MMSDC Gazette May Issue

POWERED BY

A WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO COURTESY OF

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CONTENTS BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES

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

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FEATURED PROGRAMS

Plug and Play Detroit, Powered by AmplifyD is an accelerator for technology startups focused on mobility and the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities.

The Collaborative Growth Initiative (CGI) is a prime example of results-driven programming that allows MMSDC Corporate Members a real opportunity to assist in closing the economic equity gap by accelerating MBE growth.

HOW ONE IMMIGRANT FOUND BOTH A HOME AND A CALLING

Tel Ganesan wears many hats as entrepreneur and owner of Kyyba, Inc., philanthropist, and board member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, an organization that facilitates business relationships among Asian and U.S.- based companies.

ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER FIRSTS Take a visual journey through the Asian American Pacific Islander community’s impact on American History.

2021 MMPC RECAP This year’s MMPC was the 40th iteration of what continues to be a truly groundbreaking event with results-driven programming, powerful keynote addresses, and live virtual networking opportunities.

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CORPORATE & MBE SPOTLIGHT Recognizing Corporate members and MBEs of AAPI descent in celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Coming out of our 40th Annual Conference, we stand with the AAPI community as we work to address their challenges and determine where we go from here as the veil lifts on our Covid –19 exile.

SIGNATURE EVENTS: 2021 MMSDC INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Join us on Monday, July 26th, 2021, for our annual golf outing at Oakland University, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan

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BUSINESS FUNDING & RESOURCES FUNDING RESOURCES FOR MBES COMMUNE ANGELS

BLACK AMBITION

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.

The truth is Black Ambition is limitless but access is not.

Black Ambition is a non-profit initiative working to close the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship.

We invest capital and resources in high-growth startups founded by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. We believe entrepreneurs historically left out of traditional investment funnels are building the companies of tomorrow and we all have a united stake in opening opportunity. Eligible teams must have at least one member of the founding team who identifies as Black/African/African American and/or Hispanic/Latino/a/Latinx. Prizes will be awarded as cash and, in some instances, investments. Any earnings from investments will be used to support Black Ambition’s ability to offer Prizes to future entrepreneurs.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

FORD & NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE The Emergency Capital Access Program (ECAP) will provide small grants, combined with technical assistance and advisory services, to Black business owners through National Urban League affiliates in Los Angeles, Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago and New York.

Each city will receive $100,000, enabling National Urban League affiliates to provide crucial economic support to businesses providing a stabilizing influence for communities hard hit by the pandemic.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES (NAIC) The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) is a Washington DC-based trade association and the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds. Through education, advocacy, and other innovative programs, the NAIC is focused on increasing the flow of capital to high-performing diverse investment managers often underutilized by institutional investors.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

CHASE – ADVANCING BLACK PATHWAYS RECRUITMENT • Original Start date: February 2020, Executed: May 2020 • Original agreement focused on learning modules only • Certification component discussed in July 2020 • US Black Chamber of Commerce • Black Enterprise • National Urban League • Received referrals in August 2020 • Goal: Certify 200 Black Businesses • Requirements • 2+ Years in business • Revenue of $100K+ • Reimbursement upon successful certification • 2-year program • $50K a year • 1 successful completion CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

LOWE’S - RECRUITMENT | RETENTION • Agreement executed last week of January 2021 • Grant will pay for 2 years of certification|recertification at market rate • 1st Priority given to Lowe’s current, previous & prospective suppliers • Grant is approximately $320K • Encourage Black retail-based MBEs to obtain certification • No Council stipulations CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

AMAZON – CONSIDERATION • Request: certify the Black businesses on their platform • Programming included with other other NGOs • US Black Chamber of Commerce • Minority Business Development Agency • Launch during Black History Month • Potentially 20K businesses • Certification at market price • Next Steps: NMSDC to provide Amazon with a proposal 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.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

GOLDMAN SACHS In partnership with Black women-led organizations and other partners, our new investment initiative, One Million Black Women, will commit $10 billion in direct investment capital and $100 million in philanthropic support to address the dual disproportionate gender and racial biases that Black women faced for generations, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Most importantly, the investment will be grounded in the stories, voices, and experiences of Black women.

Together with leading organizations representing Black women, Goldman Sachs is launching with a series of listening sessions to solicit input from across the country of the investments, companies, resources, and programs that can be most impactful in serving Black women and transforming communities.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

FHL BANK INDIANAPOLIS Elevate is a small business grant program that assists the growth and development of small businesses, their workforce, and the communities where they are located. Your customers can use up to $10,000 for working capital and up to $20,000 for capital expenditures, workforce training, or a variety of other needs to get the boost that they need.

This grant is designed to benefit our members and their customers by strengthening relationships they already have. That’s a win for everyone involved.

WHO CAN APPLY? The small business must be located in Indiana or Michigan, and they must be sponsored by an FHLBank Indianapolis member to complete the application. Each small business is limited to one application.

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.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

FEATURED PROGRAMS

MMSDC announced its partnership with Plug and Play in 2020 and the program “Plug and Play Detroit, Powered by AmplifyD” (for Amplify: Diversity) launched last August – an accelerator for technology startups focused on mobility and the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities.

The program’s inaugural cohort, Batch Zero, was selected in November 2020 and graduated from the 6-month program this February. Batch ONE was selected in April, and its startup industries include: New Mobility & Autonomy, Industry 4.0, AI & Machine Learning, and Electrification & Sustainability. AmplifyD startups truly represent the economy of the future, both in their technology and the diversity of the founders and their teams’ minority representation.

Here are some facts about Batch One: 14 startups selected 57% minority-founded 1 Certified MBE – ChargerHelp!

64% minority and/or women founded 33% Midwest-based $2.9M Average $$ raised In comparison to Batch Zero, Batch ONE is a smaller group of earlier stage startups, includes about 20% more underrepresented founders than the previous cohort, and has a broader range of technology areas.

If you are interested in getting involved, there are many ways you can leverage its benefits both for Corporate Members and MBEs. Learn more by attending program events Engage in a Deal Flow session and hear pitches from 5–10 relevant startups, which can lead to innovative insight and even a pilot project Work with the MBDA to co-invest in a startup, side-by-side with Plug and Play JOIN the platform as a startup or as Corporate Partner – apply here: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/join/ Please visit the Plug and Play Detroit website for more information! https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/detroit/

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A primary theme at MMPC 2021 was addressing the “333 Years to Parity” – how long it will take to reach economic equity in communities of color based on the current growth rate of U.S. MBEs. The Collaborative Growth Initiative (CGI) is a prime example of results-driven programming that allows MMSDC Corporate Members a real opportunity to assist in closing this gap by accelerating MBE growth.

This program is intended to drive business growth for both Corporate Members as well as support high-performing MBEs. This type of sustainable growth enables MBEs to better serve their customers, while also helping major corporations achieve their business goals.

Corporate Members sign on to Champion 1-to-3 MBE suppliers. The Corporations’ Chief Procurement Officers work with MBEs to develop a sourcing pipeline and introduce suppliers to Internal Buyers and other potential customers, including suppliers within their supply chains. Success is measured by tracking the total dollar value of awarded contracts for MBEs. CGI Phase I includes 8 Corporate Members in the automotive industry championing 12 indirect suppliers.

This program has proven results with the initial success of Phase I, with participating MBEs being collectively awarded $96 million in contracts during 2020.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Phase II, including 6 Corporate Members in a range of industries working with indirect suppliers. Phase III will target automotive Corporate Members and direct production suppliers.

QUIET STORM DREAM TEAM

MADDIE GAZZOLO

FEATURED STAFF MEMBER: Maddie Gazzolo SUPER HERO NAME: Quiet Storm SECRET IDENTITY: Program Coordinator SUPER POWERS: Growth Programming at MMSDC and the MBDA SPECIAL SKILLS: Certification Process assistant, customer service, task efficiency

SUPER HERO STATS (KPIs) Minimum 40% women and/or minority founders included in Batch 44% Plug and Play Detroit, Powered by AmplifyD Batch Zero startups founded by women and/or underrepresented minorities 64% Batch One startups founded by women and/or underrepresented minorities 12+ new MBDA clients served in 7 months 80+ attendees at events, including MMSDC Info Session and “Get to Know Batch Zero” Innovation Session at MMPC with 80% + NPS Signed up 3 Corporate Members (Barton Malow, Meijer, Rock Central) as Sponsors for Phase II of the Collaborative Growth Initiative

Key Calendar Dates July 16: CGI Phase 2 Launch August TBD: Plug and Play Detroit, Powered

by AmplifyD Batch One Expo September TBD: PNP–AmplifyD Selection Day for Batch TWO

HOW ONE IMMIGRANT FOUND BOTH A HOME AND A CALLING T

el Ganesan wears many hats.

He is an entrepreneur and owner of Kyyba Inc., an international consulting conglomerate founded in Michigan more than 20 years ago.

He is civically engaged, serving as a board member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, an organization that facilitates business relationships among Asian and U.S.based companies. He is an advocate for education who has created, through his Kyyba Kidz Foundation, a vehicle for improving the lives and educational outcomes for underprivileged kids, assuring they ‘rise to great heights’. He is a community builder, who promotes entrepreneurship and created Pitch Club Michigan to fund startups.

The Indian-born Ganesan grew up in the U.S and attended both Wayne State and the University of Michigan. A mechanical engineer by education and training, he resisted the solicitations from Silicon Valley to build a life and career in the state. “This is the place that made me who I am, and it is ingrained in me to give back to this community. I’m just loyal he laughs.”

Ganesan is one of 4.6 million Asian Indians living in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 22.9 people of Asian descent live in the country and trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, each with unique histories, cultures and languages, far from monolithic. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) and it is appropriate to take this month to revisit the history and contributions by Asian Americans to this country. In fact, Ganesan believes that the rash of violence against Asians associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in this country is derived from a lack of knowledge.

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AAPI recognition happens in May for two reasons. First, to commemorate the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843; secondly, to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which upwards of 20,000 Chinese workers helped to construct. The month pays tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the United States’ history and are instrumental in its future success.

Ganesan is part of that future as he employs nearly a thousand people working on future-looking technologies like the internet of things (IoT), AI analytics, and cybersecurity.

Reflecting on the fact that the country was founded by immigrants Ganesan says that diversity is the “secret recipe” upon which this country was built.

And he notes wryly that you “can’t take Colonel Sanders out of the mix and expect to get the secret recipe right.” Further, he notes that considering the changing demographics, that show the U.S. is becoming a majority-minority, fear-mongering among a few, as it relates to ethnic and racial minorities, only serves to drive class distinctions and create animosities. All of which is bad for our country. Rather, working together to create jobs and opportunities for everyone has a multiplier effect he says.

Dispelling ignorance he says is important, and perhaps he’ll found a school himself to do just that he says. And it wouldn’t be far afield from what he’s done to date pushing an education agenda for his home state. What he knows for sure is what science teaches, we are all evolved from a common DNA no matter our skin color. If America is to remain competitive he says we must fight against divisive politics and infighting. “Real leadership is called for now more than ever. Leadership that ensures our children are properly educated and trained, leadership that puts an end to the opioid crisis once and for all, leadership that keeps America competitive and is alert and responsive to the threats outside our borders,” Ganesan concludes.

Asian American Pacific Islander

Firsts Nobel

Gold Rush (1848-1855)

Chen-Nin became t Nobel pri investiga which ha regarding

The first Chinese immigrants began arriving in the United States in significant numbers.

Birthright citizenship (1898) In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children born in America to foreigners were U.S. citizens. The decision came after a yearlong battle between Wong Kim Ark — who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants — and the U.S. Justice Department.

Central Pacific Railroad (1864) Central Pacific Railroad started with a crew of 21 Chinese workers and was commissioned to complete the western part of the First Transcontinental Railroad. This number eventually grew to over 20,000.

US Congress (1957) Dalip Saund of California is sworn in as a U.S. Representative, becoming the first Asian-American, first Indian American and first Sikh to serve in Congress.

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Prize (1957)

ng Yang and Tsung-dao Lee the first Asian Americans to win a ize “for their penetrating ation of the so-called parity laws as led to important discoveries g the elementary particles.”

Highest Paid Actor in the World (2016) Pacific-Islander American Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson becomes the highest paid actor in the world.

Executive Order (2021)

YAHOO! (1994)

Joe Biden Signs Executive Order Condemning Anti-Asian Racism Related To COVID-19.

Jerry Yang becomes cofounder of Yahoo!

Asian Pacific American Heritage Recognition (1979)

Pulitzer Prize (2014) Vijay Seshadri becomes the first Indian-American to win the Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category.

President Jimmy Carter signed a law that designated the first seven days of May as "Asian Pacific American Heritage Week," to acknowledge America's first Japanese immigrants and the Chinese immigrants who helped build the railroads. This was eventually extended to the entire month.

YouTube (2005) Taiwan-born Steve Chen creates YouTube.

MAY 4 - 6, 2021 A FULLY IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY

RECAP This year’s MMPC was the 40th iteration of what continues to be a truly groundbreaking event. Though the conference was fully virtual for its second consecutive year, the platform, programming, and the various opportunities to connect were second to none. Most notably, our Professional Development Day Keynote Address by Dr. Bernice A. King was absolutely riveting and offered a unique perspective on the collective efforts needed to move the Equity & Inclusion needle forward. Additionally, MMSDC presented its study, in conjunction with Supplier.io, on the sobering data outlining how long it will take to achieve true economic parity in communities of color based on the current growth of U.S. MBEs. These are just a few of the highlights from MMPC 2021, which we hope will challenge all of us to leverage this unique moment to effectuate change as we work to build wealth throughout minority communities.

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT! #BEATTHECLOCK 333 YEARS TO PARITY! YEARS

MONTHS

WEEKS

DAYS

HOURS

333 00 000 05 00 12 00 24 00 06 THE CASE FOR CHANGING SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AS WE KNOW IT The fearless, impact-driven approach to 2021 MMPC’s bold programming was in large part inspired by the sobering results of research conducted by Supplier.io. As Neeraj Shah of Supplier.io explained during the opening session of Professional Development Day, “333 Years to Parity: The Case for Changing Supplier Diversity As We Know It​“, at the current rate of MBE growth, it would be 333 years before economic parity is reached in the minority community. Fortunately, with bold approaches and focused strategies, MMSDC President and CEO Michelle Sourie Robinson has outlined a solid blueprint that, when implemented, will significantly reduce this threshold to 15 years!

THE MMPC PRODUCERS

We are excited about the success of MMPC and couldn’t have done it without the support of our Sponsors, Board of Directors, MBEs, and the entire MMSDC Team.

The conference experience described in these words was the result of the efforts and commitment of our MMSDC Producers. Because of their tireless efforts in helping to plan and deliver MMPC 2021, 8 months after MMPC 2020, we are one step closer to implementing steps that lead to real change towards #BeatingThe333YearsClock.

The Producers from left to right: • • • •

Biko Smith, The Cultivation Currency King Marcus Lewis of FullView Studios, The Prolific Producer Michael Brown of 3PiN Design & Management, The Modest Magician Tracy McGuire – The Project Pathfinder

MMSDC IS BEATING THE CLOCK BY SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF MINORITY BUSINESSES MMPC 2021 virtual conference experience was produced and delivered by the following minority businesses.

TR3 STUDIOS – TED ADAMS WEINVITE - VARCHASVI SHANKAR TALLULAH GROUP – PATRICIA ANDREWS-KEENAN

MILO AGENCY - BILLY STRAWTER, JR. MAKE IT PRETTY COOKING - CRYSTAL CARTER VIRTUAL DJ (“DJ BREEZE”) - ADAM SABREE

SHOP OUR MINORITY BUSINESSES YEAR AROUND What started as an initiative to help minority businesses make it through COVID and promote during MMPC now has a permanent place on our website! If you need gifts, treats, clothes, etc., consider visiting the marketplace first and support these small minority businesses.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MARKETPLACE

MMPC WORD ON THE STREET… “The MMPC and Live Networking Event has proven to be a tremendous tool! Our team greatly benefited from having the ability to identify potential new customers in an open networking forum.”

“The conference was very educational.

I’m very impressed with the knowledge of the speakers for this event and all they’re doing to ensure equity amongst people.”

“…absolutely inspiring input from Dr. Bernice King (daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr).”

“This has been an amazing event!! We connected with a lot of corporations...

Thanks again for this opportunity.”

“I was deeply motivated by Michelle Sourie Robinson & Neeraj Shah’s “333 Years to Parity” presentation.”

“The keynotes on the timeline and bold steps needed to achieve economic parity were eye opening...”

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“The icing on the cake came on Wednesday, where the Chief Diversity Officer Panel gave some of the most honest and impactful advice that I have ever received at a conference.

I would advise all MBEs to attend the next conference and anyone to connect with the Diversity & Inclusion Officer within their organization to get more information on how they can participate in their programs!!”

“Thank you to everyone that contributed towards making MMPC 2021 a success. Not only has it been a great experience and tool at a career level, but it has also impacted me at a very personal level.”

“As a result of the matchmaking and Business Opportunity Exchange scheduling tools, we were able to connect with several potential suppliers that we are confident will lead to contracts in the near future...”

“As a Corporate Supplier Diversity lead within my organization, attending candid sessions such as the Chief Diversity Officer Forum lit a fire in terms of ensuring that my organization is providing solid opportunities that truly enable the growth of minority business enterprises.”

COMING SOON… MMPC-40 ON DEMAND*

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All conference registrants will receive instructions on how to access conference material. For those who missed the conference, MMPC-40 On Demand will be available for $175. This opportunity is made available via MMSDC TV Powered by Google. *CDO Forum was a one-time viewing session only and will not be available for on-demand viewing

CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT

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A HISTORY OF BRILLIANCE In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, MMSDC would like to recognize some of the valued Corporate members and minority business enterprises that work diligently toward realizing economic parity and inclusion in the supplier diversity space.

ALYSIA R. GREEN

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Education & Multicultural Affairs Strategist For over 20 years, AAA – The Auto Club Group has collaborated with the MMSDC to expand our organization’s supplier diversity program. And as a trusted brand for over a 100 years, we’re committed to promoting a culturally inclusive environment that energetically connects our vibrant workforce, our members and the communities we serve.

The MMSDC continues to be a valued partner engaging a large network of diverse business owners representing our members and communities. With an average annual direct spend of over $30 million, our program is proud of the resulting economic impact within the region.

CHARLEY MENG

Associate General Counsel Inteva recognizes and values diversity in our supply chain. We use cross-functional sourcing teams to ensure compliance to our internal standards. Sourcing documents highlight diverse suppliers and dashboards indicate diverse supplier spend to ensure goals are met. Inteva has helped to empower Michigan’s diverse suppliers by partnering with industry associations that foster and promote diversity. Since our company was founded in 2008, Inteva has partnered with the MMSDC with team members represented in the Automotive Industry Group and on the Certification and Corporate Development Committees. We have supported events promoting minority suppliers, such as the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference and the East West Business Connection. I am also honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce.

ANAND D. KUMAR

Director Supplier Diversity Program For over two decades AAA - The Auto Club Group has been an active partner with MMSDC to expand the organization’s supplier diversity program. By recognizing “Diversity” as a strategic initiative, the organization has demonstrated its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

As a trusted brand for over a 100 years, AAA has long been committed to strengthening the supplier diversity program to reflect the cultural variety of its membership and workforce. MMSDC continues to be a reliable partner to embrace industry best practices and more importantly, to engage with a large network of diverse business owners. With an average annual direct spend of over $30 million, the program is proud of the resulting economic impact to the region.

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KAVY LENON

Supplier Diversity Manager Meijer is committed to making sure diversity, equity and inclusion are part of everyday business practice. Focusing on Supplier Diversity helps drive growth and stronger outcomes for our customers, communities, employees, and diverse suppliers. Meijer has been in business for more than 85 years and has a rich history of supporting the communities where our customers and team members work and live. Expanding our footprint in six states, we challenge ourselves to ensure the products, goods and services in our supply chain mirror and uplifts our local communities. Our team is excited about the MMSDC partnership and ways we can impact together.

MBE SPOTLIGHT MARIA CABALLERO

ERIC HEARD

Maria Caballero is the president of Diversity Enterprise Solutions LLC (DES). Established in 2012, the company provides logistics fulfillment including JIT, sequencing, and warehousing. Their fleet is 100% company owned and operated that specializes in local, regional, heavy, and long-haul lane support with an extensive fleet of tractors and trailers.

As an entrepreneur specializing in bridging the gap between the East and West, Eric Heard is the president of AMTECH USA. Through his extensive experience in automotive supply, Heard acquired the knowledge and experience necessary to understand Japanese business practices, culture, and philosophy in addition to speaking fluent Japanese.

AMTECH’s history with MMSDC began in 2002. Thanks to MMSDC’s networking events, the company has enjoyed successful relationships with companies like DENSO, Honda, and Toyota; and it is still going strong. AMTECH USA is the cost-effective alternative for access to the Japanese and Asian industrial sales and marketing network worldwide. The company assists in eliminating many of the traditional language and cultural barriers to conducting business with OEMs and suppliers based in Japan and other Asian countries.

The company has two divisions: AMTECH International and AMTECH Material Systems.

President

According to DES, the MMSDC has been a catalyst in providing OEM opportunities that caused an increase in sales growth and expansion into new territories. This included partnering with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers for just-in-time, inventory management, and lane fulfillment.

DES is the proud recipient of the FCA Woman and MBE Supplier of the Year recognition. The company continuously strive to celebrate diversity in their workforce and supplier base while encouraging opportunity and inclusivity within their team and between their suppliers.

THIRU GANESAN President

Kyyba is a 100% minority-owned company certified with the MMSDC with diversity as its pillar. Kyyba has a global presence delivering high-quality resources and real-world concepts enabling clients to effectively respond to organizational and technological changes. As a workforce management and high-performance technology solutions company with years of industry experience, Kyyba knows the most effective strategies to scale talent and digital capabilities while providing unlimited support for seamless business continuity. The company is an active participant in the local and national councils promoting supplier diversity in all areas of their business. Kyyba trusts that its experience as both a supplier and a buyer positively contribute to its competitive advantage. It is committed to ensuring opportunities are continually afforded to minorities, women, service-disabledveterans, and disadvantaged business enterprises as suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors of goods and services. Kyyba’s current supplier diversity spend is 10% with 65% of its workforce being diverse talent.

President

HEI KING

President Hei King is the president and owner of GLTaC, a leading provider of technical translations to companies around the world. As an essential provider of language services, many of their clients rely upon them to consistently deliver accurate and on time translations. The company’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) expertise is widely recognized in the workplace safety field. MBE certification is a critical part of their toolkit as it has enabled them to expand and grow in meeting the requirements of their clients. Whether helping someone with a personal document or translating a Safety Data Sheet into more than 50 languages, GLTaC always strives to exceed their client’s expectations. GLTaC appreciates the efforts of MMSDC that has contributed to increase market awareness of their capabilities and expansion. According to its customers, the key difference in GLTaC’s service is, “They care!” This fits perfectly within their focus on quality and accuracy because, “Lives depend on our translations!”

DOUGLAS LADEMAN President

Action Tool is an Asian-Pacific owned, full-service, machining and assembly facility located in Brighton, Mich. Since its inception in 1993, its partnership with the MMSDC has been instrumental to the company’s success. Creating pathways to overcome obstacles through relevant education, hard work, and networking, the MMSDC has provided Action Tool & Machine to create opportunities and sustain growth. These opportunities have allowed the company to enter the global supply chain by partnering with such companies as Nagel Precision, Komatsu America, FCA (Stellantis), Dana, Williams International, Red Viking, and AAM. Action Tool & Machine, Inc. is proud and honored to be a product of the collaborative efforts between MBEs and the MMSDC. The MMSDC has been a driving force in creating supplier diversity for decades and helping MBEs succeed that positively impacts Michigan’s economy.

The efforts, perseverance, and foresight of the MMSDC have made our dream possible.

PRESI

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IDENT’S CORNER A HISTORY OF RESILIENCE...A FUTURE OF BRILLIANCE On the heels of our 40th Annual Michigan Minority Procurement Conference, 40 & Forward: A History of Resilience, A Future of Brilliance, our team is energized and ready to tackle this new, continually uncertain business climate. In light of the many reality checks and paradigm shifts known as 2020, our team thought it was critical that we not approach our work as status quo.

We introduced Real Talk, Real Results sessions with candid, practical input from some of the nation’s top subject matter experts. For example, our panel of HR executives talked about the choices we face in determining how we cautiously move back into our offices, the lessons learned and how the workplace will look different post-pandemic.

Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and CEO of the King Center, joined us to talk not just about her father’s legacy, but about what it will take for people of color to build generational wealth. Her historical perspective and future insights were powerful and inspiring. She also underscored the data Neeraj Shah and I shared with the attendees. At the current rate of growth, it will take 333 years for minority populations to achieve economic parity. Learn more about how we can reduce this span to 15 years by tuning in to our new streaming service MMSDC-TV, powered by Google via minoritysupplier.org.

Last but not least, May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month. We stand with the AAPI community in condemning the deplorable acts of hate that have devastated communities. As many of you saw me share on social media, for me it brought to mind Dr. King’s statement “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” So, I implore you not to be silent but to use your sphere of influence to support AAPI communities as if your existence depends on it, because it does.

Michelle

SIGNATURE EVENTS Join us on Monday, July 26th, 2021, for our annual golf outing at Oakland University, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. This year’s event continues our successful legacy of connecting our members, supporters, and guests for a fun-filled day of golf while making important business connections. There’s something for everyone!

Whether you are a scratch or avid golfer, play a round or two each season, or are new to golf, you can enjoy a fourball format using your handicap to play in a traditional scramble.

WHO’S READY TO PLAY GOLF? WE ARE! MMSDC ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT IS BACK! JULY 26, 2021 OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

The MMSDC team has worked diligently to provide a safe golf experience with COVID-19 contingency plans so that you can enjoy a day on the green and interact live with colleagues and others, perhaps for the first time in in a while in a safe environment.

To aid us in creating a truly phenomenal experience, our team plans to launch an outstanding connection idea - we are implementing a matchmaking on the green feature.

The “Buyer-MBE Golf Pairing” matches buyers and procurement decision-makers with aligned MBEs to form a golf team. As a connection opportunity, Buyers and MBEs can not only relax with a round of golf but engage in targeted networking.

HOW IT WORKS: • Corporate members will provide a list of buyers and procurement decision-makers and specify commodities/service areas.

• MBEs will have an opportunity to submit capability statements and identify which sourcing opportunities they are interested in.

• After a short review process, selected MBEs will be notified to register as a sponsor or purchase a non-sponsor foursome package in addition to paying a pairing premium prior to being assigned a golf team.

MBE submission period is June 1, 2021 – June 18, 2021.

MBES - COMPLETE MATCHMAKER FORM To view all your registration options, including some exciting new sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at the following link:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! We look forward to hosting you at the 2021 MMSDC Golf Invitational!

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ONE MMSDC is designed to assist corporate personnel and community stakeholders in learning the keys to building sustainable minority supplier development programming.

This event works to explain the value and impact that supplier diversity has on its community. The intended goal is to connect-the-dots and explain how working together can assist communities with the greatest needs. The program also ensures that our constituency is aware and knowledgeable of current and future initiatives supporting sustainable MBE growth and scale opportunities.

SEPTEMBER 2021 TBD

The event is tentatively scheduled for September 2021, however, in the coming months, please be on the lookout for the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council to announce the official date, time, and location of 2021 ONE MMSDC. We look forward to seeing you there!

The 2021 ACE Awards and Chairman’s Scholarship Gala will join forces this year to celebrate both Ambassadors Championing Excellence in supplier diversity, and the scholars representing the future of a continued harmonious business relationship between corporate and minority enterprises.

DECEMBER 9, 2021 A VIRTUAL EVENT

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 inline with the spirit of the ACE Awards and the Chairman’s Scholarship Gala, which continue to act as force multipliers 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 supplier diversity champions and future scholars, while also saying thank you to our outgoing Board Chair and welcoming our incoming Chair with the ceremonial Passing of the Gavel.

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.