As the NMSDC prepares for the 2025 Annual Conference & Exchange in Miami, the supplier inclusion community stands at an inflection point. The global economy is shifting – technology, trade, energy, and capital flows are being redefined faster than ever – and minority business enterprises (MBEs) must be equipped not only to adapt but to lead in this new era.

Our forthcoming 2024 Economic Impact Report will once again provide a critical look at how NMSDC-certified MBEs are driving economic growth—while revealing where work remains to be done.

In the 2023 report, NMSDC documented extraordinary gains despite post-pandemic inflationary pressures:

• Black-owned businesses achieved double-digit increases in revenue, narrowing historic disparities.
• Hispanic-owned businesses saw a remarkable 50% increase in revenue, leading all groups in growth.
• Asian American and Pacific Islander-owned firms continued strong performance, though at a slower pace.
• And most importantly, the network saw signs of greater parity across MBEs, marking tangible progress toward equity.

Our 2024 Economic Impact Report will provide an updated snapshot and also remind us that to maintain progress, inclusion must be intentional, continuous, and data-driven.

Understanding the New Economy

The “new economy” is driven by transformation—digital, environmental, and demographic. Interest rates, supply chains, and workforce trends continue to evolve, reshaping the way businesses grow and compete. For MBEs, these shifts present both risk and remarkable opportunity.

Across sectors, we are seeing MBEs expand into renewable energy, rare minerals, digital infrastructure, AI-driven services, and sustainable manufacturing—fields once thought beyond reach. These entrepreneurs are proving that inclusive innovation is the foundation of long-term prosperity.

The Road to Miami

The 2025 NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange will serve as a national platform for charting this new course. Under the theme “Navigating Our New Economy,” the conference will bring together MBEs, corporate members, government partners, and thought leaders to explore strategies that prepare our businesses for the next decade of growth.

This year’s sessions and dialogues will focus on:

• Economic transformation and opportunity: How MBEs can lead in sectors reshaping global markets.
• Access to capital and technology: Building bridges between innovation and investment.
• Policy and partnership: Strengthening alliances that protect and propel diverse businesses.
• Resilience and leadership: Elevating MBE voices in the national conversation on economic equity.

A Vision for the Future

Our vision for this year’s conference is simple but bold: to make Miami the launchpad for the next generation of minority business success stories. NMSDC’s mission is not just about certification – it’s about connection, capacity, and community. It’s about ensuring that every MBE, from startup founders to established enterprises, is equipped with the tools, networks, and insights to thrive in this rapidly changing economy.

We are building a future where inclusion is more than an initiative – it’s a national imperative; where supplier inclusion is not a compliance exercise – but a competitive advantage; and where the collective power of our network continues to drive growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 Economic Impact Report and the 2025 NMSDC Annual Conference and Exchange in Miami are more than milestones – they are markers of momentum. As we navigate this new economy together, one thing is clear: the power of our community lies not only in what we build individually, but in what we achieve collectively.

The journey ahead is about vision, courage, and unity. And in Miami, that journey takes its next great step forward.