Tag: Regional Updates

King County Seeking Proposals for Anti-Racism & Strategic Planning Expertise

King County Seeking Proposals for Anti-Racism & Strategic Planning Expertise

Posted on by Jeffery Bartley

King County is seeking proposals for anti-racism facilitation and strategic planning expertise!

In collaboration and partnership with local leaders from communities most harmed by racism, King County is in the process of designing community oversight on our Racism is a Public Health Crisis priority. We are a group of people – community leaders, advocates, and King County government leaders – gathering on a common goal to face the truth that racism harms whole communities, whole counties, and the whole country. We gather on a common goal to disrupt and dismantle racism and replace it with something better and beautiful: to protect and promote the health and well-being of Black and Indigenous People, so that all People of Color and all communities across King County thrive.

We are seeking consultant services that center racial justice to facilitate and help develop a strategic direction with the group (or groups) who will take on the roles of engaging in community oversight.

The contract amount is for up to $200,000 for the described scope of work being delivered from January to December 2022. Proposals are due: November 16, 2021. The RFP abstract can be found on King County’s E-Procurement site

We will be holding informational sessions about this opportunity.  The first session will be held on Oct 20th at 1pm.  A second session will be held on Oct 21st at 1pm.  No registration is needed.

Important Note: To be able to access all documents associated with this and any solicitation issued by King County, and to be notified of future solicitations issued by King County, you must register in the new supplier portal: Register as a Supplier – King County.  Additional resources for registering in and using the E-procurement system can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/procurement.

For questions on this contract, please contact Gina.Keolker@kingcounty.gov.

NMSDC Appoints Ying McGuire as President and CEO

NMSDC Appoints Ying McGuire as President and CEO

Posted on by Jeffery Bartley

Press Release from the desk of Jose Turkienicz, Chairman, NMSDC Board of Directors

July 29th 2021

It is a pivotal moment in the history of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), as the Board of Directors announces the appointment of Ying McGuire as its new Chief Executive Officer and President.

As NMSDC approaches its half-century milestone, our mission to advance business opportunities for certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and connecting them to our Corporate Members remain as relevant as ever.

“With the appointment of Ms. McGuire, NMSDC is welcoming a dynamic individual and thought leader with passion, energy, and the track record of success to help elevate NMSDC to new levels of excellence,” says Jose Turkienicz, NMSDC’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We are confident Ying will be a great leader as we continue to advance our strategy to enable MBEs to grow. She is the right person to lead the organization through its next chapter. NMSDC could not be in better hands,” added Turkienicz.

“I am honored and energized by the opportunity to lead such a great organization in the midst of fundamental focus to enable Certified Minority Businesses to achieve their full potential,” says Ying McGuire. “I am humbled and grateful to the opportunity to work on my life’s passion: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I am looking forward in partnering with all stakeholders to enable our Certified MBEs to grow and to create value to our Corporate Members,” added McGuire.

The NMSDC CEO and President Search Committee executed a comprehensive, rigorous and thoughtful selection process to hire the right leader for the organization. The six-member committee included our Board’s Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, in addition to the CEO of one of our Certified MBEs, and one of our affiliate’s President. The Committee partnered with Korn Ferry interviewing several well-qualified and highly talented individuals and selected Ying McGuire to be NMSDC next CEO and President.

Ms. McGuire brings over two decades of leadership experience to this position. As Dell Technology’s global supplier diversity leader, her team nearly quintupled diversity spend from $640M to $3B within three years. Subsequently, she joined an MBE and NMSDC Corporate Plus Member, Technology Integration Group, as an executive leader, and took the company globally.

Within the NMSDC network, Ms. McGuire has served as an NMSDC Corporate Member and a Certified MBE. In addition, she was involved with regional councils, and her peers elected her Board Chair of the SMSDC, and a board member of SCMSDC. As a member of The NMSDC International Committee, she played a crucial role in NMSDC’s global expansion, where she mentored MBEs for global expansion.

Ms. McGuire has also delivered exceptional service in the civic sector as a non-profit leader, economic empowerment board member, and policy advisor to government agencies. In 2016, the United States Secretary of Commerce appointed Ms. McGuire to the United States Investment Advisory Council.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Ying McGuire has our support and confidence as NMSDC’s new CEO and President. We welcome her and look forward to a new era of growth and development for our Certified MBEs.

Best regards,

Jose Turkienicz

Chairman of the Board, NMSDC

Virtual Business Conference Part Two

Virtual Business Conference Part Two

Posted on by Jeffery Bartley

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

Port of Seattle VendorConnect

Posted on by Jeffery Bartley

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.

King County Pro-Equity Contracting Executive Order

King County Pro-Equity Contracting Executive Order

Posted on by Jeffery Bartley

Yesterday our President and CEO, Fernando Martinez, joined other leaders in supporting King County Executive Dow Constantine’s announcement of an executive order demonstrating the county’s commitment to pro-equity contracting and formalize the actions that King County will take to increase the participation of minority- and women-owned small businesses (MWBEs) in county contracts.

Fernando’s letter of support on behalf of the NWMMSDC can be read in full here.

The recording of the press conference announcing the Executive Order is available to watch here.

American Home Builders RFP for KINECT @ Burien Project

American Home Builders RFP for KINECT @ Burien Project

Posted on by Karla Malacon

American Home Builders invites you to submit a proposal for the KINECT @ Burien project located in Burien, WA. It is important that you review the bid documents carefully. The responses will be the criteria used for the selection of the successful project candidates.

Please see opportunity attached for more information:

KINECT @ Burien RFP

2021 Virtual Business Conference Part One

2021 Virtual Business Conference Part One

Posted on by Karla Malacon

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 and Fernando Martinez: Helping Small Businesses Dream Big

Northwest Mountain and Fernando Martinez: Helping Small Businesses Dream Big

Posted on by Karla Malacon
March 10, 2021 | Port of Seattle

The Northwest Mountain Minority Suppliers Development Council (NWMMSDC) is a national organization that links government agencies, corporations, and private sector prime contractors with certified minority-owned businesses (MBE’s) wanting to do business. NWMMSDC is a 501c3 with two-tier participation. The Northwest chapter includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Shepherding the organization for the last eight years is president and CEO, Fernando Martinez. Fernando says the council’s purpose is laser-focused to create equity between qualified minority businesses and Fortune 500 corporations, regional corporations, and public agencies like the Port of Seattle.

Q: Who should join the Northwest Mountain Minority Suppliers Development Council?

A: From a corporate perspective, entities that believe in diversity workforce, marketing, and supply chain. From the minority business perspective, companies that want to be on a grander scale and wish to grow. 

Q: What is NWMMSDC’s relationship with the Port of Seattle? 

A: The council has had a relationship with the Port of Seattle for over thirty years. We support the Diversity in Contracting team members. We provide them with a list of competent WMBE’s with a proven history to meet the contracting needs of the Port.  

This past summer, I was invited to speak and I talked about our pillars. Our organization has four key pillars. The first is the certification process, a robust approach to certify minority businesses. The second is development. That’s where we (with our partners) work with MBEs to help them understand their gaps and their strengths. We also assist them in building capacity for their organization. The next pillar is networking. That pillar matches competent businesses with opportunities at the Port of Seattle.  

We hold events and offer one-on-one meetings and personal introductions. It’s relationship building. The last piece is advocacy. This is where we work to educate our MBEs, our corporate and public agencies, and, in some cases, legislators about supplier diversity. We want to educate everybody on the value of supplier diversity and the value of being inclusive. 

Q: What advice do you have for small and WMBE businesses?

A: Dream big and let people help you with your dream. Don’t assume you know everything, that you don’t need any help, or can do everything yourself. Be willing to let others help and support you with your dream. Open yourself up to exposure and vulnerabilities because that will make you stronger, and it will put you in a better position to do business with organizations like the Port. 

Q: What expectation does the council have for its businesses?

A: We hold them accountable for who they are and what they want to be. We point out that pitfalls and help them change their strategies. The best thing we can be is honest and truthful with them and not give them veiled statements. 

Q: What should businesses do now in these uncertain times?

A: Small MBEs should take advantage of everything the government offers, including paycheck protection, and emergency disaster loans. Firms need to understand business sustainability, be willing to engage and network with others, and able to expand their businesses since 25 to 30 percent won’t come out of this pandemic. Businesses should look at how they can grow and absorb those that won’t make it. 

Q: What are some of the council goals for the future?

A: We are committed to leaning in. We don’t just think about the business. We think about the people the firms employ and help them grow to pay their employees better wages. The employees can then provide food and shelter, and their kids can go to school with full tummies and focus on learning. Our council’s utmost agenda is your great-grandchild. I want to help you grow, so you leave something for your great-grandchild. If we do this, we will have generational wealth, and we will have economic and political strength. We can truly change the dynamics of racism in this country.

https://www.portseattle.org/blog/northwest-mountain-and-fernando-martinez-helping-small-businesses-dream-big

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

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

Posted on by Karla Malacon

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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