3 Ways EMSDC Fosters The Development Of Minority Business Enterprises
As an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the largest national organization whose certification is uniformly recognized by Corporate America, EMSDC has been a valuable resource for minority-owned businesses throughout Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware for the past 50 years. Our mission is to stimulate and support the economic development of Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs) in an effort to initiate growth and opportunity through Supplier Diversity channels. But how do we achieve this goal? Here are just a few examples of the many ways EMSDC fosters the development of MBEs.
Exposure
The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As such, we serve a very important purpose: certifying and connecting minority-owned businesses with member corporations who are committed to supplier development. Minority businesses must be at least 51% minority-owned, operated, and controlled. For the purposes of our program, a minority group member is an individual who is at least 25% Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Certified MBEs are listed in our Supplier Database, which is accessible by corporate buyers nationwide. They also can find contact information for buyers through our Corporate Directory. Many of our certified MBEs confirm an increase in revenue by partnering with Corporate Members.
Professional Development
Our certified MBEs receive invitations to exclusive networking events, as well Industry Sector Groups with focused initiatives designed to support the growth of companies within a specific industry sector. We also provide educational programs and workshops to assist in professional development, and access to seminars hosted by leading corporations. National and local program partners include: Comcast, Verizon, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citizens, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Aramark, Aon, AmeriHealth Caritas, PECO, Vistra, American Water, Independence Blue Cross, Pepco Holdings, The Giant Company, PSEG, Johnson Controls, CDI Printing, E&E Technical Consultants, LSI Next Gen, CEI, Zones, LaFata Contract Services, Parx Casino, Soul Pit Media, Peapod Digital Labs, and Tonbo Visual Promotions, to name a few.
Award Opportunities
In addition to the national recognition that comes with certification, our MBEs have the opportunity to compete for prestigious local, regional, and national supplier excellence awards, such as the annual Choice Awards. MBEs also can participate in exclusive competitions sponsored by corporate members. For example, Tammy Williams, founder and CEO of Envision2bWell®, was recently named the winner of the 2022 EMSDC March Pitch Mania competition, sponsored by Comcast. This event provided a chance for MBEs to develop new pitches and gain valuable exposure, and along with bragging rights, Williams has won professional vendor services and access to an exclusive brain trust with Comcast. To quote Valarie J. Cofield, former EMSDC President and CEO, “We are always excited when we have the opportunity to showcase our powerhouse MBEs. This year’s March Pitch Mania brought the heat; from the initial round all the way through to the finals, our businesses showed not only innovation, but also the ability to forecast and solve market needs in real time…. This is what you get with intentional inclusion.”
For more information on the many ways EMSDC fosters the development of Minority Business Enterprises, please visit our website, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). We certify and connect minority-owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American) throughout Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware with member corporations that want to purchase their products, services and solutions. Our mission is to stimulate and support the economic development of minority-owned businesses and to better align them with corporations in an effort to initiate growth and opportunity through Supplier Diversity channels.