News Release: Two New Members Join Northwest Mountain MSDC Board of Directors

Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council | August 5, 2021

Tukwila WA | The Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council announced today the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Richard Cardone of Vulcan Inc. and Richard Chacon of MUFG, Union Bank both assumed their roles on August 1. There are now 11 members on the Board of Directors.

“We are excited to have both Richard and Richard join our Board of Directors.  Their commitment to Supplier Diversity and expansive experience in Corporate America adds strength to an already strong Board” said Fernando Martinez, Northwest Mountain MSDC President & CEO. “The strength of our Board continues to grow and position the Northwest Mountain MSDC as regional leader in minority business development and growth.”

Richard Chacon is rejoining the Board of Directors after serving the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in other regions of the country.  Mr. Chacon brought MUFG, Union Bank to the Council as a Corporate Member in 2008.  He has been with MUFG Union bank for 23 years and brings a wealth of experience in Supplier Diversity Development, External Affairs and Community Development.

“I’m honored to be a member of the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council Board of Directors” says Chacon. “Union Bank is a longtime supporter of the Council.  We strengthen our commitment to the Pacific Northwest supplier community through my direct involvement on the Board.”

Richard Cardone brought Vulcan, Inc. into the Council as a Corporate Member last November and has been active with the Council since then. Mr. Cardone has over 25 years of global business experience in information systems, accounting, financial reporting, tax, operations, cash disbursements, supply-chain, and inventory management. Prior to joining Vulcan Inc. he worked with Starbucks, Amazon, and AT&T.

“Over the past year, my participation with the NWMMSDC has been a pivotal career experience that has brought me into the work of MBE development” says Cardone. “Awareness through NWMMSDC has helped me improve the way I do business in thought, word, and deed.  Diverse people coming together make a difference in making the world a better place.  I am honored to be accepted as a board member and look forward to taking up my role with the utmost gusto!”

About the Northwest Mountain MSDC

Founded in 1978, the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (Northwest Mountain MSDC) is a nonprofit organization certifying, developing, and connecting Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with major corporations and public agencies. They are an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) providing certification, membership and subscription services to the Pacific Northwest Mountain region which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Small Business Flex Fund for Washington Businesses

On June 30th the Small Business Flex Fund was launched as a joint project between the Washington State Department of Commerce, Heritage Bank, and WaFd Bank. The Fund helps small businesses and nonprofits access the financial support they need to thrive by providing flexible working capital loans

Small businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $150,000 and the money can be spent flexibly, including on payroll, utilities & rent, supplies, marketing & advertising, building improvements or repairs, and other business expenses. Interest rates are 3% – 4.5%, with no fees & interest-only payments for the first year. Loan terms of 60 month and 72 months available.

The qualifications to apply are:
  • Business headquartered in Washington
  • Fewer than 50 employees
  • Annual revenues of less than $3 million
  • Experienced direct economic hardship due to COVID-19
To learn more and apply today, visit smallbusinessflexfund.org and review the program brochure here.

Letter from the President: Mental Health Resources

Dear Members, MBEs, Friends, and Colleagues,

The past year has put great stress on our collective mental health, worsening an already serious health and economic crisis. At the Council, caring for the health and wellbeing of our MBEs, members, staff and friends is deeply woven into our core values and goal of serving our community. We firmly believe that mental health should be valued, cared for and treated equally alongside our physical health.

Beyond the affect mental health has on individuals, it also has a significant impact on business. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. People who are grappling with anxiety, depression, grief, or trauma are not able to show up as their best self anywhere, and this includes the workplace. But WHO also found that for every $1 spent on treating common mental health concerns, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity.

In our commitment to deliver value to our Members and MBEs, we have compiled a list of mental health resources available to share with your teams, and best practices around employee mental health. While this list is not exhaustive, some key points to consider when building a strong workplace mental health plan include:

  • Health insurance benefits that offer good mental health coverage. If you are not familiar with how your employee health plan performs in this area, we encourage you to research it.
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). An EPA is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems.
  • Open communication and a pro-mental health culture. Talk about mental health openly in the workplace and encourage employees to take concrete steps to support their mental health.
  • Mental health education: standard training or onboarding that covers mental health, recognizing signs of stress, and ways to help. This is especially important for managerial roles.
  • Promote wellbeing by offering flexible schedules as possible, spaces dedicated to meditation or quiet, and encouraging vacation time
  • Ensure your leadership models healthy behaviors. A critical part of building a positive culture around mental health is ensuring your own actions as a leader model the behaviors you encourage. Employees who see their supervisor work through all their vacations will feel less comfortable utilizing their own vacation time.

The best approach for each business will vary depending on size, existing structure and environment. Whether you are a sole proprietor or a company of 200, we encourage you to explore resources available to you and your employees, including the enclosed list. After the collective stressors of the Covid-19 pandemic and social injustice upheavals over the past year and a half, note that even as the economy begins to return to pre-pandemic state, our lives and the lives of our teams and families are far from returning to ‘pre-pandemic business as usual.’

Sincerely,

Fernando Martinez, President & CEO NWMMSDC

To view and download resources, please click here

Virtual Business Conference Part Two

The Northwest Mountain MSDC hosted part two of its annual Business Conference on Thursday May 20th. This is the second year the Council has hosted the conference virtually, due to the Pandemic.

It was a successful morning of networking between MBEs and Corporate/Public Agency Members. Large group conversations included topics around reopening of the regional economy, struggles during the pandemic and forecasting future market demands as states reopen. Each participant also attended a full slate of one-on-one meetings and roundtables designed to connect them with other MBEs and members well suited to their current goals. The Council is appreciative of all those who shared valuable advice and is glad to see many new connects formed!

The third and final part of the conference will be held on Thursday June 17th.

Port of Seattle VendorConnect

The Port of Seattle has debuted a new online system called VendorConnect. VendorConnect is the Port of Seattle’s procurement and contract information database.

With VendorConnect you can:
• Access a one-stop resource for construction projects, consulting services, and goods and services
• Reach Port buyers and procurement specialists
• Receive emails about Port events and business opportunities
• Search vendors and view the event calendar
• Learn current and future purchasing strategies
• Market your business to Port staff and external businesses, including primes seeking
businesses to partner with on upcoming contracts

To begin, you must register yourself and then find or add your business. If you were in the old system, and this is your first time logging in you must recreate your login account.

Click here to view the VendorConnect dashboard

For instructions on how to log in or register for VendorConnect see this Port of Seattle guide.

Tuck Diversity Business Programs and National Minority Supplier Development Council Partner to Help Diverse Business Owners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2021
Contact: Tammy Wilkins, Chief of Staff
Tammy.Wilkins@nmsdc.org | 212.944.2430

New York, NY, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tuck Diversity Business Programs and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) have formed a partnership to support the growth of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) across the country.

NMSDC will award numerous scholarships to MBEs to attend one of Tuck’s signature Diversity Business Programs, Building a Successful Diverse Business or Growing an Established Diverse Business.

Building a Successful Diverse Business focuses on the essential tools that owners need to successfully establish their businesses in the marketplace. It is designed for emerging entrepreneurs who are looking to build a strong foundation of business knowledge and learn how to be a better supplier to corporations.

Growing an Established Diverse Business enables participants in established businesses to accelerate their growth. This follow-up program to Building a Successful Diverse Business helps participants overcome the challenges that business owners often see after several years of successful growth and helps them assess the alternatives to organic growth—strategic alliances and acquisitions.

The Tuck Diversity Business Programs started in 1980 and are the country’s oldest programs designed to develop diverse business owners at a graduate business school. Since its inception, thousands of business owners have participated in the programs.

“The Tuck Diversity Business Programs team is very excited about our relationship with NMSDC. They are one of the premier certifying organizations in the country and we look forward to sharing our programs with their membership,” said Emmanuel Ajavon, associate director of Tuck Diversity Business Programs.

How to Apply

NMSDC scholarships are open to NMSDC-certified MBEs.  Applicants to Building a Successful Diverse Business should have a minimum of three years of experience running a business and at least $250,000 in annual sales. Applicants to Growing an Established Diverse Business should have already attended Building a Successful Diverse Business or be able to demonstrate comparable experience and education.

Applicants who are interested in being considered for an NMSDC scholarship must complete the online application at and enter “NMSDC Applicant” under “Sponsor Company (if applicable).”

For more information, please contact Emmanuel Ajavon at emmanuel.ajavon@tuck.dartmouth.edu.

About NMSDC | https://nmsdc.org

Chartered in 1972, The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) was stood up because of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s and continues to be the leading minority business development organization in the United States. NMSDC supports the economic sustainability of more than 13,000 certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and advances minority business development by facilitating procurement opportunities between its certified MBEs and its network of over 1,500 Corporate Members. NMSDC’s African American, Asian-Indian American, Asian-Pacific American, Hispanic American and Native American businesses provide products and services in many industries. The NMSDC network includes a National Office in New York, 23 regional affiliate councils, five international partner organizations and the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) as its funding arm.

Follow NMSDC on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

About Tuck Diversity Business Programs | https://dbp.tuck.dartmouth.edu

The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth was the first U.S. institution of higher education to offer executive programs dedicated to advancing the capabilities of underserved entrepreneurs and executives. Since setting the standard in 1980, Tuck has continuously honed its program, expanding and refining what is covered to create the maximum impact on the businesses of its attendees.

2021 Virtual Business Conference Part One

The Northwest Mountain MSDC hosted part one of its annual Business Conference. This is the second time the Council hosts a virtual conference due to the Pandemic.

It was a successful morning of networking between MBEs and Corporate/Public Agency Members. During this session, Dr. Suj Chandrasekhar, Founder and Principal, Strategic Insights discussed “Digital Transformation”. Earl W. Overstreet II, President, GMI shared a motivational presentation, as he told the story of his journey as an entrepreneur. Fernando Martinez, President and CEO of the NWMMSDC closed out the meeting with an informative presentation, sharing Council activities and defining Tier 2 / Mentor-Protégé.

To view Suj’s presentation, click here: Digital Transformation

To view Fernando’s presentation, click here: 2021 Business Conference Part One

Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council Stands Firmly in Support of our Asian American Pacific Islander Community

The Northwest Mountain MSDC stands strongly in support of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community and against all forms of hate, racism, and violence. We condemn current and past acts of anti-Asian violence and support the civil rights of AAPI community.  This hate, racism, and violence, deeply rooted in personal and institutional beliefs, has no place in our society. We, at the Northwest Mountain MSDC, are committed to the eradication of such hateful, violent, and destructive behaviors.

The attacks in Seattle, Atlanta, and across the country against our AAPI Community has no place in a civilized society. Attacks have escalated over the last year. Hate crimes against our AAPI Community increased 149% in 2019, while overall hate crimes in the U.S. declined. Other sources, that do not necessarily report crimes to the Police Department, indicate crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander Community ranged between 3,800 and 4,800 incidents. Most of these hate crimes, 68%, were committed against women.  The trend continues. In 2021 there have already been over 500 reported hate crimes against members of the AAPI Community.  Hate crimes will continue to increase in numbers, simply because individuals think they can commit acts of violence against innocent people based on their race, ethnicity, and gender without fear of repercussions from our legal institutions.

The Council vehemently opposes these acts of hate, racism, and violence. We must stand together as a community to #StopAsianHate and stop all hate, racism, and violence.

About the Council

Founded in 1978, the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to drive economic value by equalizing opportunities.  As an affiliate of the National MSDC, the Council certifies minority owned businesses and provides access to supplier development, supply chain inclusion, networking events and formal introductions. The Council serves the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

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2021 Leadership & Advocacy Awards

NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN MSDC RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE FOR 2020

The Northwest Mountain MSDC recognizes excellence in performance annually. Yesterday, we celebrated outstanding corporate and individual supplier diversity leadership and advocacy achievements in 2020, a year full of challenges for all businesses. Congratulations to all Award Winners! Read more here.

To view the presentation, click here: 2021 Leadership and Advocacy Awards by Fernando Martinez.

Thank you for your contributions to the MBE Scholarship Fund! 

                 

 

 

 

 

Northwest Mountain MSDC Recognizes Excellence In Performance For 2020

NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN MSDC RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE FOR 2020

The Northwest Mountain MSDC recognizes excellence in performance annually. This year,  we celebrate outstanding corporate and individual supplier diversity leadership and advocacy achievements in 2020, a year full of challenges for all businesses. On Thursday, March 18, 2021, the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (Northwest Mountain MSDC) will be recognizing organizations and individuals that excel at advocating, promoting, and contracting with Minority Business Enterprises. The 2020 Award Winners are:

Advocacy Awards: Presented to individuals who exemplify an unselfish commitment to Minority Business Enterprise Development.

Recipient of the John A. Gilmore Award: Dicran Arnold, World Wide Technology, Inc.

Recipient of the Robert L. Ryan Award: Tim Otani, MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

Leadership Awards:  Presented to Minority Business Enterprises that deliver excellence in performance and value to private or public sector customers.

Class 1 Supplier of the Year – Annual Revenues up to $1M dollars: Mike Nakamura Photography LLC

Class 2 Supplier of the Year – Annual Revenues between $1M – $10M dollars: RLA Engineering LLC

Class 3 Supplier of the Year – Annual Revenues between $10M – $50M dollars: ServiceMaster of Swan Island

Class 4 Supplier of the Year – Annual Revenues above $50M: Rose International, Inc.

Leadership Awards: Presented to the Public Agency and Private Sector Corporations that commit and live the practice of Minority Business Enterprise inclusion.

Public Agency of the Year: Port of Seattle

Regional Corporation of the Year: Skanska USA Building Inc.

National Corporation of the Year: Intel Corporation

Congratulations to all our Award Winners!

About the Council

Founded in 1978, the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to drive economic value by equalizing opportunities.  As an affiliate of the National MSDC, the Council certifies minority owned businesses and provides access to supplier development, supply chain inclusion, networking events and formal introductions. The Council serves the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

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