Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 14 Octubre 2021 ChicagoMSDC was founded on two fundamental principles: there had to be a partnership between minority businesses, corporate America and government, and there had to be basic fairness in the marketplace for all. This partner- ship supports job creation within the minority community and con- tributes to the national economy. ChicagoMSDC's programs and resources help minor- ity businesses increase sales to private and public-sector buy- ing organizations. Our highly competitive Minority Business Enterprises (MBE)s represent all major industries from pro- fessional services to contractors with annual revenues ranging from under $1 million to over $10 billion. ChicagoMSDC cer- tifies Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Hispanic American and Native American owned businesses, develops them through educational pro- gramming, connects them with resources and corporate buyers, and advocates on their behalf in the public and private sectors. It is a fact that minority owned suppliers traditionally employ and train members of their own racial and ethnic communities. This employment pipeline reduc- es crime and unemployment, increases educational attainment, and grows the tax base within these communities. This, in turn, helps to stimulate growth and much needed reinvestment, along with community pride. The social impact of a strong supplier diver- sity program is critical and proven. Buying organizations can partner with ChicagoMSDC to build a successful supplier diver- sity program and reach more than 1,000 minority-owned busi- nesses. ChicagoMSDC is a stellar resource for locating qualified, vetted, certified minority suppli- ers. The commitment to supplier diversity, however, must come from the most senior executive, the CEO, to affect the daily fab- ric of a corporation's operations. A partial commitment is futile. With a commitment from the top and support from all divi- sions below the CEO, a supplier diversity program can be suc- cessful. Its impact can be seen, felt and measured. Additional elements of a suc- cessful supplier diversity pro- gram include: n Establishing corporate poli- cy around supplier diversity n Developing a corporate sup- plier diversity plan n Establishing a comprehen- sive internal and external com- munications plan n Identifying opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises in strategic sourcing and supply chain management n Establishing a comprehen- sive supplier diversity process n Establishing tracking, reporting and benchmarks n Establishing a continuous improvement plan n Establishing a second tier program Once a comprehensive plan is in place, reporting the positive impact of that program helps ChicagoMSDC expand our work and continue to develop addi- tional suppliers. The coronavirus pandem- ic has showcased the inequi- ties that persist among entre- preneurs. Black and Latino businesses continue to fail at alarming rates. But the Chica- goMSDC is here to help. For diverse suppliers and the orga- nizations seeking their products and services, ChicagoMSDC is a hub for sharing best practices, growing business networks and establishing alliances that lead to long-term sustainability. *J. Vincent Williams is the fifth President and CEO of Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and tirelessly commits to sustaining minority owned businesses and the communi- ties they represent. Go to: www.ChicagoMSDC.org to learn more about our mission ChicagoMSDC: Your partner for supplier diversity By J. Vincent Williams F or over 54 years, ChicagoMSDC has championed the interests of minority entrepreneurs in the Chicagoland Area, Northwest Indiana and nationally. We exist to increase business oppor- tunities between major buying organizations and minority-owned businesses, and our roots run deep. Our annual Chicago Business Opportunity Fair, scheduled for its 55th year in April 2022, inspired the founding of the National Minority Supplier Development Coun- cil, Inc. (NMSDC) and a network of over 23 affiliate regional councils across the country. Ricardo "Rico" Martinez, founder of Water Integrated Treatment Systems, Inc. and Arco Enterprise LLC, a minority-owned company. Foto: Brian Morowczynski

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