As part of its racial equity efforts, Target Corp. is pledging to sell products from more than 500 Black-owned brands by the end of 2025.

In the U.S., Black-owned businesses increased 34.5% between 2007 and 2012 totaling 2.6 million firms. Yet, they still typically face greater challenges in securing capital compared to white-owned businesses.

The year-long program will train 5 cohorts of NMSDC certified minority businesses whose annual sales are $1 – $10 million and have a minimum of five employees. The program is made possible through FTB’s affiliation with the NMSDC’s Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Mid-States and Chicago regional councils.

Dear NMSDC Community,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that Adrienne Trimble will be stepping down as President & CEO of NMSDC. Adrienne joined the organization in August 2018 with a three-year contract. She has decided to return to the corporate world to continue advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Her last day with NMSDC is February 28, 2021.

During Adrienne’s short tenure, she successfully:

• Developed and executed against the long-term vision for NMSDC to continue its legacy of growing and advancing minority business inclusion
• Re-established the organization as the leading advocacy voice for supplier diversity and
• economic inclusion
• Led the organization through a global pandemic, bringing much needed resources, capital and contracts to MBE and leading the way with virtual programming and events
• In the wake of calls for social justice she created and launched the In This Together (ITT) campaign, which raised over $2M to sustain minority businesses
• Reversed the decline in corporate memberships and MBE certifications, adding 80 new corporate members in 2020, the highest number of new members in a single year in NMSDC history
• Introduced new revenue streams to the organization
• Stood up a committee to assess and recommend NMSDC and RMSDCs operating model
  for the future
• Increased transparency within the network
• Began addressing skill and infrastructure needs at the National Office
• Strengthen and recruited a solid Executive Leadership team

A search committee has been established consisting of Board Chair, Jose Turkienicz; Vice Chair, Guy Schweppe; Treasurer, Clint Grimes; Secretary, Gabe Castro; Chair of the Affiliate Presidents, Stacey Key; and former National MBE Input Committee Chair, Clifford Bailey. Interviews are currently underway and we hope to have a final selection soon.

The NMSDC Executive Leadership team will remain in place and report directly to the NMSDC Officers while a search is conducted for the next President & CEO.

We thank Adrienne for her tireless efforts of advocacy and support for minority business inclusion and wish her much success in her future endeavors.

Jose Turkienicz
Chairman of the Board of Directors
NMSDC