Top of Trends

Since its formation roughly 32 years ago, the Southern California Minority Business Development Council has remained dedicated to discovering, developing and promoting innovative opportunities and tools that assist diverse firms in achieving stability and success. For instance, the council has been steadfast in supporting the continued growth of its innovative insurance program for minority owned businesses as well as expanding the use of web casting of seminars and other training programs for its certified minority business enterprises and corporate members.

“We also want to continue and expand industry specific business networking between corporations and qualified MBEs,” said SCMBDC President John Murray. “We will continue to reach out to capable MBEs that serve growth industries historically unrepresented and underrepresented by minority suppliers.”

Today, with 201 corporate members and 1100 certified MBEs, the council has honed in on fine-tuning its six core competencies of providing certification, managing a database of qualified MBEs supported by a robust Internet-based hardware and software system, promoting business-to-business interaction between MBE and corporate as well as MBE-to- MBE through networking opportunities, facilitating professional development programs and seminars as well as access to capital, and helping support MBEs with an effective insurance program.

“Obviously, we have an ambitious offering, but in combining the work of our mission-focused, innovative, progressive staff with the board of director’s confidence and trust, we have been fortunate to see cumulative successes,” Murray said. “Innovation in the use of technology, leading edge programs and services, sound financial management as well as our ability to embrace highly effective communications and Internet-based marketing have also been instrumental in our success.”

Connecting for results

According to Murray, the SCMBDC has a longstanding track record of successfully deploying quality events, which help in delivering meaningful, client-relevant programs and services as well as educational workshops. For instance, the council regularly supports industry diverse networking events for the petroleum and refinery industry, entertainment industry as well as the advertising industry. “The outcome of these events shows that the staff is responsive to client needs,” Murray said.

One of the keys to keeping MBEs and corporate members actively involved has been the staff’s focus on top-notch communications. According to Murray, the council has thoroughly embraced multiple communication forums including newsletters, email blasts, streaming videos and e-connections in the interest of keeping MBEs appraised of looming opportunities.

“The more buzz we can achieve about our members’ success stories in our own publications as well as external outlets such as the Los Angles Times, the better positioned we are to succeed in achieving our goals,” Murray explained. A crucial component in garnering has been attune to the council’s ability to form collaborative partnerships with key minority advocate organizations including the University of Southern California, UCLA, and Pepperdine University as well as effectively teaming up with corporate partners to promote programs and services.

Looking forward

As Murray and his team look to the future, there is noticeable excitement of what lies ahead. For example, the council is currently working to implement effective corporate business model to facilitate capacity building of MBEs. In addition, the team is expanding the delivery of its comprehensive educational programs, seminars and workshops utilizing web casting. In fact, the council conducted its first webcast titled Effectively Working Minority Business Opportunity Day 2008. More than 40 MBEs attended the seminar in person and another 40 logged in for the morning presentation. “I feel like we just successfully launched a space probe. The future is now,” Murray said.

Other initiatives in planning or development include simple on-line event registration, the development and implementation of online corporate resource center for supply chain managers and diversity managers as well as the expanded outreach of educational programs for MBEs and corporate members alike.