MBEs Take The Stage

Rosemary Wetzel I’m certified…
Director of Certification now what?
[email protected]
510-686-2555

Agenda

Who are we and what do we do?
WRMSDC and NMSDC
MBE Input Committee (MBEIC)

Getting Started
Setting Goals
MBE Toolkit
Going to Events

Next Steps
Potential Clients: MBEs, Corporations, Corporate Plus
How to Make the Best of an Event
Follow-up Plan
Get Involved

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Welcome to the network!

 More than 12,000 certified suppliers nationally
 23 regional councils nationwide in 2020
 3,000 corporate members throughout the

network

Opportunities
• WRMSDC Trade Shows
• NMSDC National Conference
• Matchmaking Sessions
• Meet the Buyer Events
• Ongoing Education/Training Workshops
• UCLA, Kellogg, Tuck Graduate School
Opportunities
• Business Relationships

And many more opportunities to grow your
business!

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Supplier Diversity

A proactive business program which
encourages the use of diverse-owned
businesses as suppliers.

What We Do

Certification Connection

Development Advocacy

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Types of MBEs

Certified Registered Listed

• 51% Minority • 51% Minority • 50% Minority
Owned Owned Owned

• Billion-dollar • Broader • Broader
Roundtable Definition of Definition of
Eligibility Minority Minority

• Access to all • Access to • Access to
Council most Council some Council
Programs Programs Programs

The Three MBEs

• Passive Certification
• Active Certification
• Sponsorship

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Minority Business Input Committee

Rahul Kuruvilla
President

Triune Infomatics
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4116355/

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Your Checklist to Get Started

Calendar your recertification Log on to the certification
date! portal to check your
recertification date and
download a logo pack

Add @wrmsdc.org to your Monitor WRMSDC Events,
safe senders/white list to News & Education sections
make certain you are on Website
receiving our
communications.

Join the MBEIC LinkedIn Follow us on social media
Group

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Leverage Your Tools: NMSDC Central

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Leverage Your Tools: NMSDC Central

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Leverage Your Tools: Events Calendar

www.WRMSDC.org

Regularly check the WRMSDC website for
development and connection opportunities!

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Leveraging Opportunities

 Target Corporations and register with THEIR
Corporate Diversity Database Portals

 Identify types of MBEs you can do business with
 Check Opportunity Announcements – look for

them in the MBE Marketplace and via Email
 Participate in Webinars and Workshops hosted by

WRMSDC

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101: The MBE Toolkit

 Effective Business Card
Contact information, Tag Line, Value Proposition, Primary

Commodity or Service with Corporate Solution. Simple & Clear.

 1-Page Capability Statement
Contact information, Tag Line, Value Proposition, Commodities &

Services with Corporate Solutions, Corporate Clients, Certifications

 10-Page Capability Statement

 5 minute Business Matchmaking Presentation
Potential solution your commodity or service solves for the

Corporation and all their locations

 Consistent Online Presence

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101: Capability Statements/
Statements of Qualification (SOQ)

• Key Management Contacts
• Comprehensive Description of your products or services
• Value Proposition
• Geographic coverage offered
• Financial and Operating Metrics; e.g., sales volume over last three years
• Locations, including headquarters and additional offices
• SIC/NAICS Codes
• Client/Reference List, including company names, contacts, title, phone, email,

and synopsis of services provided
• Projects/Business performed with the corporation receiving your SOQ or other

companies in their industry
• Union or Non-Union; Union signatory
• Industry awards
• Diverse ownership certifications, including certifying agencies

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201: Attending Events

Take Advantage of Every Opportunity

 Show up Early

 Every Opportunity Counts: MEET who is next to you

 Get an Introduction from a friend/another MBE/corporate connection

 Build on existing business relationships

 Don’t waste a minute of your time: Schedule lunches, breakfasts, dinners with people
you know and show up at smaller reception events

 Network, Network, Network

Become active with the Minority Business Input Committee

Ask for Informational Interviews, Capability Meetings

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201: The Perfect Elevator Pitch

A good pitch is a relevant pitch!

 Be Brief and be Clear – make a concise and specific value proposition
 Be Different- What makes your services stand out? What is your Unique Selling
Point?
 See it Their Way - Think about what your listener will get out of doing business with
you
 Create Excitement – Be enthusiastic about what you sell. If you don’t believe in
your own product, who will?
 Listen – let them talk about their business and describe their challenges

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201: After the Event

 Identify term of current Commodity or Service
 Make a Follow-up POLITE Plan

 Within 24 hours – first email
 Bi-weekly – reminder email
 Quarterly – CREATIVELY Stay in touch
 Send a Familiar Face - Make sure that next year the same person attends the
same trade show, not a new face
 Request Clients to make introductions
 Follow through on your plan and be persistent, but patient.
 Say what you will DO, and DO what you say you will do.

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2021 Events

 8/13/2021: August MBEIC
 8/19/2021: Expo
 8/25/2021: Working with Primes
 August and September Matchmaking Sessions
 9/10/2021: September MBEIC
 9/22/2021: Marketing and Business Dev with AT&T
 September MBE Open House
 10/8/2021: October MBEIC
 October MBE Open House
 11/12/2021: November MBEIC
 11/16/2021: Holiday Event
 12/10/2021: December MBEIC

 Apply for our 2021 Events

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What We Do

Events Development Connection Visibility

• 2/24 Construction • LEAD Series (Lead, • Weekly Coffee with the • Excellence in Supplier
Event • Educate, Advocate, Council Diversity Awards (22)
• Develop)
• 3/31 Prime Time Pitch • Training Documents & • Hawaii MBE Advisory • EOY Awards
• 5/6 Awards Gala Group • Daily Social Media
• 5/25 Program Infographics • New Corp Member &
• Coaching via Coffee • Monthly MBEIC
Managers Meetings New MBE SM
• 6/9 MBE Platinum Pitch with the Council Spotlights
• 6/15 Networker • Pitch & Capability • Q1 & Q2 Construction • Heritage & History
• Q3 Construction Series • Statement Coaching Matchmaking Month Features
• 8/19 Expo • Corporate Ready (ongoing)
• 11/6 Holiday Event • Q2 Prime Time • MBE Digital Guide
• 12/? Annual Meeting Program, Salesforce Matchmaking Features
• 2021 Premier Sweepstakes, BGAP, • MBE Pitch Spotlights at
EY, Apple Programs • Summer MBEIC Open MBEIC Mtg
Corporate Member • Staff training House • New Corporate
Event Tickets Member Meet & Greets
• October MBEIC Open at MBEIC Mtgs
House

• Corporate Member
Relationship-building

Subscriptions

https://nmsdc.org/our-network/

What now?

 Calendar your recertification date
 Join the MBEIC LinkedIn Group
 Follow our Social Media

 LinkedIn: Western Regional
 FB: Western Regional Minority Supplier

Development Council
 Twitter: @WRMSDC
 Plan to attend the next event
 Be Part of the News – Share your success
stories and get visibility

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Q&A

[email protected]

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