president’s message 2009 had a number of high points and low points for the Michigan Council. It began on one of the low points, in the form of a comment from a person who had been encouraged to work with MMSDC and replied that an invitation to work with our corporate members and MBEs in Michigan was like “receiving a lump of coal for Christmas.” Ouch.
After the initial sting, we decided that we would “own” the lump of coal on Christmas Day label. People describe coal as a black, messy ore. But under pressure - under intense pressure and high heat — the lump of coal becomes a rough diamond.
That is the prism which describes our performance and results for 2009. We developed a new ROI for our customers; strongly rooted in our unyielding commitment to minority business development, but defined by new Relationships, Opportunities, and Innovation. We not only faced the pressure, we embraced the pressure. Our team approached that pressure directly, without hesitation, or fear. In fact we increased the pressure on ourselves and responded by:
• Setting a new NMSDC record for new Corporate Members • Growing MBE spend by over 30% at a time when sourcing volumes were plummeting • Increasing the engagement and involvement of our corporate members despite sever reductions in supplier diversity staffs or entire program elimination. • Establishing new partnerships and programs that benefited our members and generated sustainable revenue for the council • Overcoming a $400,000 deficit early in the year and finishing the year with a positive balance • Developing key relationships with Industry CEO’s and policy makers at a time when Michigan and it’s leading industry were not thought of highly • Maintaining focus through three board chair changes in a year, while a large percentage of the company’s on our Board of Directors were in bankruptcy with some of them liquidating and closing their doors.
We made an imprint on minority business policy with chief executives from several of the world’s largest companies, and even with the chief executive of the United States of America. We innovated, partnered, and generated revenues in ways that this organization had never seen. Most importantly, we did it staying true to our mission of minority business development, and with transparency and integrity.
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
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2010 Council of the Year Application