February 2006
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NAPM-St. Louis and SLMBC Joint Meeting February 27
Join us Monday, February 27, at 5:30 p.m. for the NAPM and SLMBC joint meeting at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel. Go to www.slmbc.org and select the link to the registration page. The cost for Non-NAPM members is $25.
Gale Sayers, former running back for the Chicago Bears and President of Sayers and Sayers Enterprises, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Mr. Sayers’ topic will be “No More Minority Business.”
The joint meeting is an annual event where key procurement decision makers and supplier diversity advocates share ideas on ways to grow corporate supplier diversity programs.
We encourage you to take advantage of the pre-dinner networking and meet representatives from some of St. Louis’ leading companies. A partial list of attending corporations follows:
Amerinet
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
Averitt Express
Briggs & Stratton
Bunge North America
Control Devices Corporate Express
DCSI, Inc.
Des Peres Hospital
Edward Jones
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Express Scripts
Federal Mogul
Fresh Warehousing
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J. D. Anderson
Magellan Health
Magnesium Elektron
MasterCard
MCI
Metro-Transit
Pfizer
Proctor & Gamble
Purchase Partners
Sigma Aldrich
Sinclair & Rush
Saint Louis Zoo
Washington University in St. Louis
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Education Series Workshop
The St. Louis Minority Business Council will host “How to get your Receivables Paid on Time” on Friday, March 3, from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the SLMBC office.
This workshop will provide you with practical information on how to establish and manage an effective collections process. Clinton Ward, of C.C. Ward & Associates, will facilitate this session. MBE presidents, CEOs, and others who are responsible for authorizing process changes within a company are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop.
Company presidents and a guest of SLMBC-certified businesses can attend free of charge. Those small businesses that are not certified by SLMBC can participate for $79.99. This workshop is open to all SLMBC-certified MBEs and small business owners. Participants should bring 30/60/90 receivables to receive the maximum benefit from this workshop.
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PON Meeting March 13
The next Purchasing Officers Network (PON) meeting will take place Monday, March 13, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Participants will hear more about Supplier Diversity and the Business Imperatives discussed in the January meeting.
The PON, which is sponsored by SLMBC, is comprised of supplier diversity leads, purchasing professionals, operational and tactical managers in the St. Louis region who develop action plans to impact minority purchasing. This group is committed to impacting the economic growth of the region by creating and expanding opportunities for minority vendors.
All meetings for 2006 will be hosted by Express Scripts. Please RSVP to Valerie Shelton via email, vshelton@slmbc.org or 314-241-1143.
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Coming Soon – Focused Growth Program (FGP)
The Focused Growth Program (FGP) targets entrepreneurs who know their industries well, but who face challenges growing their already successful businesses. With the right kind of specialized help, those MBEs could be on their way to real growth and profitability.
As a participant in the FGP, you gain access to a team of business experts who help make your company a winner.
- Mentor-Protégé Program
- Business Health Assessment
- Executive Education
- Capitalization Strategies
The SLMBC remains committed to providing the best opportunities for all its certified MBEs. The FGP is a special opportunity intended for a distinct set of high- performing MBEs capable of dynamic and sustainable growth. Candidates should have:
- Profitable business operations over the last two calendar years
- Annual revenues that exceed $500,000
- And/or companies that are in growth markets.
So you’re ready to take your company to the next level and think you meet the necessary criteria. Look for further updates in Connection and at the SLMBC website: www.slmbc.org.
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Step Up to the Plate for the 2006 Business Opportunity Fair
Watch your mailbox for Save the Date cards for this year’s SLMBC Business Opportunity Fair, which will be held Thursday, June 15, at America’s Centre in downtown St. Louis. This year’s theme is “Stepping Up to the Plate for Progress.” BOF activities will be kicked off with a reception on Wednesday, June 14 at the Roberts Mayfair Hotel. Look for more information in future issues of the Connections newsletter.
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MBE 2006 Re-certification Period Ends
The SLMBC re-certification period ended on January 31, 2006. MBEs not re-certified can be re-certified but only as a new MBE. This means paying the $350 new certification processing fee, submitting all paperwork, making an appointment for a site visit, and review of the application by the Certification Board. MBE companies that have not re-certified will be removed from the directory and contract status may be affected.
Corporate Members – when did you last check your certified MBE list?
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March 16 MBE Recruitment Event
Mark you calendars for the MBE Recruitment Reception on March 16 at the Hyatt Union Station in the Gothic Corridor. We hope all SLMBC-certified MBEs will attend and bring along a non-certified MBE company owner. Certification applications will be available at the registration desk.
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New Corporate Member
Welcome to Ameristar Casino St. Charles, our newest corporate member for February. Ameristar is in the casino and entertainment business and their typical purchasing needs are food and beverage, marketing, facilities, and housekeeping. The contact for Ameristar is:
Mr. Dave Schulte, Purchasing
P.O. Box 720, located
St. Charles, MO 63302
636-940-4465
David.schulte@ameristar.com
Also, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (America’s Center) has returned as a corporate member.
Mr. Leo Ming
Vice President Human Resources & Administration
One Metropolitan Square, Suite 1100
St. Louis, MO 63102
MBE Accomplishments
Keith Savage, President of Logistical Resource Solutions (LRS) was recognized for his contributions to the economic development of the state of Missouri at the Second Annual Client Showcase and Legislative Breakfast on February 9. Savage’s company is a destruction and reverse logistics management partner for pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and health care facilities. As a result of his work with SLMBC, Savage pursued a variety of government certifications, and assembled a financial package for his new company.
As reported in the Feb. 10-16 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal, AFRAM Holdings has acquired a majority stake in Sung Architecture and Golden Key Development. Solomon Akinduro, President, said the acquisition will allow AFRAM to grow its business beyond government contracts.
Brenda Newberry, President, Chief Executive of The Newberry Group; David Steward, Chairman of World Wide Technology; and Tony Thompson, President of Kwame Building Group were named by the St. Louis Business Journal as St. Louis Influentials.
Content Submission
To submit content for future editions of the newsletter, please contact Valerie Shelton via e-mail vshelton@slmbc.org or 314-241-1143.
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St. Louis Minority
Business Council
308 North 21st Street
Suite 700
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
phone: 314-241-1143
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