The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is excited to announce the official call for proposals for the 2023 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange taking place October 22 – 25 in Baltimore. This year’s theme is Close the Equity Gap. We must come together to identify the barriers facing our community. It will take a coalition of organizations, industry leaders, business owners, and changes in policy to reach economic equity. We need innovative and transformative solutions. That’s where you come in!
NMSDC is looking for proposed breakout sessions, power talks, and interactive engagements in the following categories:
Closing the Access Gap
From global markets to public policy and capital to contracts, minority business enterprises (MBEs) are facing access barriers that must be solved to close the equity gap. At the same time, corporations need access to MBEs in emerging industries, those that can scale for contract success to fulfill their equity and spending pledges. Proposals should identify barriers to and solutions for closing the access gap.
Closing the Knowledge/Skills Gap
MBEs must be ready to capitalize on emerging markets and the green economy while also passing the torch to the next generation. They need the knowledge and skills to build relationships, fill their sales funnel, and win contracts. At the same time, corporations need to further their DEI and ESG initiatives, move beyond supplier diversity to business diversity, and train the next generation of procurement professionals. Proposals should provide practical advice and training for closing the knowledge/skills gap.
Closing the Relationship Gap
From mergers and acquisitions to joint ventures and strategic alliances to MBE-to-MBE contracting, building strategic relationships is the key to an MBE’s success. At the same time, it is vital for corporations to follow through with their commitments to MBEs, work with them and other partners as industries shift, and build long-lasting relationships with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and others to further DEI and ESG initiatives. Proposals should focus on closing relationship gaps within the NMSDC community.
Closing Other Gaps
If you have an interactive and informative proposal that doesn’t fit into one of the categories above, we still want to hear from you! Proposals should identify the gap and potential or tested solutions for closing it.
To submit a proposal, visit www.nmsdcconference.org/2023/call-for-proposals.
More information about conference registration and hotel accommodation will be coming soon. In the meantime, we look forward to receiving your amazing ideas for closing the equity gap and accelerating MBE growth.
