We are pleased to introduce the Heritage Series.  During 2015 we will highlight the business achievements of our certified minority business owners.  We kick things off during the month of February – recognizing Black History Month.  Next we will recognize our Asian American MBEs in May, followed by three signature events during the month of September for Hispanic Heritage month and close out the year in November, recognizing our Native American MBEs. Stay tune for more details!

Vanguard Award

The 2014 NMSDC Leadership Awards Gala was spectacular! The new NMSDC logo/brand mark was unveiled and the evening had a new format that all seemed to enjoy. Special to me that evening was recognition for one of our MBEs, Mr. Bill Mays of Mays Chemical and a very humbling honor for me when I received The Vanguard Award.

I was recognized for my leadership during the past year as the NMSDC network restructured to better serve our constituents. I truly appreciate the recognition but more importantly appreciate the support of our Board of Directors, staff and all of the council Presidents and this was truly a collective effort in change and moving us all forward as an organization.

I am excited about what is ahead for NMSDC, our corporate members and MBEs and appreciate the opportunity to be of service.

President’s Remarks – April 9, 2014 Annual Meeting

Good afternoon!

Thank you to Toyota and South Coast Paper for their support. Toyota has been a strong supporter of the Council and are not just members of this Council but a valued national member of the NMSDC.

Kenny Loyd reached out to me some months ago and attended a meeting we had for MBEs and expressed an interest in getting involved with us and we certainly appreciate his support.

This month marks my third year with the Council.  I can vividly remember my first Business Opportunity Fair, only having been on the job for a matter of days and I remember attending the Annual Meeting. I walked into a conference room that had seating for about 30-40 people.

Expanding Our Footprint

We are now the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (Mid-States MSDC), serving Central Illinois, Indiana and Eastern Missouri.  Our footprint has expanded to better serve our minority businesses and corporate members to provide greater opportunities for supplier development and engagement.  A broader strategy that is part of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s (NMSDC) strategic plan, “Advancing Sustainable Minority Businesses for a Global Supply Chain” will position the entire NMSDC network to meet the growing needs of our constituents.

We look forward to working with our corporate members and MBEs that are now part of the Mid-States MSDC family.

IMSDC’s MBE CEO Academy

We recently held the first session of the IMSDC’s MBE CEO Academy and it was awesome!  Ken Zagzebski, CEO of Indianapolis Power & Light was the guest speaker that shared leadership principles with 14 of our top MBE CEOs.

The MBE CEO Academy is a best practice from the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council and is a program designed to empower MBE CEOs to take their companies to the top.  MBE CEOs are part of a  group of other presidents/CEOs to share best practices, challenges  and to use each other as sounding boards.  In addition, they have a chance to see up close and personal how some of central Indiana’s top Corporate CEOs have led their companies to success.