Monthly News & Updates

August | 07

Upcoming SMSDC Events


  • August 24th

MBEIC Lunch & Learn Virtual Event


  • September 14th

Diversity at the Border Event


  • November 16th

Regional Task Force Virtual Workshop


  • December 7th

MBEIC Lunch & Learn Virtual Event

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Upcoming Community Events



Please email your events to Mayra Pena at mayra@smsdc.org.

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President's Corner

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US AT OKLAHOMA'S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CONFERENCE!

 

SMSDC's Oklahoma Business Opportunity Conference, “Process Excellence” took place on July 26-27th at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK. It was truly exciting to be back in Oklahoma in-person! It was my pleasure to see many familiar faces from years past as well as meet many new people from Oklahoma.


The two-day event offered opportunities to connect through the "Meet & Greet" opening reception, networking breakfast and roundtable discussions. Title Sponsor, OG&E, along with sponsor, JE Dunn Construction shared opportunities with suppliers in the next 12-18 months. Corporations & partners such as CDW, Johnson Controls, OSU, The City of Oklahoma, Tulsa Airport Authority and WESCO were also eager to share upcoming opportunities with all suppliers.


Thank you to our community partners and organizations for sharing the event information with your members. New contacts captured an insight of SMSDC and what the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification can do for their business!



Please visit our photo gallery on our website to see all of the moments captured during the conference.



SAVE THE DATE!

Our final in-person conference of the year is coming up on September 13-14 in El Paso, TX. Registration is now open! Visit www.smsdc.org and click on Events to register now. Early registration ends this Friday, August 11th. Additional details regarding this event will be released soon.




See you again in El Paso, TX!



Sincerely,


Karen Box

SMSDC President

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From your MBEIC Chair:

Valued MBE’s, 


July was a great month at our Oklahoma Business Opportunity Conference! Although I was unable to attend, I understand we had an outstanding turnout and heard lots of positive feedback from you all. Thank you to all of you who attended and encouraged more attendees to attend. Our community is powerful and the more we share the news, get engaged and show up, the more results we see for our community. 

 

Later this month, the SMSDC and I have the pleasure of hosting the SBA of the El Paso District for our MBEIC Lunch and Learn session. Many of you inquired about doing business with the government, 8(a) programs and how to gain government contracts during our opening session at the FaceTime Expo in San Antonio and we are especially crafting this session for you. Info on this session will be going out very soon, please ensure you sign up to attend. 

 

You have also seen information regarding Diversity at the Border in El Paso and I hope you have already registered and are planning on attending. Early Bird registration is open until August 11th! At this event, there will be developmental classes, cutting edge speakers, roundtable sessions, matchmaking sessions and meet and greet networking opportunities. You don’t want to miss it! 

 

Lastly, don’t forget up for the NMSDC National Conference & Exchange to be held in Baltimore, Maryland October 22nd-25th! Hailed as the largest minority business conference in the world, the NMSDC’s Annual Conference & Exchange includes four days of education and networking with over 5,000 corporate CEOs, procurement executives, supplier diversity professionals, and leading minority business owners from across the nation. 

 

For more information, agenda, registration as well as sponsorship, exhibition, and advertising information on this event, see link below. 

 

https://www.nmsdcconference.org/2023/

 

Looking forward to hearing from each of you and seeing you soon! 

 

 

Respectfully,

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

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Big Plan, LLC

http://www.bigplan.io/

We are a consulting firm that offers expert guidance and services to companies and organizations seeking global expansion or digital transformation. We take pride in providing our customers with exceptional service and tailor our approach to meet their specific needs. Our team of professionals are dedicated to delivering the best possible results for our clients.


Cart Repo, LLC

www.CartRepo.com

We are a shopping cart retrieval company. We help to locate, collect and return shopping carts to retail stores when they are stolen and abandoned throughout the city.


Film Festival Circuit, LLC

https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/

Film Festival Circuit LLC primarily engages in acquiring distribution right and distributing film and video productions to motion picture theaters.


iGEM Communications, LLC

www.globalgig.com

Globalgig is a global managed services provider for all types of networks including fixed line, ISP, hosted voice UCaaS, VOIP, SIP Trunking, POTS, Cellular Service, M2M cellular service, IOT connectivity services, SD WAN, SASE networking.


Mana Food Supply, LLC

www.manafoodsales.com

Mana Food Sales is a food broker that uses cloud- based technology and strong industry connections to help foodservice and retail businesses grow their sales and reach new customers.; Here are some of the key products and services offered by Mana Food Sales: Foodservice sales; Retail sales; Sales and promotional planning; Merchandising; Order fulfillment; Customer success; Mana Food Sales is a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes that are looking to grow their sales and reach new customers.


Oatmeal & Company, LLC

https://oatmealandcompany.com

Oatmeal & Company manufactures dry prepackaged breakfast oatmeal.


Rocket Labs & Testing, Inc

www.rocketlabstx.com

Rocket Labs & Testing INC performs pre- employment background checks, random drug and alcohol screenings and fingerprinting. We also perform DNA testing and wellness lab monitoring such as Complete Blood Count (CBCs) etc. for primary physician offices.


TGI Enterprises, Inc

tgipromo.com

TGI is a screen printing and promotional marketing firm with in-house graphic design, screen printing and embroidery services. We are an advertising specialty distributor with access to customize thousands of decorated promotional products.


Virtual Grounds Interactive, LLC

https://virtualgrounds.com

Virtual Grounds is a digital media company dedicated to providing strategic consulting and development of emerging technology components for cultural projects. We develop digital experiences and bespoke software with a focus on cultural content.


3LI, LLC

ADTI -Solutions

Alamo Environmental, Inc.

Ancira Enterprises, Inc.

B Hall LLC

Brady's Welding & Machine Shop, Inc.

Capital Land Services, Inc.

Chavez Concrete Pumping

Davis Shipping LLC

Device Services Group

Duro Legacy HVAC Inc

El Paso Water Industrial Services, Inc.

Escamilla & Poneck, LLP

Freight Dispatch Service Agency, LTD

Galvotec Alloys, Inc.

Galvotec Corrosion Services LLC

Gobar Systems, Inc

Gontor Forwarding Corp.

Gontor Logistics Corp.

GONTOR US CUSTOMS BROKER

Griffin Holdings Inc.

Highridge Consulting Service LLC

I AM TRUCKING

I Do Promos

Infection Controls, Inc.

InGenesis, Inc.

Innovative Gateway Talent, LLC

JDK Transport Corporation

King's Eco Plastics, LLC

LR Global, LLC

Meridian Construction Services Corp.

Metrica Relocations+, Inc.

Mopping Man

Night Eyes Protective Services Inc.

Parrish Enterprises, Ltd.

PASO LOGISTICS

Plant Seads LLC

Pristine Building Maintenanace

Rays Flooring Specialist, Inc

Rioplex Distributors

Robinson General Contractors

Sanders\Wingo Advertising, Inc.

Sandtex International Corporation

Seed & Grain Exporters

Seilevel Partners LP

S  IPZO Co.

Silt Leasing & Transportation Services, Inc

Super Transport International Ltd.

Tactical Networks LLC

Terrazzo USA and Associates Inc.

The Cintman Group

Triadic Enterprises, Incorporated

Ujamaa Lighting, LLC

VeraLogics, Inc.

VRN Technologies, LLC

Xactly Corporation


New MBE Applicants: Register for

Pre-Certification Sessions


Participation in the information session should take place prior to the submittal of your application to SMSDC. 

 

All new MBE's must attend Pre-Certification & Post-Certification sessions to assist with the application process. Applicants can now schedule an appointment for One-On-One Information Sessions. The sessions are held by scheduled appointment only every Wednesday from 10am-12pm. 

 

We will discuss:

  • Criteria for Certification
  • Review of the Application Process
  • Answer most common application questions

 

To get certified you will need to meet the criteria set forth by NMSDC, complete the online application and upload all required documentation.

 

Please email Alana Ortega at alana@smsdc.org to register for the Pre-Certification Session to complete the first step in the certification process.


SMSDC and State of Texas HUB Certification


As of March 15, 2023, an MOU was signed between Southwest MSDC and HUB to continue the partnership between both organizations.     

 

SMSDC will submit basic MBE profile information to the State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office. As a result, if accepted the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) will now gain the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) designation. As long as your certification is maintained current by SMSDC, your certification with the State will be current.


SMSDC DOES NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR HUB CERTIFICATE


For questions regarding your HUB Certification opportunities or to obtain your certificate, please contact the Texas Comptroller’s Office. Their online services are available at: https://texashub.gob2g.com scroll to the top of the page (above the picture) then click on the contact support button. A box will open where you will click on the line entitled Customer Service. A form will open, and you must fill it out to request a HUB Certificate.


Question/comments:

Alana Ortega,

Certification Manager

alana@smsdc.org

IN NMSDC NEWS...

Applications are Open for the 2024 Cohort of NMSDC’s Acres Program

Applications are now open for the next cohort of the Acres – Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture program. Acres is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering and advancing Black farmers, growers, and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. With a commitment to fostering equity and economic growth, it is redefining the landscape of Black agriculture, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future. The program is open to Black farmers that meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a farmer with an agriculture for-profit enterprise and physically located in the U.S. or its trust territories with revenue of at least $25,000 per year.
  • Business must be at least 51% Black–owned, managed, and controlled. Participants must meet the African American/Black definition as set by NMSDC.
  • Management and daily operations must be exercised by the Black ownership member(s).
  • Must have two years of farming experience.
  • Must be registered with the Secretary of State where business is conducted.
  • Must have a business bank account.
  • Must have proof of U.S. citizenship.

Acres is designed to address the historical disparities and systemic challenges that have disproportionately affected Black individuals and communities in the agriculture industry. Rooted in the principles of equity, education, and opportunity, Acres provides a comprehensive platform to help Black farmers overcome barriers, enhance their skill sets, and expand their businesses. More specifically, the program supports participants in two key ways: through a 12-week learning curriculum and strategic business support.

To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit nmsdc.org/acres-cultivating-equity-in-black-agriculture and fill out the online application. We encourage all eligible Black farmers, growers, and agricultural entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and be part of this transformative journey towards greater equity and prosperity in the U.S. agriculture industry.


Posted on August 8th in NMSDC News



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