April 24, 2014

On behalf of the GNEMSDC board of directors, I am proud to announce the 2014 MBE Nominees. 

1. Light Speed

2. Picture That

3. PrintabiliTees

1. Environmental Integrity

2. Horizon Services

3. Roxbury Technology

1. Essex Newbury North Contracting

2. Lancaster Packaging

3. Minute Man Trucks

5. PCNet

5. SAI Systems

Category 4 (Over $50,000,000)

Reciprocal (Companies Located Outside of Greater New England)

2. The Berrnd Group

3. World Wide Technologies

 And Finally

Why should you spend your hard earned money and take valuable time away from your stressed out, over worked, demanding schedule to put on a tuxedo or a gown and attend the GNEMSDC Gala on May 6 at the Aqua Turf?   This is a question I have to ask myself because I need to put myself in your shoes if there is any chance that we will have a successful event.  When I taught economics, I told my students that the answer to almost every question is "it depends".   However, "it depends" is not sufficient to answer the question fully or get a decent grade.  You need to explain what it depends on. 

The reason MBEs should attend the GNEMSDC Gala on May 6 is to market themselves and their companies.  I spend a significant amount of my time trying to connect MBEs to corporate buyers.  And I will add, that my success rate is only about 50 percent.  One thing that I know is that MBEs who attend can get their success rate up to 100 percent just by attending.  MBEs should attend with a game plan in hand on who they want to see and why.  MBEs also have to look at this as an excellent opportunity to call a corporate prospect or an existing client and invite them to attend as their guest.  I know that contracts will not be signed on May 6, but you have to start this process somewhere, and there is no better place to start a business relationship than at our Gala.  It should also be stated that MBEs need to attend because other MBEs and non-MBE competitors will be there talking to your existing clients.  Protecting your turf is important.

For corporate members, the answer to the question is a more nuanced.  Clearly, the corporate attendees can attend to show their support for the GNEMSDC.  Corporate members can also demonstrate to other corporate members, many of whom do business with each other, that supplier diversity is important enough to their companies that they support events like the Gala.  And corporate members can actually meet MBEs who are highly capable of becoming competitive and innovative suppliers to their supply chains. 

Then there is another important reason why both MBEs and corporate members should attend.   When you have an energetic large crowd of successful people, it creates an environment where people want to be part of that success in even greater ways.  Economists call these effects externalities.  Your being there provides great value to the mission of creating economic opportunity for MBEs.  This Gala is a visceral example of minority business development at work.  The event inspires both MBEs and corporate members to do more.  And the more people attend, the greater this externality.  So be a part of this and join us on May 6.  

In your service

Copyright � 2014 by Dr. Fred McKinney, President & CEO of The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council.  All rights reserved. No part of this online publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission from Dr. Fred McKinney. The graphics, forms and structure contained within this site are copyright of Dr Fred McKinney.  

Dr. Fred McKinney, President & CEO

Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council

203-288-9744