Issuu

March/April 2022 Issue

Women’s History Month

A WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO

CONTENTS BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES

FEATURED PROGRAMS

MAGNIFY MASTERMIND COHORT

MMSDC WINNER’S CIRCLE

NATIONAL DAYS TIMELINE

CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT

MBE SPOTLIGHT

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

SIGNATURE EVENTS

04 06 08 12 14 16 17 18 20

BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES

SPONSORED BY

FUNDING RESOURCES FOR MBES GOLDMAN SACHS LAUNCHES $75M FUND TO AID BLACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Urban Investment Group has closed on a $75 million venture with the National Affordable Housing Trust to support Black affordable housing developers in completing new projects around the country, Commercial Observer has learned. The initiative will establish the Black Developers Initiative Affordable Housing Fund, which will finance affordable housing projects across the country that are sponsored by Black developers with a heavy focus on Black women-led developments. The investment is part of Goldman Sachs’ $10-billion One Million Black Women initiative, launched in March 2021.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ANNUITY FREEDOM.NET SMALL BUSINESSWOMEN’S GRANT The catalyst for our grants saw and heard about the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on women entrepreneurs. 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.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE RENDE CAPITAL 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.

FACEBOOK LAUNCHES $100M GRANT | SHE BOSS TALK Facebook announced its Facebook Invoice Fast Track Program: a $100 million commitment to a program that supports small businesses owned by women and minorities by buying up their outstanding invoices. Facebook estimates the program will support approximately 30,000 small businesses. We’re breaking down what this means for your small businesses. Fast Track Program begins Oct. 1, 2022

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE BANK BREEZY Get funding up to $25K. Same Day Approval! No collateral needed. No hard credit pull. Must have: • • • • •

450 credit score $5k+ monthly sales 6 months in business. Business Bank Account in business name EIN (Business Tax ID)

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ENTHUSE FOUNDATION The Enthuse Foundation is a nonprofit organization investing in a new generation of women entrepreneurs and cultivating the next generation of business leaders. Here’s your opportunity to participate in the Third Annual Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition celebrating the women who are making their mark on the food, beverage, and CPG industries. Apply now for the chance to pitch and be eligible to compete for $30,000 in cash and prizes.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE GRANTS.GOV Grants.gov allows grant seekers to find, and apply for federal funding opportunities. It contains information on more than 1,000 grant programs across all 26 federal grant-making agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED This nonprofit trade association provides educational resources and grants for small businesses and entrepreneurs. To apply for a grant of up to $4,000, you will need to become an active member of the association, provide a detailed explanation of how you’ll use the funds, show how the grant will support your business’s growth, and provide supporting documentation.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMS

COMCAST RISE

These two small business programs provide contracts and grants for early-stage small businesses that are looking to commercialize innovative biomedical technologies.

Comcast Rise is giving $10,000 grants to 600 more minority businesses in select cities. Check eligibility. Opens Oct 1, 2022.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

OPERATION HOPE SMALL-BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP)

The Operation Hope program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs in low-wealth neighborhoods, which often include minority communities. The program combines business training, and financial counseling along with access to small-business financing options. Participants shall complete a 12-week training program, plus workshops on business financing and credit and money management.

The STEP grant program has helped thousands of small businesses obtain grants, and find customers in the international marketplace since 2011. Through awards to U.S. states and territories, STEP helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering, and expanding into international markets.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE THE AMBER GRANT FOUNDATION The Amber Grant Foundation awards one $10,000 grant to a small business owner per month. In this case, however, grants are offered only to female entrepreneurs, and they’re intended specifically to help new entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Once awarded with one of the $10,000 monthly grants, the beneficiary will also be nominated for the Amber Grant’s yearly $25,000 grant.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE CONNECTING WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO COMMUNITY LENDERS The Tory Burch Foundation and Bank of America Capital Program provides women-entrepreneurs in the United States the opportunity to access affordable loans through community lenders.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE PROSPER US DETROIT DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY – RESTORE THE VILLAGE FUND For Black- and minority-owned businesses in Detroit and Wayne County. There are grants, free coaching services, start-up help, and other advice to help (1) a company get started, or assist current businesses. Free grants and financial support is offered to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Black Leaders Detroit oversees the applications.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE EL CONCILIO El Concilio provides assistance to Hispanic-owned businesses in the Kalamazoo area. The nonprofit provides a number of services, ranging from education to financial literacy, cultural classes, and more. One focus is on helping Latinos start or continue to operate their business, and the nonprofit can refer clients to loan programs, government grants, credit repair for businesses with bad credit, and more.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE MICHIGAN SMALL BUSINESS RESTART PROGRAM Michigan’s small businesses and nonprofits working to recover from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 virus can now apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the Michigan Small Business Restart Program, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today. The program will provide $100 million in economic assistance to Michigan’s small businesses, and nonprofits, and, in turn, help support workers and their families, facing economic uncertainty during the outbreak.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER We want to recognize small businesses that give back to their communities. With the Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award, you could be one of 30 winners of $10,000 for your business.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

This organization offers entrepreneurs resources to find lenders, crowdfunding sources, and businesses that assist with funding to help you get the capital you need to create and maintain a successful business.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE DETROIT DEVELOPMENT FUND Detroit Development Fund, a community development finance institution based in Detroit, received approval of a $1 million loan from MSF to make micro and small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to small businesses in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck, with emphasis on businesses located in economically disadvantaged areas.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE OLGA LOIZON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION The Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation is now accepting applications for grants up to $10,000, in honor of the brand’s late founder and female food pioneer.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ACCION OPPORTUNITY FUND Accion Opportunity Fund is a financial support system that provides business owners with access to capital, networks, and coaching.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE BLACK AMBITION COMPETITION Black And Latino Early-Stage Businesses Invited To Apply For Second Cohort Of Black Ambition Competition; Win Cash And Investment Prizes Up To $1M.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

FEATURED PROGRAMS THE QUIET STORM

MADDIE GAZZOLO

DREAM TEAM

Superpowers: Program Coordinator managing our Plug and Play partnership and Magnify Mastermind program, as well as supporting our Certification department. Special Skills: DEVELOP – Certification process, tracking Certification metrics, customer service, project management. KPIs Minimum 40% women and/or minority founders included in each Plug and Play Detroit Batch Exceeded with Batch Zero at 44% Exceeded with Batch One at 64% Exceeded with Batch Two at 75% 15+ new MBDA clients served in 7 months 100+ total attendees at events, including Plug and Play Info Sessions and Jackie Calixte’s Digital Marketing Webinars with 85% + net promoter scores 95% MBE Retention for 2021 7% MBE Growth in 2021 Certified 46 New MBEs in 2021

PNP Detroit, Powered by AmplifyD Our partnership with Plug and Play benefits all MBEs, whether you are a startup or an established business. Plug and Play offers accelerator programs for startups and is an active investor, and it also offers deal flow and investment options for any MBE interested in innovation. Our Accelerator program supports tech startups focused on mobility and Industry 4.0. Along with PNP, our partners for this accelerator include Stellantis, MEDC, BorgWarner, and our newest AmplifyD Mobility Champion is Google Each cohort has a minimum of 40% women and/or minority-led startups, with our last two cohorts exceeding 50% minority representation in each cohort

Key Impact Across all cohorts, 52% of the top-selected shortlist of PNP Detroit startups have been minority-owned Of these top-selected minority-owned startups, 50% have raised VC funding, collectively $65 million in funding We have seen several minority-founded startups raise VC funding this year, ranging from $2 million seed rounds (Interpl.ai and Lincode Labs) to a $70 million Series B round (Sibros)

Key Benefits If you are a tech startup looking to scale in another industry, Plug and Play has programs in over 20 industries and 30 locations that you can join. It offers a network of 40,000 startups and over 400 major corporate partners. PNP’s venture team annually invests in over 260 startups globally, with investments ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 It even invest in an average of 30% of the startups in each accelerator program cohort

Reserved Deal Flows for MBEs, which is a free service that leads to valuable insight You have a business or tech challenge, and PNP strategically aligns 5–8 startups to pitch their solutions to you This may result in a pilot project or investment in the startup If you're a manufacturer interested in leveraging Industry 4.0 technology for cost savings, you can receive a grant of up to $5,000 from our partners at Centrepolis Accelerator and Automation Alley to offset the cost of implementing that new technology You can literally get paid to bring innovation to your business!

Call to Action ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES interested in investing in technology, or exploring how startups can support your company’s innovation and cost-savings: please complete this one-minute interest form or contact me TECH STARTUPS interested in applying to the accelerator: please complete this application and contact me so I can connect you with the Plug and Play Ventures Team: CLICK HERE

Key Dates Attend our DIVERSE FOUNDERS SERIES on July 20 and August 17 in Downtown Detroit! Registration and details TBD will be shared on our website. Follow Plug and Play Detroit on LinkedIn to be notified of upcoming news and events! CLICK HERE

If you are a more established business, PNP offers personalized Investment and Deal Flow options. Opportunities to invest in Plug and Play Detroit startups are reserved for our Certified MBEs — you can co-invest side-by-side with PNP, one of the world’s most active VCs

Accelerating the Growth of Black and Latina Entrepreneurs A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring group used to help members solve their problems with input from the other group members. “A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.”

As you may know, Black and Latina women are two of the fastest-growing segments of business owners in the U.S. Still, these MBEs face more barriers than anyone when it comes to business expansion. Magnify Mastermind provides Black and Latina women business owners with the best-in-class tools necessary for advancement in business, regardless of industry. Participants gain the infrastructure, community, development, and support to scale their businesses. Participants meet monthly for a one-hour master class and are curated into dynamic peer learning groups. Peer groups meet weekly for six months to discuss challenges, devise solutions, and gain resources and insight to drive market leadership and growth. This amazing program is sponsored by Ernst & Young (EY), and participants gain direct access to top subject matter experts instructing on the EY Velocity 7 Drivers for Growth. This is a tried, tested, and trusted framework that enables business owners to think differently about strategies for protecting, building, and transforming their businesses to help them flourish.

KEY IMPACT Twenty-five women have graduated the program, from 10 different states, with revenues ranging from $1M to $150M in industries from manufacturing to construction to retail to IT to professional services and everything in between.

PROGRAM BENEFITS • An instant support network of valuable connections • An expert network of experienced business owners, corporate executives, buyers, decision makers, and influencers within the supplier diversity ecosystem who offer their time as guest speakers for our monthly Magnify Master Class webinars • Constructive brainstorming sessions • Accountability and real progress in your business • Participants pay a significantly reduced rate of $200 for the six-month program, while comparable programs start at $7000

PROGRAM CRITERIA Latina and Black women entrepreneurs based in the United States, in business 2–10 years and grossing at least $2M in annual revenue. Business owners grossing $5–20M annually may apply to serve as Group Leaders. Please note that Millennial participants (ages 26–41) do NOT have to meet requirements for minimum revenue or years in business. You do NOT need to be a Certified MBE to apply for the program. Capacity is limited to 25 women per group, plus 10 Group Co-Leaders. Each group is then divided into five peer groups with five members each, including at least one millennial participant, and two Group Co-Leaders.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? Visit our site to learn more and apply here for the program waitlist! If you are a Black or Latina woman business owner looking to scale your business, please apply for our Waitlist today! You will be first in line for consideration when we launch the next cohort at the end of 2022. If you know anyone who may benefit from this program, please share and recommend them to the program! Questions? Please contact Madeleine Gazzolo – Program Coordinator mgazzolo@minoritysupplier.org / 847.644.2996

Congratulations to Magnify Mastermind’s 2nd Cohort!

FANIA CARTER Sterile Services Co.

LA TOYA DIXON Comprehensive Construction Consulting, Inc.

GEORGINA FABIAN The International Business Law Group, LLC

CARMEN FERNANDEZMETZLER PharmaCadence Analytical Services, LLC

NANCY GALVAN Unica Enterprises LLC

LILIANA GIL-VALLETTA CIEN+

JANE GONZALEZ Medwheels, Inc.

ROCHELLE GRAHAM Black Onyx World, LLC

LISA HARBERT Digital Display Solutions, Inc.

THERESA HARRIS TMH Solutions

MIA JACKSON Vital Care Industries, LLC

JESSICA JOHNSONCOPE Johnson Security Bureau, Inc.

CHARIS JONES Sassy Jones

DeETTA JONES DeEtta Jones and Associates

JOSIE LOPEZ Advancio

EVELYN MOLINA All Janitorial Professional Services, Inc.

LISA NAVARROGONZALES Forma, LLC

NICOLE NAVARRO VELESIOTIS Integrated Human Capital

KARLA TROTMAN Electro Soft, Incorporated

FELICIA VIEIRA Crafted Brand Company, LLC

LAURI ZESSAR Bienali Promotions, LLC

NEREIDA MELÉNDEZ Meléndez Torres Law, PSC

MIKEKENA RICHARDSON ECO Disaster Recovery, LLC

PAULA MENDOZA Possible Missions Inc.

VANESSA SAMUEL Samuel Engineering

Congratulations to the 2nd Cohort of the program! This year, we received a record number of applications, leading to a selective 54% acceptance rate. Our latest cohort includes... • Women from 14 different states plus Puerto Rico • Business in 8 different industries – Construction, Healthcare, Retail, Professional Services, IT, Facility Maintenance and Management, Manufacturing, and Distributors • Business owners ranging from two years in business to 35 years in business

THERESA HARRISON Director EY

Special Thanks to Theresa Harrison, Director at EY

THANK YOU to Magnify’s Group Leaders!

MARINA AMAT AMATEA, LLC

ANDRELLA KENNER CI² Aviation Incorporated

VICKIE LEWIS VMX International

LASENTA LEWIS-ELLIS LLE Construction Group

BETTY MANETTA Argent Associates

COURTNEY MORALES HOFMANN MCM Staffing

JONI ODUM Firstline Brands Inc.

PAULINA SANDOVAL Assured Quality Systems

BRITTANY STOVALL Assured Quality Systems

TIFIANY WALKER WalkerHealthcareIT

WE MAGNIFY WOMEN WHO ROCK!

SPECIAL THANK YOU to Magnify’s Co-Facilitators!

Congratulations to Magnify Mastermind Graduate Haith Johnson, CEO of Le’Host The Hair Group, for scaling Le’Host to over 300 Walmart stores across 25 states! Click here to see Jacquie Munson-Gaines, President and CEO of JMG Connects, share her story & watch JMG’s feature in 12 Rising Black-Owned Businesses You “Must” Connect With! #ShopBlackNow!

T. RENEE’ SMITH Facilitator CEO iSuccess Consulting, Inc.

DR. FELICIA PHILLIPS Facilitator CEO PPICW

Congratulations to Jasmine Curtis, Founder and CEO of Avocurl, for being featured in Black Enterprise’s List of 20 Black WomenOwned Brands and in Vogue magazine!

It is no secret that the past two (and growing) years have been unprecedented and have presented challenges affecting the ways in which business is conducted. Despite these challenges, several businesses have made great achievements. The Wins Circle recognizes these inspirational milestones as we all strive to achieve our own "wins". (note: some names have been withheld to protect the identity of the organizations involved).

Big Deals Top Tier 1 and Class 4 successfully agree to joint venture! A 100-year-old MBE recently closed a $4-million deal with one of the council's capital partners An MMSDC startup company has closed a deal with an MBE private equity group for $4-million $1 million loan granted to MBE from major lending institution

3 PNP Minority Startups Receive VC Funding Lincode Labs Raised an undisclosed amount for seed round. READ MORE Interpl.ai Raised $2 million seed round They will pilot an automated vehicle delivery program for groceries in Troy. READ MORE Sibros Raised $70 million series B round. READ MORE

The Ci

e Wins ircle

Good Bakes and Cakes in the NY Times In Detroit, a Bet That Healthy Restaurants Can Help the City. READ MORE

Hattie Girl Ice Cream Now in Walmart This Detroit-made ice cream brand, generations in the making, has found its way into the frozen food aisles of local Walmart stores.. READ MORE

Prince Ruby Barbeque Sauce Steals the Show Michigan MBDA Center Client and Holiday Marketplace participant expands into Great Lakes Grills and Colony Quality Meats. READ MORE

Sports Data Labs Shortlisted for 'Capgemini Innovation of the Year' in 2022 Sports Technology Awards In-game prediction system that utilizes real-time athlete performance data to predict outcomes scores big. READ MORE

National Days TIMELINES MARCH National Women's History Month: Success comes with learning and what better way than with a mentor! This is a great time to thank your mentor(s), find a mentor, and/or become a mentor. National Nutrition Month: A long time ago, Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine,” and the sentiment still rings true. March is a great time to reset and remind ourselves of the importance of a balanced diet and exercise. National Credit Education Month: There is no better time to educate yourself and others on the importance of understanding the ins and outs of credit, including leveraging business credit to maximize access to capital.

1ST

It’s Mardi Gras time, arguably one of the best celebrations in the world. It’s also National Pancake Day! This is a great time to celebrate the hard work of your team and the support of your clients with a Mardi-Gras-themed pancake breakfast for your team or a special promotion for customers!

3RD

National I Want You to Be Happy Day: The last two years have taken an unprecedented toll on us in several ways. This is a great time to take advantage of this opportunity to show others you want them to be happy. It usually doesn’t take much effort — simple acts of kindness go a long way!

4TH

National Employee Appreciation Day: This is a great day to celebrate your employees - after all, strong employer-employee relations are at the core of any truly successful business.

8TH

International Women's Day: This global day celebrates the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women and is also observed in support of taking action against gender inequality around the world.

26TH

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: This day is literally what it stands for — making up a personalized holiday that is close to your heart. Test your team's creativity by allowing them to establish today's holiday!

27TH

National Paella Day: As paella is the national dish of Spain, this day celebrates a food filled with tradition. This is a great day to commemorate the tradition with a paella-themed lunch with your team.

29TH

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day: Many successful corporations today actually once started as smaller "Mom and Pop" businesses. Therefore, let's wish all the micro-businesses well on their way to building legacies!

APRIL National Financial Literacy Month: Whether you’re just starting or have been earning your way for quite some time, it’s never too late to learn about improving your financial outlook. National Humor Month: The past two years and recent political climate have been unprecedented. This is the ideal time to remind ourselves of the importance of humor — after all, humor plays an essential role in our overall health! National Volunteer Month: The selfless act of volunteerism provides valuable support to communities in times of need. This is a great time to reflect on causes that are meaningful to you and seize the opportunity to volunteer. "Sometimes the difference is a drop in the bucket. Other times it creates a tidal wave of change!" Stress Awareness Month: This month, we are all challenged to keep our stress levels low, and our peace levels high.

16TH

National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day allows us a reprieve after meeting a late-night deadline shuffling receipts, and adding columns to file our taxes.

21ST

National Get to Know Your Customers Day reminds businesses to reach out to patrons and get to know them better. This is a great time to follow up on a purchase, engage customers via social media, or offer a special promotion in exchange for their feedback.

23RD

National Take a Chance Day: Many successful business endeavors are the result of bold innovators willing to bring something extraordinary to market. Commemorate this day by breaking out of your comfort zone - you might be surprised at the outcome!

27TH

National Administrative Professionals Day: Take this time to celebrate those professionals who keep your office running smoothly every day.

28TH

National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day: This is a great opportunity for our children to see the different roles required to run a business or to build a project.

CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT

SPONSORED BY

As we commemorate National Women’s History Month, please join the council in recognizing a few of our women corporate leaders who are making great strides in furthering supplier diversity. THERISSA ALLEN

NSNA Supplier Diversity Purchasing Manager Therissa Allen is the NSNA Supplier Diversity Purchasing Manager for Nippon Seiki International’s North American region. In this role, she provides leadership for internal supplier diversity development and awareness programs, designs strategic initiatives to increase the company’s minority spending, and cultivates a diverse supplier base. In fact, she pioneered the first North American supplier diversity program for this worldclass manufacturer. Therissa is a champion for diversity and inclusion diligently works to create innovative ways to help raise internal and external awareness within NSNA. She is responsible for developing and executing long-term supplier diversity partnerships. Collaboration builds trust and increases supplier-driven innovation. Therissa believes that relationship building is one of the key components when developing and maintaining partnerships with diverse suppliers.

JENNIFER GOOD

Senior Manager for Supplier Relations, Compliance and Diversity Jennifer Good, who recently joined American Axle & Manufacturing as the Sr. Manager for Supplier Relations, Compliance and Diversity, has a strong history of advocating for diverse suppliers and inclusive sourcing programs. In her role, she leads efforts to develop new Supplier Diversity initiatives with measurable goals to improve AAM’s diversity sourcing impact and results. This includes minority supplier development workshops, participation in customer programs, and active engagement with various diversity councils and chambers. Jennifer serves on several committees for the MMSDC and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2021.

LYNN WILSON

Supplier Diversity Manager

MARCELLA MCCULLOUGH

Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity, Purchasing Strategy Marcella McCullough is Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity, Purchasing Strategy, for Nissan North America, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for developing supplier diversity strategies and processes of performance key indicators internally and externally. Additionally, Marcella assures appropriate company presence at national and regional diverse business association meetings and conferences. Marcella is committed to developing an increasingly robust supplier diversity program that will create economic opportunities for diverse supplier enterprises within Nissan. An experienced professional, Marcella developed her business acumen through a diverse array of purchasing, product sales, and supplier diversity development in the automotive and telecommunications industries. Her career path was marked by positions of increasing responsibility at Nortel, GM’s Saturn division, Delphi and Ford Motor Company.

Lynn Wilson is the Supplier Diversity Manager at Consumers Energy. In this role, Lynn is responsible for creating and maintaining positive relationships with business organizations like MMSDC, with individual suppliers and for guiding and promoting supplier diversity work across Consumers Energy. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College of Public Policy and maintains the AICP certification – American Institute of Certified Planners – from the American Planning Association. Lynn spent her early career working in local government, giving her direct contact with businesses as they grew and relocated and helped her develop a strong understanding of community and economic development strategies. Prior to joining Consumers Energy, Lynn worked for a national consulting firm where she developed a targeted expertise in stakeholder engagement. Lynn joined the Community Affairs team at Consumers Energy five years ago before joining the supply chain group in 2020. She is passionate about her work in supplier diversity – changing the world one contract at a time. Lynn lives in Haslett, Michigan with her husband Russ. They have three adult children.

LISA ROSS

Supplier Diversity Manager Lisa Ross is the Supplier Diversity Manager at Magna. In this role, Lisa is responsible for administering North American supplier diversity efforts to support our customers and the communities in which we do business. She served two terms as a board member of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) and Co-Chaired the MMSDC Automotive Industry Group from 2016 to 2020. Lisa is active with MMSDC’s CDC and AIG Committees and volunteers her time with other councils and chambers of commerce. She was recently recognized for her efforts by WBE Canada with the 2021 Supplier Diversity Leader award at their September Excellence Awards. In addition, Lisa is Vice Chair of Magna’s Global Women’s eXchange (Wx) Employee Resource Community and leads their Event Committee. Lisa has used this role to increase awareness of Magna’s supplier diversity program.

MBE SPOTLIGHT This year, National Women’s History Month is all about “Breaking Barriers.” The council salutes just a few of our women-owned MBEs who have successfully progressed in fields that have historically been male dominated.

NATALIE KING

Founder and CEO

DUNAMIS

COURTNEY MORALES HOFFMAN Owner

Natalie King is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC. Dunamis has grown into a multi-million-dollar corporation with over 150 employees throughout Southeastern Michigan, and has a diversified portfolio of products and services, including LED lighting and Electric Vehicle Charger manufacturing, as well as energy efficiency and environmental service solutions. Dunamis Charge, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dunamis, is the first African American owned electric vehicle charger manufacturer in the United States.

Courtney started MCM Staffing, and Hire Quality Strategies, a permanent placement firm in 2011. She supports and values the importance of being a certified WBE and navigated a changing industry with the passing of the Affordable Care Act law, landmark NLRB law changes, and, just recently, COVID-19. MCM Staffing implemented a strategic plan that included moving into the healthcare industry in 2020. The same year, Courtney led MCM through a rapid conversion of the business operating model to gain a sizeable medical customer base and onboard more than 650 associates during COVID-19.

Ms King was awarded the Ernst & Young 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Michigan and Northwest Ohio, and her company has been selected into national supplier development programs such as the inaugural Apple Impact Accelerator Program and the Stellantis National Black Supplier Program.

The company continues to support its industrial customers and is fortunate to be experiencing top-line growth. Courtney’s history in staffing and finance have attributed to MCM’s ability to be flexible during the pandemic. HTTPS://WWW.MCMSTAFFING.COM

HTTPS://WWW.DUNAMISENERGY.CO

KIM SAWYER

President & Founder Kim Sawyer is the President & Founder of Sawyer Services, Inc. and the third generation in the electrical industry, providing a wide array of experience in the design, installation, management, and maintenance of lighting, electrical, and sign systems to achieve significant energy cost savings and more efficient facility operations. Based in Southeast Michigan, Sawyer Services injects the economy with over 40 full-time jobs and is a contributing member of the Selfridge Air National Guard base community, Macomb County Chamber of Commerce and Women in Defense (WID), and sponsors many events supporting the community and our troops here and abroad. The company also holds several certifications, including MMSDC, DBE, NWBOC, EDWOSB, WBENC, WID, and MHCC. HTTPS://WWW.SAWYER-SERVICES.COM

MBE TOOLKIT

MBE-TO-MBE SPEND MBE-to-MBE spend is extremely important as we begin pivot out of the pandemic. It is a critical part of our growth strategy as we look at reducing economic parity from 333 to 15 years. Our strategy is to build spend with major corporations as well as MBE-to-MBE. The MBE-to-MBE spend is important because we are concentrating on strengthening our MBEs through vertical and horizontal spend.

PRESIDEN This Women’s History Month we are considering both the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs. At the MMSDC we are filtering this recognition through our lens of bringing minority entrepreneurs to revenue parity with their majority business counterparts. When we revealed our analysis in 2021, the time to revenue parity was at 333 years and since that time, we’ve deployed an arsenal of tactics aimed at addressing the disparity. Please check out MMSDC TV powered by Google for details on the many cutting-edge programming we offer. All of this programming is made possible by our dynamic team, so in honor of Women’s History Month I want to highlight a few of the amazing women working hard to develop and implement content that drives growth for corporations and MBEs. First is Tameka Williamson, MMSDC VP Operations. Tameka began assisting our team as a consultant in 2015 and joined us full time in 2020. She is a mechanical engineer with an MBA and has worked for an automotive OEM as well as other Fortune 50 companies. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt and is also PMP certified. She owns her own consulting firm, and her life passion is to ensure people of color gain access to college education. To date, her company has helped students secure $75,000,000 in scholarship funds. A published author, Tameka is known as the College Prep Boss. In her role at MMSDC, we integrate her diverse background, and our team says she has brought an invaluable process-driven approach to our work. Her energy and positive attitude is infectious. I am proud to work alongside her and appreciate her integrity and drive for excellence.

NT’S CORNER In addition, we have outstanding directors that work with us and volunteer their time to help the organization achieves its mission. One such person is Brenda Marshall. Brenda served on our board for a number of years until she termed out in December 2021. She has been an invaluable asset, quietly serving wherever she was needed and collaborating with ease with our staff, committee members and constituency. It is with mixed emotion that we acknowledge Brenda’s decision to retire from her role as the Supplier Diversity lead at Kelly Services. Although we are excited for Brenda and her family, we will miss her, and we would be remiss in failing to acknowledge her tireless efforts behind the scenes on such programming as MMSDC Academy and others. I am personally grateful for Brenda as she has never been one to tell me what I want to hear. I trust her integrity because she doesn’t play politics; she is all about the mission. I am grateful for her wise counsel over the years and wish her wonderful joy in this next chapter. Finally, when I think of M/WBE success I can’t help but consider Andra Rush. Andra’s iconic story of entrepreneurial success is one for the record books. Yet, she remains one of the most kind and approachable people who actively seeks opportunities to serve others. Our council and its constituents have benefitted greatly from Andra’s tireless service as she not only drives her own business, but works to ensure the path for other entrepreneurs is more equitable. Years ago, when I approached our board with the idea to shift the paradigm and create multiple cutting-edge professional programs far beyond the norm for economic development organizations, Andra volunteered to personally fund the initial feasibility study and planning. Later when we created the actual Campaign for Inclusive Growth, it was Andra who once again, stepped up first as she wanted to ensure corporations saw that MBEs were actively contributing. As a result of Andra’s efforts, we have increased the number of Native American certified firms 100% in just a few years. In addition, we have also now facilitated millions of dollars in financing for multiple MBEs, not to mention countless other programs that might have never materialized without Andra’s initial generous gift. She believes in the power of corporate partners working alongside MBEs and she puts her time and money to action. Andra recognizes her certification is not just to create wealth for one, but to literally make a difference for her employees, suppliers, communities and countless other MBEs as well. I am grateful for her friendship and partnership. When you see Tameka, Brenda, and Andra, please thank them for their efforts. I could take many pages to describe the countless people that make our work happen – MBEs, corporate partners, directors, committee members, and our staff. Our continuing direct impact on reducing the years to revenue parity to 15 or less is at the forefront of the MMSDC’s mission, and I could not be more proud to do this work alongside you. Thank you for your commitment to minority supplier development. I look forward to seeing you at MMPC August 23-25 live and inperson in Detroit.

SAVE THE NEW DATE AND REGISTER NOW! MMPC 2022 WILL NOW BE HELD IN AUGUST

EVENT SPONSORS:

AUGUST 2335, 2022 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Make Sure to Also Join Us on May 4 th for the MMPC 2022 Preview Day! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MMPC 2022 PREVIEW DAY To Learn More About MMSDC’s Exciting Plans for MMPC 2022 Visit the Event Website at

HTTPS://MMPC.MINORITYSUPPLIER.ORG/2022/

2022 MMSDC GOLF TOURNAMENT INVITATIONAL JULY 11, 2022 | OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

Join us, Monday, July 11, 2022, for our annual golf outing at Oakland University’s prestigious R&S Sharf and Katke-Cousins Golf Courses, located in Rochester, Michigan. This year’s event continues our strong legacy of connecting our members, supporters, and guests for a funfilled day of golf while making valuable business connections. There’s something for everyone! Whether you’re new to golf, an avid player, or you only play a round or two each season, our traditional scramble format is a great time for everyone involved! The event proceeds support our efforts in minority supplier development as we develop programs for MBEs and corporate members alike.

2022 MMSDC ACE AWARDS

OCTOBER 4, 2022 | SUBURBAN COLLECTION SHOWCASE

The 2022 MMSDC ACE (Ambassadors Championing Excellence) Awards will celebrate the past, present and future of our Supplier Diversity, as we honor the trailblazers along with those actively contributing to a continued harmonious business relationship between corporate and minority enterprises. As we look toward the future, strong partnerships remain a pillar in our shared success as a community. As such, the MMSDC is dedicated to helping the economic growth of minority business enterprises (MBEs) through the facilitation of successful business partnerships with multinational corporations. This commitment is directly in-line with the spirit of the ACE Awards, which continue to act as a force multiplier for disruptors and change agents relentlessly raising the bar within supplier diversity. So, please join us this year for a very special event, as we celebrate our Champions! Nominations Open April 4th.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION

smile.amazon.com The holidays may be over, but the season for giving is year-round with 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.