SPECIAL EDITION - MBEConnect

Joset B. Wright is an attorney and
former procurement executive who
currently serves as the President of the
NMSDC, a position she has held since
2010. By her account, the NMSDC has a
bright future with lots to offer both MBEs
and corporate members alike following
the successful completion of a five-year
strategic plan in 2011. “We will spend
2012 working with six committees to
develop an implementation plan, which
will shape the future direction of NMSDC
as we focus on four core competencies:
certify, develop, connect and advocate,”
says Ms. Wright.
Joining the ranks of over 16,000
certified minority-owned businesses
through NMSDC is a smart decision for
entrepreneurs looking to expand. “For
MBEs, an NMSDC certification opens
the door to allow them to compete for
corporate contracts,” says Ms. Wright. But
it’s not just about opportunities; NMSDC
certification is also focused on business
development and enhancement.
Providing top-notch programs for
education and development is another
priority for NMSDC. “We added a Director
of Learning Programs position last year,
so we can develop learning programs
on various platforms for our MBEs and
corporate members,” notes Ms. Wright.
“We are working with our MBEs through
programs like our Centers of Excellence
and the Advanced Management
THE NMSDC IN 2012:
CERTIFY, DEVELOP, CONNECT
& ADVOCATE
For the past 40 years, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has encouraged the
formation of mutually beneficial relationships between minority suppliers and the public and private
sectors. NMSDC expands business opportunities for minority-owned companies of all sizes and helps
build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business enterprise
(MBE) development. Since it was chartered in 1972, the private nonprofit has grown to include a national
office in New York and 37 regional councils across the country.
Education Program at Kellogg to help
them maximize their potential and be
better supply-chain partners,” she adds.
New tools are available to help MBEs
ensure that their companies are in
the best shape possible, such as the
NMSDC Biz Fit Challenge tool, which was
launched last year. “It is a free, online
“For MBEs, an NMSDC
certification opens
the door to allow
them to compete for
corporate contracts,”
—Joset B. Wright,
President of the NMSDC
assessment tool designed to help MBEs
determine the financial health of their
companies,” says Ms. Wright. “That
information is increasingly becoming
a factor in corporations’ decisions to
contract with an MBE. They want to
be sure their supply chain partners are
financially healthy and able to execute
contracts.”
Improving and serving as a resource
for minority business owners is just
one part of the equation for NMSDC;
they also strive to meet the wants and
needs of their corporate members.
“Corporations benefit from being
members of NMSDC because they
have access to more than 16,000
certified minority suppliers, as well as a
host of educational and developmental
programs provided by NMSDC.”
Corporations are setting their
sights larger than ever for their MBE
participation. “Our corporate
members say they need MBEs with
more scale and capacity to handle large
contracts,” says Ms. Wright. “NMSDC is
here to meet that need.”
LEarN MorE about the NMSDC and its
programs online at http://www.nmsdc.org.
MBEConnect Profiles | MAMSDC SPECIAL EDITION 11