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BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

A WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO COURTESY OF

CONTENTS BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES

Providing you with the resources, information and tools necessary for business development and success.

GOOGLE RESOURCES The first week of August is “National Simply Your Life” week. Google has several resources that will help you simplify your professional life.

BILL GRICE AWARD Join MMSDC in a heartfelt congratulations to MMSDC VP and MBDA Center Executive Director William “Bill” Grice.

“STATE” OF THE STATE What the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council is doing around the state to help close the economic parity gap.

WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY? MMSDC recognizes “What Will Be Your Legacy?” month by highlighting business continuity and succession planning services. POWERED BY

CORPORATE & MBE SPOTLIGHT Corporate Developmemt Committee Co-Chair Travis Spencer and Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee Chair Sylvester Hester discuss the importance of corporate membership and certified MBEs in honor of Black Business Month.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER August’s Black Business Month gives us a moment to reflect on the history and importance of Black owned businesses across the country.

SIGNATURE EVENTS: ACE AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIP GALA

Please join us virtually on December 9, 2021 as we honor those past, present, and future catalysts committed to the growth of minority business enterprises.

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BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES FUNDING RESOURCES FOR MBES ANNUITY FREEDOM. NET/ SMALL BUSINESSWOMEN’S GRANT About this Women’s Business Grant The catalyst for our grants was seeing and hearing about the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurs who are women. We want to dedicate some of our knowledge and time to help. While this is a business website, we are trying to help other business owners with our grant program. In support of this goal, we have disabled our normal calls to action/contact forms on grant pages and replaced our normal header images. We do not want your money. We want to help you make more money. Small Business Grant for Women | Free Marketing Services + Microgrant

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The Capital Connect program plugs Metro Detroit Black owned businesses into funding resources which helps to ensure their sustained success. • Access to millions of dollars in grants and loans from our capital partners • Technical assistance provided in business planning, credit repair and more • 1:1 Small Business Coaching and much more! Capital Connect - Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

JAMES GROUP DRIVE

RENDE CAPITAL

The James Group Family has started a $100,000 Funding Initiative to develop entrepreneurs and students in the City of Detroit to help accelerate growth and excellence in our community. If you’re driven and have a clear vision for the future to benefit both yourself and the community, then we need to hear from you! Entrepreneurs: Who live or work in Detroit, have a business plan to make Detroit a better place OR• Students: A Detroit high school graduate or a current Detroit college student enrolled in a 2 or 4 year institution of higher learning, skilled trades program, or continuing education program.

RPC is proud to announce that we are receiving applications from Excluded Entrepreneurs of color to the RACE4Progress Fund. The fund provides very low interest, deferred payments, extended terms, and other features for Excluded Entrepreneurs in the Grand Rapids Area/Kent County whose businesses have suffered financially due to COVID-19.

How it Works — James Group Drive Initative

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

MICHIGAN WOMEN FORWARD We’re challenging Michigan women to record their best business idea for a chance to win cash prizes. All you need is a recording device (a phone works well!), 53 seconds, and a great idea! Deadline 8/20/2021 53 Voices Challenge - Michigan Women Forward

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

METRO DETROIT BLACK BUSINESS ALLIANCE

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

HELLO ALICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EBAY eBay Up & Running Grants eBay is giving back to the small businesses powering America. In partnership with Hello Alice, eBay is awarding more than $500,000 in grants and education resources to help small businesses stay up and running into 2022 and beyond. eBay Up & Running Grants Round 2

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

FISERV US 2021 - BACK2BUSINESS GRANT

AMAZON COMMITS $150 MILLION TO EMPOWER BLACK ENTREPRENEURS

To be eligible, applicants must: • • • • • •

Be a minority-owned business Be owned by an adult (18+) Have revenue of less than $1M annually Have fewer than 11 employees Be formed before January 1, 2020 Be located in an eligible location

Fiserv US 2021 - Back2Business Grant - Association for Enterprise Opportunity

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

COMMUNE ANGELS Commune Angels launched in 2020 to expand access to angel investing and capital. We invest in scalable consumer, enterprise, and life science companies that transform lives. Diversity is essential to transformative innovation, and our members are committed to contributing their unique experiences, relationships, and resources to drive better outcomes for investors, portfolio companies, and their customers. Commune Angels is a community of accredited and rising investors who recognize the power of diversity and national deal flow.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

COMCAST RISE In June 2020, Comcast NBCUniversal announced the development of a comprehensive, multi-year plan to allocate $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability. Starting March 1, 2021, qualifying businesses may apply for the Comcast RISE Investment Fund.

Amazon’s new Black Business Accelerator provides access to capital, business guidance, mentorship, and marketing support to help Black business owners succeed as sellers in Amazon’s store. Amazon is launching the Black Business Accelerator (BBA) to help build sustainable equity and growth for Black-owned businesses. The initiative—which explicitly targets barriers to access, opportunity, and advancement created by systemic racism across America—was created in partnership with our Black Employee Network and a coalition of strategic partners. The BBA aims to drive economic equity for Black entrepreneurs, providing them with resources to thrive as entrepreneurs and business leaders. We are inviting Black business owners to explore and participate in this initiative, which provides financial support, business education and mentorship, and marketing and promotion of their brands and products as third-party sellers in our store.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Grow with Simplify Your Life with Google Resources

Simplify Your Business with Google’s Productivity Tools!

Simplify Your Website with Google Search Console & Google Analytics!

Utilize Google Workspace, Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Docs, and more to simplify your Business. Join Google for an on-demand workshop, hosted by Laura Mae Martin, Google’s Executive Productivity Advisor, who will share productivity tips to help you work faster and smarter. You’ll learn how to organize emails into tasks in one step, use voice-to-text typing in Docs, create Calendar work blocks to manage your time, and more.

Learn how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports your goals. Whether you’re launching a new website or sprucing up an old one, these workshops will help. Part 1 will focus on the basics of building out a website focused on goals, organization, functionality and SEO and Part 2 will help you to enhance your website’s presence online with analytics, testing, keyword strategy and responsive design.

To register for the above Google Digital Series:

To register for Part 1 of the above Google Digital Series:

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE To register for Part 2 of the above Google Digital Series

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Meet Katrina Katrina is a digital media and marketing expert as well as the owner of Kanopi Social, a digital marketing firm. Her career took off when companies began to harness the internet for business-to-business interactions. She has a strong reputation for providing innovative solutions using digital tactics and combines her unconventional love for technology with her corporate training in all her business ventures. Katrina will use her powerful teaching abilities to help you reach all your business goals. A fun fact about Katrina is that she hosts the #TechTalkTuesdays podcast. You can ask Katrina about digital marketing, strategy, entrepreneurship, technology, podcasting, and more. If you have any questions, please email Katrina at kturnbow@google.com.

Please join us in congratulating MMSDC Vice President and Executive Director, MBDA Center, William "Bill" Grice on being the inspiration behind and recipient of the inaugural "William Grice Community Producer Award" provided by Watercolors Grand Rapids.

William "Bill" Grice The MMSDC team echos Watercolors' appreciation for Bill's exemplary service within the Grand Rapids community, as we share the honor of working with such an invaluable and humble community warrior.

"STATE" OF THE STATE

THE ROAD TO PARITY

The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council is serious about shortening the road to parity. Take a look at these significant numbers as we journey to total diversity and inclusion for minority owned businesses. Take the challenge and then create your own road!

Match the Numbers Quiz CLUES : Number of certified MBEs in the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Years to economic parity Number of foursomes created through the “buyer-mbe match” feature at the 2021 Invitational Golf Tournament New Corporate Member commitments The number of years that the work of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council’s efforts will shorten the economic parity to

333

1052

PARITY AHEAD

WHAT WILL BE YOUR

LEGACY? BUSINESS CONTINUITY & SUCCESSION PLANNING In addition to Black Business month, August also marks the month dedicated to addressing a paramount question: “What Will Be Your Legacy?” With generous support from the Ford Foundation, MMSDC was able to address the need for Business Continuity and Succession Planning consulting to ensure that the legacy of the MBEs we serve thrive for generations to come.

GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC IMPACT ON MBEs

TWO TYPES OF RECOVERY IDENTIFIED

Numerous MBEs were and continue to be negatively impacted by the Global Health Pandemic. In our market assessment we recognize there is a clear and immediate need to provide Business Continuity and Succession Planning consulting.

Muted Recovery: If the public health response, including social distancing and lockdown measures, is initially successful but fails to prevent a resurgence in the virus, the world will experience a “muted” economic recovery, says McKinsey. In this scenario, while the global economy would recover to precrisis levels by the third quarter of 2022, the US economy would need until the first quarter of 2023 and Europe until the third quarter of the same year.

Our market assessment revealed there is more of a Muted Recovery versus a Virus-Contained Recovery. As a result, direct assistance is required to help MBEs navigate this type of recovery and we contracted with two MBE consulting firms to provide this specialized consulting service.

Virus Contained: If the public health response is stronger and more successful- controlling the spread of the virus in each country within two-to-three months - the outlook could be more positive, with economic recovery by the third quarter of 2020 for the US, the fourth quarter of 2020 for China and the first quarter of 2021 for the Eurozone.

MBE BUSINESS QUADRANT COVID-19 has disrupted the entire business landscape and has impacted MBEs differently. Through our extensive research and business continuity consulting we have discovered that MBEs fall within one of four phases.

SCALE PHASE

GROWTH PHASE

Business Impact:

• Revenues increased • Infrastructure is robust • Business strategy is solid Consulting Needed: Succession Planning

• Revenues decreased • Fine-tune strategy and infrastructure • Expand customers and create sales pipeline Consulting Needed: Succession Planning

SUSTAIN PHASE

RE-BUILD PHASE

Business Impact:

• Major decline in revenues • Infrastructure eroding • Pivot business strategy

• Revenues non-existent • Overhaul business strategy • Rebuild business model

Consulting Required: Business Continuity

2020 – 2021 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS MMSDC has provided Business Continuity & Succession Planning Consulting to 20 MBEs since 2020. The results have been astounding. From 60% sales increase, product placement in national retailers to securement of multi-year million-dollar contracts, our proven system is working. As it relates to our business quadrant, we have serviced businesses that have fallen within the Scale, Growth, and Sustain Phase of the MBE Business Quadrant. In conclusion, our programs have met with great success and continue to bring market value to our constituents.

CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT EWIE Group of Companies, a 100% minority owned company since 1981, services the Industrial sector with a unique business strategy. EGC is a global leader in commodity management services spanning cutting tools, abrasives, special tools and industrial supplies with over 30 years of experience. This approach has helped EGC deliver over $100 million dollars in engineered cost savings to their customers.

TRAVIS SPENCER Travis Spencer, Head of Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at Ford Motor Company, MMSDC board member, and co-chair of MMSDCs Corporate Development Committee (CDC), shares insight into Ford’s approach to connecting almost 70 buyers buyers with MBEs at the 2021 Golf Invitational Tournament and the important role Corporate Membership has within the MMSDC network:

MBE SPOTLIGHT SYLVESTER HESTER

CEO LM Manufacturing

Sylvester Hester, owner of several business entities, including the most recently launched LM Manufacturing, and Chairman of the MMSDC’s Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) shares insight on his latest endeavor and the importance of certification through MMSDC.

DAVID BURNLEY

Co-CEO and President

STEPHANIE BURNLEY

Co-CEO and General Manager Devon Industrial Group Devon Industrial Group (DIG) is a minority-owned, family-owned construction management firm headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. DIG provides forward thinking construction management to clients across the globe. Since 1998, DIG has provided safe, quality-driven, cost-effective solutions to clients in various industries, including automotive, healthcare, and higher education. At DIG, we consider ourselves partners in our clients’ success. Our company was founded because an important automotive client encouraged its larger suppliers to mentor and collaborate with smaller companies, like us. In just 23 years, we’ve grown into a leader ourselves as one of Michigan’s largest minority-owned construction companies. Our mission continues to build world-class facilities using expertly managed teams whose passion for safety, quality, and service is a personal commitment. Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council adds to our success of growth by helping us build relationships with new and existing clients, as well as exposing us to new markets and innovative ideas.

DENISE EVERETT

CEO and Chairman of the Board Global Technology Associates LTD Three years ago, Denise Everett, along with Ron Peace, purchased Global Technology Associates LTD (GTA). As a premier technical and professional staffing company, GTA has over 30 years of industry experience. The company has longstanding connections in industries like automotive, aeronautics, information technology, defense, and healthcare. Under Everett’s leadership the company has expanded to include IRS, Boeing Aerospace, Microsoft, GLWA, Henry Ford Hospital, Kroger, and Tweddle and ATC Drivetrain. With a network that spans the Continental U.S., GTA provides its clients with a full breadth of diverse candidates from its talent network. GTA is a national full-service provider of both direct and contract professionals and top management talent.

LENZY PETTY

Owner Data Analytics Technology Advantage Data Analytics Technology Advantage (D.A.T.A.) LLC empowers clients to get more value from data analytics. From Power BI Training, data collection, integration, and cloud migrations, to custom software applications and Analytics powered by AI and Machine Learning, D.A.T.A. LLC is empowering digital transformations for clients of all sizes and industries, ranging from Healthcare and Manufacturing to Non-Profits and K-12 Education, and everything in between. MMSDC has provided D.A.T.A. LLC with access to decisionmakers, mentors, and even facilities, which has led to business growth and capital funding.

STEPS TO MBE SUCCESS Stay motivated – don't give up! Develop superior capability statements and pitch decks to seal the deal Seize every opportunity to maintain connections made

Develop and cultivate relationships

Participate in Council programs, activities, and events

Become a Certified MBE through MMSDC

PRES

SIDENT’S CORNER August’s Black Business Month gives us a moment to reflect on the history and importance of Black owned businesses across the country. Many of you know that I grew up in Oklahoma, and have deep familial ties in the state. In fact, I still visit a few times each year and have family that lives in historic Greenwood. So, for me, this is personal – we must make true quantifiable progress. I know firsthand that there are generational repercussions if we do not. On the heels of the 100th year commemoration of Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street, this year’s celebration puts an even finer point on the resilience of Black businesses. Further, it highlights how the success of all minority owned businesses contribute to the success of our country. 19% of all firms in the state of Michigan are minority owned. Yet, despite being the fastest-growing sector of our economy, our research shows that at current levels of spending it will take our most successful minority-owned businesses, those with revenues in excess of $1M, 333 years to achieve parity with their majority-owned counterparts; yes, more than three centuries. That is simply unacceptable. We must drive greater accountability and stronger metrics just as we do in all other aspects of our business that truly matter. Increased spending of just 1% annually with MBEs across ALL categories, along with a focus on MBE certification designed to benefit communities, and results-oriented capital access is the path to quantifiable results. As we contemplate the task ahead of us there is also much to celebrate. Plans are underway for this year’s Chairman’s Gala and ACE Awards, which include our Michigan Minority Business Hall of Fame. This year’s event will celebrate those past and present who make a difference for minority businesses in our state, with a special celebration of Michigan’s very own legends from decades past. Learn more in this issue of the Gazette and on MMSDC-TV, Powered by Google. Lastly, thanks to all who attended our golf event last month, especially our co-sponsors Toyota and Stellantis. In creating foursomes that pared our corporate buyers with our MBEs, allowing them to make powerful business connections, we took another step toward achieving parity for minority enterprises. 93% of survey respondents reported making 1-3 business connections on the course. Let’s continue in that vein and make real and measurable progress. This is the goal of the MMSDC, and I thank each of you for acting intentionally. I encourage you to use the hashtags suggested by the founders of Black Business Month to connect to the efforts across the country. #NationalBlackBusinessMonth, #ShopBlackOwned, #Blackmakers, #Blackowned, #SupportBlackBusiness With resilience and commitment, Michelle

PASSING THE

TORCH TO PARITY

DECEMBER 9, 2021 A VIRTUAL EVENT We are announcing the following Trailblazers of Economic Change as our 2021 Hall of Fame Class. Stay tuned for more details as we will share how these Supplier Diversity legends were torchbearers in creating the high-growth Minority Business Enterprises we know today in the auto industry.

2021 HALL OF FAME LEGENDS HAROLD KUTNER

Group Vice President, Worldwide Purchasing, General Motors (retired)

CARLOS MAZZORIN

Group Vice President, Global Purchasing, and South American and Asia Pacific Operations, Ford Motor Company (retired)

DAN KNOTT

Vice President Purchasing, Chrysler LLC (now Stellantis) (posthumous)

JOHN BARTH

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Controls (retired)

THOMAS (TOM) SIDLIK

TONY BROWN

Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Financial Corporation (retired)

ROBERT (BOB) ROSSITER

Senior Executive, Diversity Supplier Development, Chrysler (now Stellantis) (retired)

Senior Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company (retired)

JETHRO JOSEPH

Chairman and CEO, Lear Corporation (posthumous)

BURT JORDAN

This year, we are excited to announce that the ACE Awards will be combined with the Chairman's Scholarship Gala. As MMSDC celebrates all of the great achievements of the current Board Chair, Scott Thiele, Head of Global Long Range Planning Coordination & Portfolio Planning - North America at Stellantis (formerly FCA), the council will also welcome incoming Board Chair Robert (Bob) Young, Group Vice President of Purchasing Supplier Development at Toyota. During the event, Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) will also award deserving minority students in the state of Michigan majoring in a STEM or Business field with $5,000 scholarships ($2500 for 2 years). If you know of a qualifying minority college student, please have them complete the scholarship application. Application deadline is September 30th, 2021

RENALDO (RAY) JENSEN

Vice President, Global Vehicle and Indirect Purchasing and Supply Chain Sustainability, Ford Motor Company (retired)

MMSDC CHAIRMAN’S SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

Director of Supplier Diversity, Ford Motor Company (retired)

MMSDC CHAIRMAN'S SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

smile.amazon.com August 17th is National Non-Profit Day! We invite you to commemorate the occasion by selecting MMSDC as your non-profit organization of choice when shopping on Amazon Smile. Click Here for more information on how to donate a portion of your Amazon purchases to charity. To ensure that MMSDC receives your donations, please select “Michigan Minority Purchasing Council MMSDC” as your charity of choice. This program costs you nothing, but directly benefits the growth and success of MBEs.