SLMBC – NAPM – St. Louis Joint Meeting

Ralph G. Moore, CPA, President of Ralph G. Moore & Associates

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

MBEs and corporate members are encouraged to come hear Mr. Moore discuss, “How to Make Supplier Diversity Work for St. Louis.”  Come out for an evening of networking and learn how to grow MBE businesses and the benefits of corporate supplier diversity programs.

For registration information, access the link on the SLMBC Web page, www.slmbc.org, fill out the form and submit it to:

SLMBC
308 N. 21st Street, Suite 700
St. Louis, MO 63103

March 14 Alliance for Minority Procurement Meeting

Corporate members, the next meeting of the Alliance for Minority Procurement (AMP) will be Wednesday, March 14 at Washington University in St. Louis, West Campus Multipurpose Room 2128, at 7425 Forsyth Boulevard.

MBE James Qin from Q&C International and National corporate member DaimlerChrysler will be presenters. Jethro Joseph, Senior Manager, Diversity Supplier Development and Robin Hammer, Program Manager will present, “Second Tier Purchasing: The Big Multiplier Effect.”   

To RSVP, contact Valerie Shelton, vshelton@slmbc.org or call (314) 241-1143 to reserve your lunch and confirm your attendance for this informative meeting.  Parking on the Washington University lot is now $1 per hour, payable upon exiting.  See the SLMBC Web site for directions to Wash U.

MBE Supplier Development Luncheons

MBEs can “Lunch and Learn” during five lunchtime sessions at the SLMBC Supplier Development Luncheons.  MBEs will get a behind-the-scenes look at sourcing, learn how to get the contract and how to keep the business once the contract has been won.

The lunch time classes will be facilitated by Julie Wulff, who is founder and principal consultant of Supplywise LLC.  Mrs. Wulff focuses on optimizing supply management results through creation, improvement and execution of supply work processes.  She previously worked as Senior Purchasing Manager and Supplier Development Manager at Proctor & Gamble in St. Louis.

• Everything You Wanted to Know About the RFI/RFP Process
  March 21, 2207: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Behind the Scenes: Supplier Selection and Contract Formation
  May 16, 2007: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• So You Got the Business – Now What?  Setting Up a Framework for Success
  July 11, 2007: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Negotiation Skills and Customer Relationships
  Sept. 12, 2007: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Register for all of the above classes to get the optimum learning experience for strategic sourcing.  For $49 per person, per class, MBEs and/or their employees will receive valuable information that will be helpful in the day-to-day business world.  Lunch will be provided.  All classes will be held in an open classroom setting at the SLMBC office.  The deadline for enrollment for all classes is one week prior to each class.  Registration is available via a link on the SLMBC Web site at www.slmbc.org or you can call Dana Hill at (314) 241-1143.

Sign up today!

MBE Recertification

SLMBC certifications for 2006 have expired! The deadline for recertifying minority businesses was Jan. 31. If you have not recertified your business with the SLMBC, you will be considered a new certification and the new certification rules and fee will apply.                                                  

There are other certifying entities in the St. Louis area but will they give you networking opportunities, educational classes and corporate contacts?  SLMBC certification prices are the lowest in the area and a bargain for your money. 

St. Louis Small Business Monthly 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.  To pre-register, visit www.SBMon.com or call (314) 569-0076, ext. 301.

Corporate News

Ameristar Aims to Increase Minority Suppliers
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. has launched an automated supplier registration Web site that will benefit MBEs and WBEs by helping to facilitate business relationships.  The Web site will help MBE and WBE businesses gain better access to selling opportunities, while increasing Ameristar’s visibility to the products and service your firm can provide.
 
Once an MBE business registers by following the steps on the site, the business will become part of a supplier database.  The registration automatically generates an e-mail to purchasing directors in the city or cities selected. Ameristar purchasing directors can then follow up with the firms when bid opportunities are available.  In addition, the site features a “Contact Us” section with contact information for the purchasing director at each Ameristar property and the corporate office.

The company encourages minority- and women-owned businesses in the St. Louis area to apply.

For more information, contact supplierdiversity@ameristar.com. 

MBE News

John Wilkerson – Bellwether Services

John Wilkerson – Bellwether Services
Bellwether Services, a Leading Lean Six Sigma and Supply Chain Solutions Consultancy and Training Firm and SLMBC-certified reciprocal MBE, has been certified as the first International Lead Management Consultant in the United States by the ISO 10019 and International Personnel Certification Association.

The International Lead Management Consultant certification is administered by the Registrar Accreditation Board and The Quality Society of Australia International (RABQSA) and was adopted in the United States in 2005. 

Bellwether Services is headquartered in Stockbridge, Georgia with affiliates in nine states.

Contact:
John Wilkerson
Executive Director
Bellwether Services
(404) 386-2437
jwilkerson@bellwether-services.com
www.bellwether-services.com

New MBEs and Reciprocals

New MBE
Binarydock, Inc.
Ms. Rupa Chacko, President
111 Westport Plaza, Ste. 600
St. Louis, MO  63146
Phone:  (314) 275.9177
Fax:  (314) 259.1981
E-mail:  rupachacko@binarydock.com
Web site:  www.binarydock.com

Product/Services:  Information Technology Consultants

Document Imaging Systems, Inc.
Ms. Adrienne Scales-Williams, President
2222 S. Vandeventer Ave.
St. Louis, MO  63110
Phone:  (314) 771-9068
Fax:  (314) 771-9907
E-mail:  mmiller@disrepro.com
Web site:  www.disrepro.com

Product/Services: A privately held company specializing in a wide range of conversion services. Some of the major services include: blueprint reproduction; oversized copies, full color copies, document management; binding, archiving & document scanning.

New Reciprocal
Diversity MSP, Inc., d/b/a Ensemble Workforce Solutions
Ms. Susan Cruz, President
5800 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90036
Phone:  (323) 988.2920
Fax:  (323) 988.2995
E-mail:  lq@ensemblemsp.com
Web site:  www.ensemblemsp.com

Product/Services:  Provider of managed service programs (MSP), vendor management systems (VMS), payroll services and 1099 Risk Management and Worker Classification Services, Project Management and Services Procurement.

Empire Electric Supply
Mr. Tommy Longest, President
3575 Vinewood
Detroit, MI  48202
Phone:  (313) 895.1920
Fax:  (313) 895.1921
E-mail:  tommy@ismelectric.com
Web site:  www.ensemblemsp.com

Product/Services:  Distributor of electrical supplies, automation products, cable assemblies, bulk wire and cable.

Niche Marketing, Inc.
Ms. Rohena Miller, President
P.O. Box 2883
Louisville, KY  40201
Phone:  (502) 583.5243
Fax:  (502) 587.7243
E-mail:  rohena@nichemktg.com
Web site:  www.nichemktg.com

Product/Services:  Public relations, creative services and promotional items.