Local small businesses sought for Hawaii Minority Supplier Certification

HONOLULU—Hawaii’s small businesses are invited to attend several information sessions on how to beef up the tools necessary to make it in today’s economy.

Hawaii Minority Supplier Certification (HMSC) is holding free talks and a pau hana session this week to go over the benefits of being a certified minority supplier, maximizing services, and how to navigate Corporate America.

A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled on a daily basis by American citizens who identify as an ethnic minority (Hawaiian, Asian Pacific, Hispanic, African American, Asian Indian, and Native American). In general, the purpose of the MBE designation is to partner with larger firms to gain access to the resources that most MBE’s do not have access to.

It’s the goal of HMSC to provide minority businesses with nationally-recognized certification to connect corporate members with certified Hawaii minority suppliers.

HMSC says certification provides exposure to business opportunities, national and local referrals, direct access to procurement executives and buyers, invitations to private networking events and seminars, and access to business development resources.

HMSC is a regional chapter of the Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council (NCMSDC), a 501(c)3 non-profit national organization comprised of 38 regional councils with a combined consitutency of over 15,000 certified Minority Business Enterprise suppliers, and 3,500 corporate members.

How to Become a Certified Minority Supplier

HMSC is hosting identical “How to Become a Certified Minority Supplier” events on Tuesday, April 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 28 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at ING Direct Cafe, 1958 Kalakaua Ave., 1st Floor Orange Interactive Center.

Speaker Scott A. Vowels, NCMSDC president, and Clean Light Green Light Hawaii will discuss why corporate America values certified minority suppliers; the process of gaining certification; tips and tricks about doing business with The Walt Disney Company and other corporations; how to gain direct access to procurement executives and buyers; and the first hand reaction from a Native Hawaiian business.

The events are free. Register online at www.hawaiimsc.org.

How to Navigate Corporate America

HMSC is hosting “How to Navigate Corporate America” on Tuesday, April 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at at Sam Sneads Tavern and Restaurant in the Navy-Marine Club House, 943 Valkenburgh St.

Speaker Scott A. Vowels,  NCMSDC president, and Wyndham Worldwide will speak about business opportunities with corporate America, how corporations evaluate potential and current suppliers, and why minority certification is important to corporations.

The event is free. Pupus and refreshments will be served. Register online at www.hawaiimsc.org.

Pau Hana B2B

HMSC also invites local businesses to “Pau Hana B2B” on Thursday, April 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sam Sneads Tavern and Restaurant in the Navy-Marine Club House, 943 Valkenburgh St.

Speaker Wailana Kamauu, CEO of Clean Light Green Light Hawaii, will discuss how Pau Hana B2B will help grow your business and how to compete for large corporate contracts and stop the trend of outsourcing to the continental United States.

The event is free. Register online at www.hawaiimsc.org.