Supplier Diversity Summit

The Supplier Diversity Business Summit took place on June 25, 2010. The event, engineered by Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity, was historic and the first of its kind. There were over 200 attendees. Its purpose was to create a space to provide access to information and resources pertaining to women and minority-owned businesses. The day entailed the unveiling of the new Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) - formerly SOMWBA and AMP; access to state, federal and quasi-public contracts and business services, as well as business development and advocacy services available through the private sector.

The Lt. Governor, Tim Murray, set the stage for the day with opening remarks. Several panels followed providing "How to" and "Where to go" information for business owners. Michael Hunter, Undersecretary for the Department of Business Development, provided a key note address during lunch that spoke to larger themes of how each business plays a role in the working and living environment that we call the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Town Hall Meeting was a forum of more substantive topic matters to address particular concerns of participants. It could be summed up by the words of Reginald Nunnally, Executive Director of the SDO, "It's a new day!" These words translated meant that we (the Commonwealth of MA) want people to be informed and afforded real access to opportunities that exist in state government and we also want to be held accountable to provide necessary assistance and make real change happen.

Sentiments expressed throughout the day were that the event had a good turnout; it was timely in that it addressed questions around what was happening with SOMWBA and AMP; participants were impressed with the depth and breadth of the panels and moderators and their accessibility to converse between panel sessions; the event tied together how state and federal entities and services are related and business owners were able to tangibly see the benefits to their own companies; people were happy to see old colleagues and network with new contacts; most importantly, people found the information provided during the event to be meaningful and for some, able to change the course of their business.

Client Spotlight

Ms. Linda Samuels        
Premier Capital By-The-Sea, LLC (WBE):

Linda Samuels is the CEO of Premier Capital By-The-Sea, a certified WBE, which she founded in 2004. She holds her Executive MBA from Suffolk University, Master of Science Degree in Population Genetics as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Samuels earned numerous national teaching awards including Distinguished Alumnae Award from the University of Cincinnati, Presidential Award Finalist, and an Award for Excellence in Encouraging Equity. In Massachusetts, she was awarded Outstanding Biology Teacher and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Science Educators. In addition to Premier Capital By-The-Sea, LLC, Linda also owns a second business, Billionaire Babies, both of which have been WBE certified since 2008.

Premier Capital By-The-Sea, LLC, works with private investors with deep pockets who specialize in asset-based financing for good, well-established businesses that want to grow by accessing capital and improving cash flow. They fund government contracts, accounts receivables, purchase orders, equipment leases, and settlements, while working with businesses to develop an individual plan that will meet the needs of the particular company, to help maximize growth and potential.

As a certified WBE business herself, Linda and Premier Capital By-The-Sea, LLC, recognizes the importance of promoting the growth of other certified businesses and specializes in diversity and minority business financing. Linda has volunteered her time as a resource partner at several of the "Get Connected" knowledge seminars presented by the DBE SS Program of the Supplier Diversity Office, to help reach out to other certified businesses that she could potentially help.

For more information about Premier Capital By-The-Sea LLC, you can visit their website or email .

The Supplier Diversity Program (SDP)

The SDO's Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) (formerly know as the Affirmative Market Program or AMP) is offering a unique free marketing opportunity for certified Minority and Women Owned Businesses (M/WBE) who are currently on Statewide or Departmental Contracts through its "Meet the Vendor" series.

The SDP's "Meet the Vendor" program provides M/WBE vendors already on statewide or departmental contracts 15 minutes to showcase their company's product and/or services to SDP Officers at one of our FY11 SDP Officer's Meetings. SDP Officers are state personnel within each Executive Branch Department who have an interest in M/WBE procurements. All meetings will take place in Boston, beginning in the fall and running through May of 2011.

The SDP's "Meet the Vendor" series could be just the boost your business needs to increase exposure to State purchasers.

There are a limited number of "Meet the Vendor" opportunities. If you would like to participate in the FY11 "Meet the Vendor" series, contact the SDP Help Desk at sdp@state.ma.us. Please provide the following information:

• Name
• Company name,
• Email
• Phone number
• Statewide contract name and number that you are on

M/WBE vendors will be scheduled on a first come first served basis. When all spots are filled, we will compile a waiting list for others who are interested.

If you are selected, someone from the SDP Team will contact you with the date and time of your presentation. Thank you and we look forward to hearing about your business in FY11.

Partner Spotlight

The SDO is continuing its efforts to connect our clients with the programs and resources that will improve and strengthen their businesses. We often partner with industry leaders to provide the support our clients need. One such partnership is with Interise (formerly known as the Inner City Entrepreneurs or ICE). Interise is a well known and established business development organization with an impressive track record. Over the last 5 years, Interise has created impact while staying true to its mission of job creation, wealth generation, and community development. From 2004-2008: 268 of their business clients created 275 new jobs and secured more than 23 million dollars in new financing, with 59% of those businesses increasing their sales by at least 47%.

Interise strives to stimulate economic revitalization in lower income urban communities by providing a diverse group of small business owners with the entrepreneurial education, connections, and access to markets needed to grow. Interise members create jobs, strengthen business networks, and develop community leaders. Brian Ross, Program Director of the SDO's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE SS) Program, partnered with Interise to provide the 2009-2010 DBE SS Program participants the opportunity to enroll in the 'StreetWise MBA™ program. Mr. Ross described the partnership in the following way, "This year's class of DBE SS participants would not have had nearly as much success without the partnership with Interise. They have brought much value to our relationship and to our clients' tools and resources." The Interise program is specifically designed for existing small businesses with over $250,000 of annual revenue. It is a nine month executive education certificate program. It offers business know-how and practical tips based on "real life" experience through instructor facilitated classes, peer-to-peer learning, networking opportunities and practical advice from a network of over 90 experienced business leaders.

The DBEs that have participated in the Interise program are already seeing successes in the form of job creation, increased financing, new partnerships, and increased participation in the bidding process for public sector contracting opportunities.

For more information about Interise, you can visit their website at www.interise.org. If you would like to learn more about the DBE SS Program for 2010-2011, please contact Brian Ross at (617) 973-8574 or email .

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE SS) Program

The DBE SS Program is an initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and administered through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The Program aims to increase the number of small, minority and women owned businesses that have the resources, finances, management and technical skills necessary to compete successfully for and perform on, federally assisted highway and bridge projects. To reach these goals, MassDOT has enlisted the SDO to create and implement the multi-phase instructional and goal driven module that is the DBE SS Program.

On June 16, 2010, participants in the 2009/2010, DBE SS Program took part in a graduation ceremony to recognize and acknowledge the successful culmination of a full year of technical assistance courses, mentorship opportunities, and knowledge seminars. The inaugural class of the DBE SS Program has completed courses taught by Turner Construction and Interise (formerly InnerCity Entrepreneurs) which covered topics including: the construction process, project management, estimating, bonding, understanding legal documents, business and leadership, finances, marketing and sales, and human resources. Each business owner has used their own company as a case study as they worked with Interise to create an individualized three-year business growth plan.

In addition to the technical assistance programs, the DBE participants from this past year's program are also receiving a personal employment practices audit of their business, new employee handbooks, employment applications, individual QuickBooks assessments and trainings, and full day Marketing Workshops to assist each business in developing a marketing plan.

The SDO has received funding to continue with the DBE SS program for another year and is currently recruiting for a new season of technical assistance and training. If you are currently working in or are interested in participating in federally funded highway/transportation related projects please contact Brian Ross at 617-973-8574 or email to learn how to become a participant in the 2010-2011 DBE SS Program.

DBE SS Events Recap
During the month of May, the DBE SS Program held two "Get Connected" knowledge seminars aimed at providing business owners with information on human resources and employment law issues. The program speakers discussed Employment Laws and Small Businesses, Independent Contractor Laws, Employment Policies and Handbooks, and BuyMass.org.

On May 25th, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) sponsored "Get Connected: Access to Human Resources" at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. Speakers for the event included Terry Cook and Celia Grant, both from AIM, and Attorney Kimberly Klimczuk of the firm Royal & Klimczuk, LLC. Also on hand for one-on-one networking were resource partners representing; MassHousing, Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC), Massachusetts Procurement technical Assistance Center (PTAC), Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC), and the Western Massachusetts Development Collaborative.

The second human resources event took place on May 28th, at the Massachusetts Transportation Building in Boston, MA. Presentations were given by Sandy Reynolds, Erica Murphy and Celia Grant of AIM. Resource partners at this event included; MassHousing, Interise, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Premier Capital by the Sea, Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, and the Affirmative Market Program. The presenters spoke about various laws affecting small businesses even as small as one employee. They also spoke to the importance of employee handbooks to ensure consistency, best practices, and to retain management discretion while providing employees a reliable reference point for questions or concerns.

Finally, Buymass.org, the Massachusetts Online Business-to Business Directory powered by AIM and sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was discussed. The network aims to help Massachusetts businesses buy from other Massachusetts businesses, as well as give them visibility through a presence on the web. Businesses certified by SOMWBA/SDO are entitled to a free basic listing on the business directory site and can receive a 50% discount on BuyMass listings thru July 15, 2010 by using the code: SMALLBIZ at checkout.

The ARRA Bonding Assistance Program (ARRA BAP)