>

As Vice President of Operations, Procurement & Supply, Skip Skivington drives Kaiser Permanente's supplier diversity at the senior executive and presidential levels.  His leadership within Kaiser Permanente's National Supplier Diversity has directly impacted the company's purchase of products and services from minority, women, veteran, and small businesses in and outside of its regions: in 2009 alone, Kaiser Permanente spent more than $600 million with diverse suppliers...<Read More about Skip Skivington>
Kaiser Permanente in the Community

Two business owners in Brentwood, CA, dreamed of opening a free clothing store for 1 day and desired to feed people of the streets in Brentwood on Thanksgiving Day. When I was asked to volunteer, I knew immediately that this was something AV Images would like to be a part of.  I explained this invitation to our Founder, President and CEO, Shaun Gavagan. He immediately responded with, "I'm in, and I'd love to personally be a part of this."
<Read More>