Keeping Track of Diversity
There’s been a significant increase on developing sustainable and effective supplier diversity programs in commercial and government procurement communities. There’s is a concommitant desire to measure how effective these programs are against the organization’s strategics objectives.
Read MoreIntroducing the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program
Back in October 2010 the United States Small Business Administration finalized its WOSB Rule to start a new Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program, after a study from the Kauffman-RAND Foundation found 83 industries (based on NAICS codes) where women-owned small businesses were being underrepresented. Beginning Friday, February 4th 2011 the WOSB Federal Contract Program implementation will move forward and it is anticipated the first contracts will be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Read MoreSpotlight on NWBOC
The National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) was created in 1995 with the stated goal of increasing competition for women owned businesses in both the private and public sector.
Read MoreState DBE Procurement
Fascinating to us, as a DMWBE supplier contracting with state governments, was the Insight Center for Community Economic Development’s Survey of State Inclusive Business Programs. … “The purpose of the Insight Center’s state policy scan of inclusive business programs is to promote policies and programs that enhance minority and women business development.” Given that our last two posts talked about the benefits of diversity in procurement and defining diversity, their premise that … “M/WBE development builds intergenerational family assets, aids community reinvestment, creates jobs, adds to the tax base, and links communities of color to the regional economy.” … was music to our ears!
Read MoreDiversity Value Add
Supplier Diversity as a circle of life construct brings value to government and private clients, business communities, job markets and future entrpreneurs.
Read MoreSpotlight on NGLCC
In 2002, Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell founded the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). NGLCC’s stated mission is to advocate for and provide a “direct link between LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, or Transgender] business owners, corporations and government”.
Read MoreWhat Is Diverse?
Supplier Diversity isn’t just about engaging suppliers based on minority of skin color, ethnicity, origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran experience or physical disability. It really is about making opportunities available – NOT GUARANTEED – to the broadest base of potentially diverse suppliers.
Read MoreSpotlight on WBENC
Since then WBENC has grown to include fourteen Regional Partner Organizations that certify women owned businesses throughout the United States.
Read MoreI am the Customer!
Maybe all of us need to re-learn this lesson periodically so we entrepreneurs can be more proactive about our “customer-ness”. Often times we’re so busy running our businesses, providing services for our own customers that we neglect the fact we are another company’s client and a part of their revenue stream.
Read MoreWhat is the CCR?
The CCR web site is a great resource for information about thousands of small US businesses.
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