FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2020
Contact: Tammy Wilkins, Chief of Staff
Tammy.Wilkins@nmsdc.org | 212.944.2430
Thursday, November 12, 2020 | New York City, New York | National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) President and CEO, Adrienne Trimble, is exuberant about the tremendous success of the organization’s annual national conference this week, through a 100% virtual platform. “While we were not together face-to-face,” she notes, “All attendees had access to the same – and perhaps even more – high-caliber speakers, learning sessions, and networking opportunities they’ve come to expect from NMSDC. Just through a different platform.” NMSDC’s 2020 National Conference + Business Opportunity Exchange was held 100% online from October 26-29, 2020.
NMSDC’s commitment to advance minority business economic inclusion is reflected in the event’s “In This Together” theme and reinforced by sessions featuring speakers with expert insight about how to pivot during today’s extraordinarily challenging conditions. The NMSDC Annual Conference + Business Opportunity Exchange is the nation’s largest forum for minority supplier development, with a 48-year history of attracting thousands of corporate executives, minority business owners, and government officials each year.
Trimble stated, “Now more than ever, our Corporate Partners and MBEs need us to push forward and find new ways to get around every obstacle. NMSDC, our 23 affiliate Regional Councils throughout the United States, five international partners and the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) represent an oasis of support for MBEs through our mission to certify, develop, connect, and advocate for their economic sustainability.”
NMSDC embraced new technologies that enabled the organization to continue accomplishing their objectives without sacrificing quality, service, or health. The 100% virtual Conference platform showcased those changes – from vibrant sessions and informative workshops to an awards celebration and lively entertainment. By introducing a virtual version of their Business Opportunity Exchange component of the conference – corporations and MBEs again made meaningful connections and continued to build their professional networks.
This has been an incredibly difficult year for all MBEs and despite the impact of three pandemics (COVID-19, racial discrimination and social unrest, and a Recession), NMSDC moved forward aggressively and pivoted where necessary because it was necessary for the survival of MBEs. We are providing sustainable economic solutions to the racial injustice, institutionalized racism and injuries which Black people have suffered in America.
“Statements are great, but they need to be backed up by real actions that are going to address how minority businesses are going to compete for these contracts on an ongoing basis,” Adrienne said. “Until you understand what the real problem is, you can’t solve it.”
For Adrienne, the case is not about just doing social good but of driving transformative economic prosperity through capitalism. When companies hire minority-owned suppliers, which tend to hire more workers of color, they are creating jobs in forgotten communities and helping to provide disposable income to people who can, in turn, afford to buy their goods and services. A close examination of wealth in the U.S. finds evidence of staggering racial disparities. The most sustainable solution to accelerate the elimination of this wealth gap is to increase the number of and success of minority owned businesses; her goal is to close the ethnic wealth disparities.
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Each year, at their National annual Conference, NMSDC presents its prestigious “Supplier of the Year” Award(s) to recognize a select number of certified minority business enterprise (MBE) and their exemplary achievements in providing needed solutions to our corporate partners. This award is regarded as the most significant honor to an MBE because it recognizes Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American business enterprises for their business growth and development, operational success, support of other minority businesses and active participation in the community. The honorees are divided into four categories, based on annual sales. One company from each class is named National Supplier of the Year. These suppliers have made it through this disruptive year and have continued their unwavering support of corporate America despite these voluminous challenges.
Class I is for firms with less than $1 million in annual sales – Winner: Twice Media Productions, LLC
Class II is for firms with $1 million to $10 million in annual sales – Winner: The JPI Group, LLC
Class III is for firms with $10 million to $50 million in annual sales – Winner: United Mechanical and Metal Fabricators Inc.
Class IV is for firms with more than $50 million in annual sales – Winner: ActOne Group (The Act 1 Group, Inc.)
About NMSDC | 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 12,000 certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and advances minority business development by facilitating procurement opportunities between its certified MBEs and its network of Corporate Members. The NMSDC network includes a National Office in New York, 23 affiliate regional councils, five international partner organizations and the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) as its funding arm.
