Ed Adams, Enterprise Rent- A-Car Company - Chairman's Award

In the December issue of Connections, Ed Adams’ picture appeared with a mis-placed caption.

Mr. Adams received the 2006 Chairman’s Award during last year’s SLMBC Excellence Awards. All Excellence Awards winners were honored at the Annual Meeting and Christmas Reception.

SLMBC – NAPM – St. Louis Joint Meeting

Ralph G. Moore, CPA, President of Ralph G. Moore & Associates is coming back to St. Louis and will be the special speaker at the SLMBC/National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) - St. Louis joint dinner meeting on Feb. 27, 2007.

Mr. Moore will discuss “How to Make Supplier Diversity Work for St. Louis.”  Join us for an evening of networking and education on how to grow MBE businesses and the benefits of corporate supplier diversity programs.

            Where: Sheraton Clayton Plaza
                          7730 Bonhomme
                          Clayton, MO 63105

            When:   Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007
                          5:30 p.m. Pre-dinner networking
                          6:30 p.m. Dinner/general meeting

The cost is $30 per person. Please submit registration forms and checks to SLMBC no later than Feb. 19. Cancellations require 72-hours notice.

Alliance for Minority Purchasing

Nearly 30 corporate members attended the first Alliance (formerly the PON) meeting of the year on Jan. 10 at Washington University in St. Louis.  Michael Slawin of Presto Printing made the MBE presentation to Alliance members.

All corporate members are encouraged to attend Alliance meetings and to showcase their successful MBE partnerships.   

Last year’s Alliance meetings resulted in 50 contracts being offered to MBEs.  The following MBEs presented to the Alliance in 2006:

            Corporate Facility Solutions, LLC
            General Distribution
            Inkosi
            International Systems of America
            JF Services
            Lightspeed Technology
            OJ Photo
            Premise Communications
            Swift Incentives
            TAB

The next Alliance meeting is March 14 at the West Campus of Washington University in St. Louis.  Lunch will be provided.  Please note that there has been a change in the parking procedure. Parking on the Washington University lot is now $1 per hour, payable upon exiting.  Call Valerie Shelton at (314) 241-1143 to confirm your attendance.   

MBE Recertification

The deadline for MBE recertification is right around the corner.  MBEs should return their recertification to the SLMBC office by close of business on Jan. 31. Your recertification application is completed if:

1. You have answered all questions.
2. The application has been notarized.
3. The application has been signed by the company’s president or CEO.
4. The tax information has been included with the application. 
5. The application fee is attached. 

Incomplete applications will not be certified until the appropriate corrections are made. If you miss the Jan. 31 deadline, the next opportunity for recertification will be March 1. 

If you have any questions about your recertification, call Georgetta Vann at (314) 241-1143.

VIC Trial Period has Ended

We successfully introduced the VIC (Virtual Information Community) to MBEs and corporate members who tested the Web page and submitted comments and recommendations to help us enhance this new online resource.  Effective March 1, all MBEs and corporate members will have access to the VIC.

MBEs – Bids and RFPs received by the Council are being posted weekly to the VIC Web page for all industries.

Corporate members – Send your Bids and RFPs to Tami Moore at the Council, www.tmoore@slmbc.org and she will post them to the VIC Web page.

Our goal is to make the VIC Web page the place to access information and resources to help grow minority businesses and build strong supplier diversity programs. Don’t miss out – sign up today! 

St. Louis Small Business Expo

The St. Louis Small Business Monthly will present its seventh Expo on March 20 at the St. Charles Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

There will be more than 140 exhibitors and 1,500 attendees for this one-day trade show. MBEs and corporate members can meet new contacts and network with local business people, potential customers, and suppliers.

To pre-register, visit www.SBMon.com or call (314) 569-0076, ext. 301.

MBE News

DiversityBusiness.com ranked World Wide Technology as one of the highest grossing black-owned business in America. World Wide Technology was also ranked No. 62 on Washington Technology magazine’s Top 100 prime contractors for the federal government. MBE David Steward is president of World Wide Technology.

Software House International, Inc. of Somerset, NJ was ranked No. 1 by DiversityBusiness.com. as being the highest grossing minority business. The magazine’s rankings are based on 2005 revenues.

Tony Thompson, president and CEO of St. Louis-based Kwame Building Group, has been named to the Midwest Real Estate News “Forty Over 40” list that highlights excellence in commercial real estate throughout the Midwest.

Brenda Newberry, President of the Newberry Group, Inc., has been elected by Laclede Group Inc. shareholders to the company’s board of directors.  Henry Givens retired from the company’s board after serving as director for 15 years.

New MBEs and Reciprocals

New MBE
C-Edge Software Consultants
Sekhar Prabhaker, President
12359 Mulberry Tree Court
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Telephone: (314) 537-9970
Fax: (314) 439-9439
E-mail: sekhar@cedgecorp.com
Web site: www.cedgecorp.com
Products/Services:  Professional Consultants providing IT Solutions, systems integration, and local outsourcing services.

New Reciprocal
Metal-Era, Inc.
Mr. Tony Mallinger, Partner
1600 Airport Road
Waukesha, WI 53188
Telephone: (800) 558-2162
Fax: (262) 549-6009
E-mail: tmallinger@metalera.com
Web site: www.metalera.com
Products/Services:  Manufacturer of perimeter roof systems for the commercial low slope roofing industry; fascia, coping, downspout, and gutter products.