Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Provides Minority Businesses with Tools to Grow Strategically at 32nd Annual Procurement Conference and Opportunity Fair

DETROIT, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) welcomes corporations and minority businesses to its 32nd Annual Michigan Minority Procurement Conference and Opportunity Fair, the largest event of its kind, at Detroit's Cobo Center today through Thursday.

The conference, themed "Diversity Matters," is aimed at connecting certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with MMSDC's corporate members and other potential customers, as well as offering the MBEs business development training in areas such as financial management, sales strategy, marketing and global growth. 

"Diversity matters because diverse organizations are more efficient and more innovative," said Louis Green, President and CEO of the MMSDC. "Companies that understand that and integrate minority businesses throughout their supply chain have a competitive advantage over their peers."

The MMSDC is one of 36 regional councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). It was honored by NMSDC as "Council of the Year" in 2012, its third time winning that award since 2007.  MMSDC is a privately funded, non-profit, corporate services organization that has provided unique procurement opportunities to corporate members and certified MBEs for over 30 years. MMSDC provides ongoing growth opportunities, financial support, training and education for its membership. The organization is nationally recognized for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development and growth.

"The Michigan Minority Procurement Conference offers a tremendous opportunity for us to drive and uplift our collective performance in the area of supplier diversity," said Scott Kunselman, Chairman of the MMSDC and Senior Vice President, Purchasing and Supplier Quality for Chrysler Group LLC.  "It is effective because it focuses on the development and sustained health of our minority suppliers and gives them a venue to cultivate their relationships with their current and potential customers even further."

The conference features 312 exhibitor booths from a wide variety of industries. Keynote speakers include Christine Rice, President, VisionIT, Donald Coleman, Chairman & CEO, GlobalHue, and Joset Wright, President, National Minority Development Association.  A full event schedule is available at http://mmpc.minoritysupplier.org/.  The Opportunity Fair, on May 2 is open to the public for a $100 fee, and business owners are encouraged to attend.

About the MMSDC

The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization committed to driving economic growth within minority communities. The MMSDC advances this mission by facilitating over $20 billion annually in business contracts between corporations and certified minority business enterprises (MBEs). Founded in 1977, the MMSDC certifies minority businesses, provides access to procurement opportunities, and develops capacity for minority business development. The Michigan Council has been recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council as "Regional Council of the Year" three times since 2007 for its work with major corporations to promote minority business development. For more information about the MMSDC, visit www.minoritysupplier.org.

Follow MMSDC news on:
Website: www.minoritysupplier.org 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/diversebusiness 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/diversebusiness

SOURCE Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council