The National Minority Supplier Development Council provides a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses, which is the primary objective of one of the country’s leading business membership organizations. On Saturday, Dec. 2, 2011, under the leadership of national president Joset B. Wright and local president and CEO Wade Colclough, the PA-NJ-DE chapter of the NMSDC celebrated and awarded corporations in the region that best carried out this mission.
With the support of gold sponsor Merck, and other sponsors including DuPont, PECO, Allied Barton Security, Novo Nordisk, Aramark, Highmark and others, the MSDC put on a meaningful yet fun 2011 Awards dinner and program.
“What makes the MSDC unique is their ability to help develop and educate Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) on how to do business with corporate America,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. “For member corporations, MSDC is a primary source for information, assistance and contacts to enhance supplier diversity programs and meet customer [and] government compliance requirements.”
Fresh off of their record turnout at the NMSDC annual convention in Atlanta — billed as one of the premier conventions in the country — the organization is able to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships that enable underrepresented demographics to grow their businesses while providing corporations access to innovative advancements.
“Doing business with multinational corporations gives minority suppliers an opportunity to grow their companies, create jobs and sustain communities,” added Pennsylvania Gov. Thomas Corbett.
How does the MSDC help link multinational corporations and local and state governments with minority proprietors? Colclough recalls that, earlier this year, the NMSDC certified a well-established Internet technology firm. Shortly thereafter, the firm obtained new business with an MSDC corporate member with a global footprint. Due to the new business, the company was able to employ additional staff from this region. Not long afterward, the firm learned how to take its business global. Before the end of this year, this MSDC certified enterprise will open its first office in another part of the world. The PA-NJ-DE (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Deleware) chapter of the NMSDC played a vital role in this evolution.
–terry shropshire
