Northern Ohio Minority Business Council

As a long-term NOMBC board member and new chairman of the board, Charles “Chad” Heyman, senior supplier diversity coordinator, FirstEnergy Supply Chain, has a twofold goal for the council. “First we must maintain and continue to build our leadership role in the supplier diversity and minority business development space in the Northern Ohio area, both within the corporate community and in the various minority business communities throughout the northern portion of the state,” Heyman said. “Second, we need to continue the great work that has taken place under my predecessors in terms of developing strong links between the corporate commu­nity and the outstanding minority businesses in northern Ohio.

Connected to that goal, [we need to] continue to build true value for both our corporate members and our certified minority businesses. Value can be created in a number of ways includ­ing hosting networking events, specific training sessions like our Partners First Mentoring program, certifying minority businesses, our corporate to corporate pro­gram, etc.”

The NOMBC is important to FirstEnergy and Heyman because of the value it lends to the business community. “Once a minority business has gone through the strenuous certification process, we know they are who they say they are and don’t need to worry about dealing with front or pass-through companies,” he said. “The NOMBC also provides forums for corporate members to learn from each other’s supplier diversity and supply chain efforts.”

Heyman joined the NOMBC in late 2002 as a corporate representative from FirstEnergy (an electric utility serving Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey). He had recently joined the supply chain from the sales group, and his predecessor had been active in the council and rec­ommended joining and becoming actively involved. “Since I am responsible for the supplier diversity activity for Ohio for FirstEnergy and our service territory overlays the NOMBC almost exactly, it made solid business sense for me to not only join, but to actively participate as a board member,” he said. “The old saying that ‘you get out of something, exactly what you put into it’ is absolutely true with regard to involvement in the NOMBC. Those minority businesses and corporations that sup­port and are actively involved in important committee work are the firms that we can count on to gain the most benefit year after year. Get involved!”

Key 2007 Accomplishments

• Expansion – To better serve its base, the council expanded the staff and hired a new business development director to focus on developing and coaching MBEs.

• Achieving Milestones – In 2007, the council exceeded its goal of a 10 percent increase in new MBE certification.

• Funding – The NOMBC received a grant to help develop minority businesses.