Minority Business Development Newsletter - January 2009

Welcome from Aggo Akyea, Bureau Director

Welcome to the January 2009 edition of our bi-monthly Wisconsin Minority Business Development E-Newsletter. I hope that you find this E-Newsletter an informative update on State of Wisconsin activities towards minority business development and growth.

This E-newsletter series is the fulfillment of one of our goals to stay in touch with you, our clients and partners. Featured in this edition are the award winners from MARKETPLACE 2008, newly certified minority business enterprises in the last two months and access to our online directory of all certified firms.

New in this and future MBD E-Newsletters are insightful articles from the Institute of Entrepreneurial Thinking. The institute is one of the leading authorities on issues related to minority business development and has as its goal to improve the outcomes of minority business development initiatives. The premiere topic in this edition is "The New Reality for Diverse Suppliers: Does Anybody Really Care about Supplier Diversity?" We hope you will benefit from this and future articles.

Our Newsletter is designed to inform you about many subjects and topics. It is your newsletter so any feedback or comments would be most welcome! Do let us know if you have any suggestions for future articles or for improvements.

Any feedback on conferences attended, items of interest, publications that you have found useful or problems that you may have encountered are most welcome too. Please forward them directly to comMBD@wisconsin.gov.

Marketplace 2009 Governor's Conference on Minority Business Development

Marketplace 2009 will be on Tuesday September 15 and Wednesday September 16. Keep the dates open, we will provide more details soon.

The New Reality for Diverse Suppliers: Does Anybody Really Care about Supplier Diversity?

If you've been thinking it's more difficult to get real attention from a major organization, you're not crazy. It's true. There is a new reality. There are new rules, new expectations and they all demand a new approach for suppliers. The change is not isolated to diverse suppliers yet the impact on diverse suppliers could be more significant. Diverse suppliers are more likely to be new suppliers, smaller and with fewer resources. It is even more important to understand the new environment for how suppliers are selected, the implications of the changes and the key strategies to compete and win. (Read More)

Reproduced with permission: A Publication of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking • www.entrethinking.com

Minority Business Development (MBD) Loan Program

The Minority Business Development loan program is designed to provide financial assistance for the start-up and expansion of minority- owned businesses in Wisconsin. This program provides low interest loans to assist in the development of minority-owned companies.

Celebrating the Winners of Marketplace 2008 Business Awards

Winner of the Outstanding Business Large Company Award (more than 25 employees)

Hurt Electric, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Henry Hurt, President
Hurt Electric, Inc., provides electrical installation, service, repairs and maintenance to commercial, industrial and institutional businesses throughout SE Wisconsin . Through the 2006 merger with business partners Ron Rechlicz and Tim Jahn, Hurt Electric, Inc.'s annual revenue has grown from $1.8 million to $4.6 million. As majority owner, Henry Hurt credits minority certification programs in providing contracting opportunities and proper networking connections. While the company may have had help getting its foot in the door, Mr. Hurt said "the company's accomplishments speak to its reputation as a quality electrical contractor."

Finalist:

• Menominee Tribal Enterprises, Neopit, Adrian "Dusty" Miller, President

Winner of the Outstanding Business Small Company Award (less than 25 employees)

Diva Plumbing Company, Inc., New Berlin, Chiquita Jeffery and Donald Ware, Owners
Diva Plumbing Company is a customer-focused plumbing company with the trade motto "Quality is not an Act. It is a Habit". Diva Plumbing Company specializes in the installation and maintenance of plumbing and piping systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Diva Plumbing Company is the only union minority plumbing contractor in the Milwaukee area. Founded in 2002, Diva Plumbing has held government contracts as a result of developing and building strong alliances through networking. The goal of Diva Plumbing Company is to show minorities and women that despite their background or social status, they can achieve as much as they can dream.

Finalists:

• Milwaukee Ironworks, LLC, South Milwaukee, Aby Gutierrez, Owner
• S & M Tools, Oneida, James Fuss & Joe Leiterman, Owners

Winner of the Community Involvement Award - Recognizing Special Contributions to the Community

Forest County Potawatomi Community / Potawatomi Bingo Casino, Milwaukee
Potawatomi Bingo Casino is a major employer and growing enterprise of the Forest County Potawatomi Community. As one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the state, their commitment to diversity is evident by not only the number of minority employees they retain but by providing good, family-supporting jobs and their efforts to improve the well-being of the community.

Winner of the Rising Star Award - Recognizing the most exciting and promising young company

Electrical Testing Solutions, LLC, Oskhosk, Tito Machado, President
Electrical Testing Solutions is in business to provide excellence in the field of testing and maintenance of electrical switchgear. Founded in 2005, Electrical Testing Solutions began with three employees and today employs twelve people with four electrical engineers on staff. Electrical Testing Solutions sets itself apart from others by staying current in educational opportunities for employees and utilizing the latest leading edge technology in the field. Electrical Testing Solutions is committed to excellence in service, treating people with respect and demonstrating integrity.

Finalists:

• Choice Construction Company, Brian Mitchell, President, Menomonee Falls
• Spann & Associates, LLC., Bruce Spann, President, Milwaukee

Winner of the Good Citizen Award - Recognizing Contributions to Society and the Community

Lena's Food Market, Milwaukee, Derrick Martin, President
Established over 35 years ago, Lena's Food Market has become one of Milwaukee's community institutions with five supermarkets throughout Milwaukee . The business participates in and supports various community events in the City of Milwaukee such as the United Negro College Fund Walk/Run, Strong Kids Campaign, the Martin Luther King Back-to-School book bag giveaway and provides food donations to food pantries. Employing over 300 full-time, Lena believes in giving those individuals released from correctional facilities a second chance by providing them with employment. Lena's Food Market offers free transportation from Lena 's Food Market stores to home for people who must rely on mass transit for their shopping.

Finalists:

• Andy Garcia Productions, LLC, Andy Garcia & Susan Mowris, Madison
• Spanglish Multicultural Solutions, LLC., Nelson Soldner, Milwaukee

Special Recognition Awards

Winner of the Minority Business Development Award

City of Racine
For establishing in 1996, the Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDCO) to provide training, one-on-one technical assistance and low-interest loans to new and existing minority businesses in Racine.

Winner of the Minority-Owned Business Economic Development Award

WHEDA Emerging Business Program, Shaleta Dunn
For supporting development, growth and utilization of minority-owned businesses.

Congratulations to October, November and December 2008 Certifications

• A Bernal Electric, LLC
• Acevedo PC Services, LLC
• Advanced Workforce Initiatives, Inc.
• Affordable Tree Cut Services
• Casa Homes
• Cobrahead LLC
• D.H Lloyd & Associates, Inc.
• Eden's Market, LLC
• Emerald Systems, Inc.
• Figueroa, Jackson & Franklin, LLC
• Funk Linko, Inc.
• George Greendeer Enterprises
• Green Way Cleaning
• Interconnect Communications LLC
• Ivy Securities, Inc.
• KM Chng Environmental Inc.
• Living Green Interiors
• M. Ramsey King Securities, Inc
• Midwest Laser Fabricating, Inc.
• MyPond.Com, LLC
• Network Cabling Solutions, LLC
• Nortek Communications, LLC
• Phoenix Transportation LLC
• Rinka Chung Architecture, Inc.
• Ron's Cut N' Trim
• Scrub N' Shine
• St. Paul Medical Staffing, LLC
• Three Rivers Landscape Inc.
• Transformation Services
• Trujillo Drywall, LLC
• Vangard Mechanical Contracting, LLC

Profile of Minority Business Development in Wisconsin

The US Minority Business Development Agency analyzes economic and population data to understand the economic conditions of minority business enterprises. These analyses help the agency shape its strategies, program design and implementation, and develop its advocacy efforts. A profile of Wisconsin is available.

Upcoming Events

• February 9, 2009 - 2009 Business Women's Expo
• April 3-5, 2009 - Hmnong National Conference
• April 21, 2009 - Business Opportunities in the Government (BOGS) Sector Workshop
• May 21, 2009 - Wisconsin Transpo Expo 2009
• June 2, 2009 - Wisconsin Womens Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) Spring Semester Business Financing Seminar

Directory of Minority-Owned Firms

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce offers an online directory that can be viewed and navigated in three ways:

• Minority businesses by company name (alphabetical listing)
• Minority businesses by county
• Minority businesses by industry sector

Contract and Bid Opportunities

The Wisconsin Department of Administration maintains a Minority Business Program Business Search which enables buyers to access information on Wisconsin minority-owned firms by product, service area, county, commodity code or ethnic category.