Minority Business Month: Annual Awards for Supplier Diversity

www.mmbdc.com for details.

Minority business development — Why now more than ever - diversebusinessoppty's posterous

Minority business development — Why now more than ever

Fred McKinney, president and CEO of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council.

We have to go back to the Civil Rights era in the 1950s through the 1960s to understand fully why we are so concerned with minority business development. People sometimes forget that in the 1950s America suffered from its own unique brand of apartheid in all of the former Confederate states. And in most of the Northern states that had become a refuge for many blacks since the Civil War, the forms of segregation and discrimination existed in a less overt form. The desegregation of public accommodations, the right to vote, the ability to live and work without discrimination based on the color of one’s skin did not occur overnight and without sacrifice. Dedicated people of all races and creeds gave their lives to make America a place where race was not an insuperable impediment to accomplishing your dreams.

While change was progressing in areas of basic civil rights, and in educational and employment opportunities, minority business growth, the key to full participation in American culture, was slow to develop. Most Americans are unaware that Richard Nixon was the first president to push for black business development. He believed that his concept of “Black Capitalism” was a key missing ingredient in the Civil Rights struggle of the late 1960s. Nixon created the Office of Minority Business Enterprise to help blacks and other minorities, but particularly blacks, “get their piece of the action.”

From the very beginning of the federal program to promote minority business development, there were challenges from non-minority businesses that claimed it was unfair for the federal government, or any local or state government for that matter, to ameliorate hundreds of years of discrimination if it hurt a non-minority business. There has been vigorous opposition to change. As a result, legal challenges have narrowed the ability of public sector efforts to bring about racial and ethnic inclusion in American business.

A private sector initiative

Nonetheless, minority entrepreneurs have grown from close to oblivion to where we are today. The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) played a critical role in this development by taking the cause of minority business development to the private sector. Corporate members of the NMSDC pledged to give certified minority businesses opportunities. Certification was important because from the very beginning of the Nixon era programs, non-minority businesses were setting up “fronts” to steal opportunities away from legitimate minority enterprises. This practice continues to this day, and is particularly prevalent within the women’s business community. Despite the legal challenges, progress has been made even though today the federal government does not technically have a minority business procurement program. Federal contractors could meet all of their goals and not buy one dime of services from a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in our Council. This is one of the reasons why minority business development in the private sector is needed now more than ever.

Over the years, the push for racial diversity has increased. Ironically, the emphasis on minority business development in the public sector has waned, even while the push for racial diversity and inclusion elsewhere has grown. Indeed, diversity and inclusion are needed and are desirable. However, racial integration in other areas should not come at the expense of minority business development. This is a lesson that the best corporate members of the NMSDC understand; but unfortunately, that lesson is lost on many corporations.

In a tough economy like we have right now, corporations are not buying as freely as they once did. As a result, minority businesses and minority business development are at risk. The role of supplier diversity leaders is to make sure that minority business development and minority businesses are treated fairly in these difficult times and not just jettisoned from the supply chain. This takes real leadership and leadership takes guts. While there are other corporate goals, this is a corporate goal that is equally as deserving as any other for the long term health and survival of a corporation. Supplier diversity leaders must believe this, and if they do not, minority business development and minority businesses are in trouble.

Today’s challenge

I write much about how MBEs need to do this or they need to do that. Indeed, there are also some requirements for corporate leaders in minority business development. Primary among them is to get out in front of minority business development. They must make the case to internal stakeholders that even if a MBE is a little more expensive to do business with right now, it does not mean over the next few quarters that will be the case if the corporation is willing to “develop” that MBE. In baseball, the Yankees do not expect a Double-A shortstop to come in and replace Derek Jeter tomorrow. They do expect that Double-A shortstop to compete for that position one day. MBEs need to be brought into corporate supply chains so that one day they too will be able to compete for major business. Then they will be able to support the goals and objectives of the organization.

I am afraid that if corporations do not rededicate themselves to minority business development we will lose a generation of minority entrepreneurs who started their businesses with a dream to get their piece of the action. Make no mistake about it, we have much to be proud of in the brief history of minority business development. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.

Hear Dr. Fred on the Diverse Business show on Oct. 25! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diversebusiness

Minority business development — Why now more than ever - diversebusinessoppty's posterous

Career Fair: Revving Up the Motor City ….. Ready. Set. Go! Putting Detroit Back to WORK

Career Fair 2010

Revving Up the Motor City…Ready, Set, Go

Whether you are a job seeker, employer, or potential sponsor—we invite you to participate in the inaugural Revving Up the Motor City…Ready, Set, Go Career Fair—an event sure to help get Detroit back on its feet!

WHO:

CareerBuilder, Focus: HOPE, Fox 2 News, Kelly Services, and the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council are teaming up to host this event, featuring potential job opportunities with employers throughout the Metro Detroit area, as well as key employment tips for attendees.

WHEN: Thursday, October 7, 2010 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. WHERE: The Masonic Temple Detroit, MI (directions)

HOW:

The career fair will be divided into three sections:

• Ready – Detroit-area organizations will help job seekers become job-ready; covering topics from preparing a resume to dressing for interview success.
• Set – Job seekers will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a recruiter, job counselor, or coach to review qualifications for strengths and learn about job opportunities with participating employers on-site.
• Go – Employers will be talking to job seekers about available jobs—including seasonal, part-time, temporary, or full-time openings.

WHY:

To help put Detroit back to work!

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Job Seekers – no need to pre-register. Come to the Career Fair ready to make a connection to Detroit’s job opportunities. Employers – Reserve your booth space in the Go section of the career fair and connect to Detroit’s workforce. Sponsors – Let us know how you would like to participate. Various sponsorship levels are available for your convenience.

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We look forward to Revving Up the Motor City and getting Detroit back to work—see you there!

If you have any questions, please contact us at readysetgo@focushope.edu

or Ken Harris at 313.873.2141 (www.mmbdc.com)

Visit ReadySetCareerGo.com for more information on the event.

October is Minority Business Month - MMSDC Celebrates Supplier Diversity at Max Fisher Theatre

An Overview of Minority Business Certifications

And Celebrating the Stars of Supplier Diversity at 27th Annual Awards Program

There are minority business certifications available to assist small businesses in getting more work. Some are from the federal government, others local governments, and even some that are third-party certifiers for the corporate world. Following is a quick overview of some certifications that a minority small business can pursue.

8(a). The 8(a) certification is a designation given by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). The program is for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. The economic disadvantage is easily determined measuring business revenues and the owner's net worth. The socially disadvantaged part may be harder to determine as a narrative must be submitted with anecdotal evidence that the business is disadvantaged because of the ownership. There is a predetermined list of ethnic minorities that may have an easier time getting certified than others. Once certified a business and owner has a once in a lifetime span of nine years to leverage the 8(a) certification for government business.

The SBA 8(a) is probably the premier minority certification and can assist in getting other certifications.

[Optimizing resources is key to continued success in today’s diverse marketplace. Now, you can tap into a network of resources to save you time and money. 2010 Recertification]

HUBZone. The SBA HUBZone stands for Historically Underutilized Business Zone. It is a geographic designation and a business is allowed to moved its business primary offices into a designated zone to qualify. A HUBZone is determined by the previous census to find areas with high unemployment and/or high levels of poverty. Then businesses that have their principal office and a certain quota of employees who live in these zones qualify for the certification. This certification can help get federal contracts.

Local. Many states, municipalities, counties, etc. and their agencies have their own certification for their projects and contracts. Many times they accept other certifications in lieu of going through their own certifying process.

Minority Supplier Development Council. The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has a number of regional councils that certify businesses as being minority owned. This is a private certification that is used by Fortune 500 type companies diversify their vendor base. The regional councils typically have strong relationships with corporations that have a presence in their area, allowing certified minority owned small businesses a chance to get more work.

More information is available for minority business certifications. There is also more information available for specific certifications like the SBA HUBZone certification.

Optimizing resources is key to continued success in today’s diverse marketplace. Now, you can tap into a network of resources to save you time and money. 2010 Recertification

The Business of Running a Business with Melinda Emerson

Meet Melinda Emerson

Listen to internet radio with Diverse Business on Blog Talk Radio

Melinda Emerson, known as "SmallBizLady," is one of America's leading small business experts. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, social media strategist and small business coach and the Start-Up columnist for Small Business Trends.

Melinda has lectured on small business at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and Rosemont College and for clients including: IKEA, Verizon, GlaxoSmithKline, National Association of Women Business Owners, PA Governor's Conference for Women, U.S. Department of Labor, International Association of Business Communicators, the Small Business Administration, and the Center for Women's Business Research. Her areas of expertise include small business start-up, recession-proof marketing and social media strategy.

Melinda Emerson began her professional career in television as a producer. Within five years, inspired by Oprah Winfrey's HARPO Studios, Inc., she left television to pursue her entrepreneurial dream to create an award-winning production company. As the founder and CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda has created productions for clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Comcast and Radio-One. Melinda hosts #Smallbizchat a weekly talk show on Twitter. #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.

Melinda also blogs at Succeed As Your Own Boss. Emerson's first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works is being released in March 2010 by Adams Media. She has also recorded an audio CD, 10 Things You Must Never Forget in Business.

Melinda has been featured on NBC Nightly News and in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech. Melinda Emerson has also won numerous awards including Top 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania, Top 30 Leaders of the future by Ebony Magazine, and the National Association of Women Business Owners' Woman of Distinction Award. Melinda is a dedicated wife, mother and woman business owner who lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Website

http://www.melindaemerson.com/