The "FY11 Supplier Diversity Program Kickoff and Networking Event" held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on October 20th, 2010 offered my minority and woman owned business enterprises (M/WBE) an amazing opportunity to network with potential business partners and a superb venue to establish the necessary relationships and contacts to succeed in the Massachusetts economy. Although this was a kick-off event, my relationship with the "Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office," host to this event, began much earlier this year when I first began to think about doing business with the public sector. Reggie Nunnally, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, and his exceptional staff have supported my business interests by offering invaluable seminars and personal one-on-one meetings which were critical to forming my two businesses: Precycle Inc. and Innovation District Advisors.

Precycle Inc. offers an innovative and cost-saving approach to the construction of large scale transportation projects (horizontal) coupled with the reuse of the same structural materials for publicly or privately funded residential developments (vertical). A full-life-cycle approach to the design, building and construction of horizontal and vertical structures is a great example of how smarter design can save money and promote better outcomes. In keeping with the Obama administration's Partnership for Sustainable Communities goals- Precycle's mission is to maximize the cost-savings associated with the reuse of costly materials and the reduction of demolition debris by building smarter and leaner. Precycle, Inc. will be an industry game changer by radically shifting the existing building paradigm- from build-demolition-landfill to build-dismantle-re-use, thereby creatively keeping structural materials intact for later re-use in both private and public horizontal construction projects--preserving the value of the labor and materials and dramatically reducing the waste generated by their disposal onto a landfill under the old paradigm. Our team of engineers, architects, and construction managers handle projects from conception to final build for both horizontal and vertical projects, with a targeted effort to include Brownfield site development. Not only will this methodology change the wasteful construction practices of the past- but it will clean up abandoned or contaminated sites for a better and healthier community of tomorrow. The resulting second-use structure will be extremely robust, enable creative uses, and will outlast their conventional counterparts.

The second business enterprise, Innovation District Advisors, grew as a direct result of the burgeoning clean tech industry in Massachusetts. The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston and The Boston Redevelopment Authority have fostered a ripe climate for the clean tech sector to thrive and expand which has created a need for professional services. Boston leads the way as a green tech hub with the support of The Boston Sustainable Business Leader Program and the Green Tech Initiative. Innovation District Advisors will support sustainable businesses in all their business, legal, planning, building and management needs here and beyond Boston. For more information, please feel free to contact me directly via email: cbaeza@precycleinc.com or by phone: 617-347-4776.

Done Right Building Services, Inc. provides a full range of facilities services for both corporate and government clients

Established in 1993, with corporate offices located at Four Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts, we employ over 170 employees in facilities located throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Our service solution is scalable and prepared for implementation throughout the United States and Canada.

Done Right Building Services, Inc. is a 100% minority-owned company and is certified by the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office and the New England Minority Supplier Development Council. We have experience in working with collective bargaining agreements and are signatory to the Service Employees International Union—AFL-CIO.

With a proven track record of performing at a high level of satisfaction, Done Right performs Janitorial, Mechanical Maintenance, Landscaping, and Snow Removal services for a wide range of clients. We offer our employees all of the tools, supplies and training necessary to ensure quality service. Being certified by the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office has given Done Right services the insight into government contracts; services and training necessary for us to compete on a level playing field.

Arvest Press Inc.
Mayda Chaprazian is the President of Arvest Press, a commercial printing company in Waltham, Massachusetts. After spending the early part of her career in the accounting departments of New Balance and Biogen. Mayda's financial management skills enabled her to grow the company at a steady pace.

Arvest Press specializes in high-quality, full-color printing. With their offset presses, digital color capabilities and in-house die-cutting, they can produce a wide range of jobs including short-run color, variable data, and custom die-cut projects. Arvest is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified, and uses soy-based inks and other green products to minimize its impact on the environment.

A key element to Arvest's success was to become a SDO certified, Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in 2003. That same year, Arvest also qualified as an OFF15 State contractor and expanded their clientele to include a number of State agencies. In 2008, they received the Best Performance Vendor Award from the Commonwealth's Supplier Diversity Program.

Arvest is an Armenian word meaning "art," and there has always been an artistic quality in the way the Chaprazians have managed their business. With Statewide Contractor (SWC) certification, Mayda and Harout found a way to successfully diversify their customer base, building a balance of clients from the public and private sectors. In April of 2011 Arvest Press will celebrate its 25th anniversary. They've achieved so much in their first twenty-five years in business, and look forward to the next round of challenges their future promises to bring. Mayda Chaprazian is also AN advisory board member to the Supplier Diversity Office.

Gangi Printing, Inc. is a full service printer and has been in business for over thirty-five years.

In the Mission Statement President Susan Gangi states "Our goal is to continue to offer our clients the exceptional quality and competitive pricing they have come to expect and most important, our number one priority, Great Customer Service."

What was once a small family business has become a progressive company that has kept pace with the ever changing Print Industry. Under the direction of Susan Gangi and her staff, digital printing has been incorporated into the offset printing environment. Whether it's a simple black & white photocopy or a full-color catalog, we have a printing solution that will meet your project requirements at a price you can afford. Special services are available including large format, variable data printing, promotional products, advertising specialties and textiles.

"Our SDO certification has definitely been a benefit to our company, whether it's participating in the Mass Housing Trade Fairs, SDP Networking events or partnering with other SDO certified businesses."

"Moving forward our goal is to increase sales by attending the excellent training sessions offered and working closely with the Supplier Diversity Office."