September 2021
Issue No. 8
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CERTIFY . DEVELOP . CONNECT . ADVOCATE
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SMSDC announces the 2021 MBE "Idol" Winner!
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Congratulations to Kara Elyse Henderson, Founder + Creative Director, Mindful Media, LLC named winner of SMSDC's 2021 MBE "Idol" on August 19th.
And a Special Thank you to Dell for the Swag Bag & items that were provided to each of the finalists!
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Kara Elyse Henderson
Founder + Creative Director
Mindful Media, LLC
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UP: Supplier Diversity a Smart Community Investment
Written by Andrea Oswald, General Director-Strategic Sourcing, Union Pacific
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Although Union Pacific was the first Class I railroad to implement a supplier diversity program nearly 40 years ago, the company hadn’t spent much time over the last few years performing outreach to identify and onboard new suppliers. In 2020, we placed a new emphasis to make our supplier diversity program world-class.
You may wonder what exactly is a diverse supplier. Although definitions vary, UP recognizes diverse suppliers to be any company that is majority owned by someone from the following classifications:
- Minorities (African American, Asian American, Latino American, Native American).
- Women.
- LGBT.
- Veteran or Service-Disabled Veteran.
- Disabled.
- Governmental designations (HUBZone, Small Disadvantaged Business, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, 8(a) Business).
But just as important a question: Why strive for supplier diversity?
The benefits are many. Supplier diversity introduces new products, services and solutions that might otherwise be overlooked. It’s an effective way to promote innovation while driving price and service competition. It many cases it’s an investment in the very communities in which we operate, promoting job creation at a local level.
Simply put, supplier diversity is just good business, and we believe diversity makes us stronger as a company and a country.
In 2020, UP spent $423 million with 275 diverse suppliers, which was a 29% increase from 2019.
- Of that spend, $347 million (82%) was with women-owned businesses
- UP only spent $11 million (2.5%) with Latino-owned businesses and $4 million (1%) with black-owned businesses.
- Our largest supplier in 2020 was Automotive Resources Inc. (ARI), a woman-owned business that supports UP’s vehicle fleet ($217 million).
The data showed that UP has an opportunity to expand its supplier base, especially with black and Latino-owned businesses. We looked at potential areas of growth and set an aggressive goal to grow our total diverse supplier spending another 25% to nearly $530 million in 2021.
As of July, we have signed contracts with two new major suppliers:
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Hightowers Petroleum Co., a black-owned business that won our fuel credit card spending of approximately $50 million annually.
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Macro-Z-Technology Co., a Latino-owned construction company that recently won construction work on UP’s Sanderson Subdivision in Texas valued at approximately $5 million.
Through July, UP has worked with a total of 12 new diverse suppliers. It’s a great start, but to reach our 25% goal, we recognize that every UP employee must lend a hand. That means being willing to do business with companies we haven’t worked with in the past. There are challenges to onboarding new suppliers and familiarizing them with our processes and procedures, but with support from the UP team, new suppliers can get up to speed quickly.
It also requires a commitment from the suppliers, who have been eager to step up to the challenge. As Macro-Z-Technologies’ Rail & Civil Division Manager Hillary Hack told us, “We are ready to meet and exceed your expectations, and we will work as hard as we can to do just that.”
By using diverse suppliers, UP’s spending can better reflect the communities we all live and work in and strengthen our supply chain.
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NEW CERTIFIED MBEs
AUGUST 2021
American Factory Direct - Harlingen, TX
Chavez Concrete Pumping - Albuquerque, NM
Dispatch Tree, LLC - Manor, TX
Fusion Mechanical, LLC - Vidor, TX
Garza Food Ventures - Austin, TX
Highridge Consulting Service, LLC - Prague, OK
JD Corporate Housing Solutions, LLC - Killeen, TX
McDonald Land Services, LLC - Washington, OK
Pluma, LLC - Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Protectque USA, Inc - Austin, TX
Ria Logistics, LLC - Hutto, TX
RRC Power & Energy LLC - Round Rock, TX
S Data Solutions, LLC - El Paso, TX
Tactical Networks, LLC - San Antonio, TX
JULY 2021
Apex Education, Inc - Albuquerque, NM
Beyond Engineering and Testing, LLC - Round Rock, TX
LR Global - San Antonio, TX
Mopping Man - San Antonio, TX
Osana Logistics Group, LLC - San Antonio, TX
Paulson Plumbing & Mechanical - Albuquerque, NM
Scoop and Score, LLC - Cedar Park, TX
Storefront Specialties and Glazing, LLC - Albuquerque, NM
JUNE 2021
All-Pro Insulation, LLC - Sutherland Springs, TX
Alterri Distribution Center - Laredo, TX
Cockrell Construction Inc - Temple, TX
El Pinto Foods, LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Four Winds Mechanical HTC/AC, Inc - Albuquerque, NM
Impulse Energy Consultants, LLC - Norman, OK
Otero Systems and Technologies - Oklahoma City, OK
TIA Facility Services, LLC - El Paso, TX
Ujamaa Lighting - Round Rock, TX
VRN Technologies - Cedar Park, TX
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RE-CERTIFIED MBEs
AUGUST 2021
A1 Staffing & Recruiting Agency Inc.
Advance Research Chemicals, Inc.
CAEAUTI
Can-Am Wireless LLC
Capital Land Services, Inc.
Central Bolt & Industrial Supplies Inc.
Covel Contracting LLC.
Dependable Business Solutions
Diana M. De Montemayor, LLC
Digital Display Solutions, Inc.
Easy Tours
Enhanced Production Technologies
ESC Consultants, Inc.
Escamilla & Poneck, LLP
Exp.Design LLC
Freight Dispatch Service Agency, LTD
General Labels & Printing, LLC
HERO Logistics LP
HR Legal Search, LLC
Industrial Supplier Larey, Inc.
Infection Controls, Inc.
INTERCON LOGISTICS LLC
Interlex Communications, Inc.
Isidore PLLC
Metrica, Inc.
North Park SSP Motors LLC
Pristine Services Group LLC
PROD Design & Analysis, Inc.
Resale Resource Corporation
RFL Consulting Solutions, Inc.
Rookie #31 LLC
Ruiz Testing Services, Inc.
Sanders\Wingo Advertising, Inc.
Seco Spice Company, Ltd. Co.
Seed & Grain Exporters
Seilevel Partners LP
Somnio Solutions, Inc.
Sort and Rework
TLI & Environmental Services, Inc
Vision Semiconductor Solutions LLC
VMW Maintenance Solutions, Inc
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REQUIREMENT FOR ALL NEW & INTERESTED APPLICANTS FOR MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE) CERTIFICATION:
You must participate in the session prior to the Certification Committee reviews your application.
All new MBE's must attend a Pre-Certification & Post-Certification session. The sessions will be held by conference call several times a month. Please make sure to attend one pre-certification & one post-certification session in order to complete the certification process. Please contact Alana Ortega, Certification Manager, at alana@smsdc.org to register.
The following are dates available for September:
Wednesday, September 8th
Wednesday, September 15th
Wednesday, September 22nd
Wednesday, September 29th
Trainings are available from 10am – 12pm CST on the dates listed above for the month of September. Training may take about 30 minutes however please allow additional time depending on your company structure and questions you may have.
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Documentation for MBE Recertification
To complete the application log-in to your MBE Certification account and begin processing, carefully follow the instructions below:
- Update any information that has changed (ie; address, telephone numbers, email) this will also be a great time to add/delete NAICS code.
- Upload the Company's most recent and complete IRS tax return.
- Upload your signed and notarized Recertification Affidavit. (Found on the DOCUMENTATION section of your application)
- Once the form has been completed successfully, verify your data and submit payment.
Please note it is the MBEs responsibility to submit required documentation in a timely manner. Recertification Applications take up to 30 days to process. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application and may cause your MBE Certification to expire.
Question/comments:
Alana Ortega, Certification Manager
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION for all MBEs:
If this is a New Application, and you are having trouble uploading your documents, please contact Alana Ortega at 512.297.6478 during regular business hours or send an e-mail to alana@smsdc.org.
If this is a ReCertification, and you are having trouble uploading your documents, please contact Gabrielle Ramirez at 512.694.0522 during regular business hours or send an e-mail to gabrielle@smsdc.org.
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To obtain a copy of your MBE logo, please follow the steps below:
- Login with email/password associated with your SMSDC Certification
- You will see options such as applying for recertification or viewing/printing current certificate
- To obtain logo select “NMSDC Logo Pack” from the bottom right-hand corner and press the download button
The MBE logo is available for use on your company’s marketing print and electronic material. The MBE logo will only be available for your use as long as your company has a current & active MBE certification.
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In alignment of SMSDC’s four pillars, Certify. Develop. Connect. Advocate., education continues to be fundamental. Launched in 2012, SMSDC continues to offer the PLUS+ Platform classes: Benchmarking Plus & Capacity Plus. These signature programs are a mix of in person & online courses presented by supplier diversity expert Reginald K. Layton, Vice President, Supplier Diversity & Supply Chain Sustainability for Johnson Controls’ Inc and Ralph G. Moore, CPA, president of Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA). Moore is recognized as one of the world’s foremost thought-leaders in the area of supplier diversity and minority business development.
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For CORPORATE MEMBERS ONLY is a process to accelerate supplier diversity initiatives based on real world experimentation. Benchmarking Plus delivers the tools and management perspective to help your corporation strengthen your supplier diversity processes.
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For CERTIFIED MBEs is a process to enhance sales and marketing processes and build their capacity to work with Fortune 500 corporations.
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Benchmarking Plus & Capacity Plus are led by Johnson Controls Inc, a world leader in supplier diversity, with more than 600 diverse suppliers and $1.8 billion in diverse spend.
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Corporate Members: The annual cost for Benchmarking Plus is $999. The registration fee includes access to all webinars, featured courses, online & onsite classes. If you are interested in signing up, please register for the BENCHMARKING PLUS PLATFORM here.
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Certified MBEs: The annual cost for Capacity Plus is $499. The registration fee includes access to all webinars, featured courses, online & onsite classes. If you are interested in signing up, please register for the CAPACITY PLUS PLATFORM here.
The next upcoming Plus+ Platform classes will be held on Wednesday, September 23rd in the morning of "Diversity at the Border" virtual event. These classes on September 23rd will be complimentary. If you are interested in joining these classes on September 23rd, please contact Mayra Pena at mayra@smsdc.org or call 915.433.0612.
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Diversity at the Border Virtual Event
September 23, 2021
2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST
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What is Diversity at the Border?
Diversity at the Border is a virtual event filled with informational workshops, networking and matchmaking opportunities. At this event you will be able to meet with SMSDC's corporate members, certified MBEs and community partners looking to do business with suppliers in the West Texas and New Mexico region.
Why Attend?
This is your opportunity to virtually meet & network with SMSDC's corporate members specifically looking for suppliers in the West Texas & New Mexico region. Download event agenda, click here.
Who will be in attendance?
All SMSDC Corporate Members, Certified MBEs and community partners have been invited to attend the complimentary event.
Will matchmaking opportunities be available?
YES! SMSDC corporate members will host breakout rooms where buyers and category owners will discuss their purchasing needs in the next 12-18 months. Along with SMSDC corporate members, MBEs/suppliers will meet with other MBEs for MBE2MBE business opportunities.
Register today to reserve your spot in the following corporate breakout rooms:
City of El Paso Purchasing, ConocoPhillips, El Paso Electric,
PNM Resources, Toyota
What is the cost and how do I register?
This is a complimentary event for all SMSDC Corporate Members, Certified MBEs and Community Partners. To register, click here now.
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SMSDC PAST VIRTUAL EVENTS
Access to SMSDC's past virtual events, please click on the link below or visit www.smsdc.org, click on events and scroll to the bottom of the webpage.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Have a recent achievement or new development in your organization? We'd love to share your story too! Click the "SHARE YOUR STORY"link below to leave your name and contact information and we'll reach out to you.
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SMSDC affiliate council of NMSDC
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