The Institute: The Future of Business in North Carolina

Durham, NC — The North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development (NCIMED) held its 2004 Executive Networking Conference (ENC) March 18-20, at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC. This year’s conference theme, “Building Meaningful Business Relationships,” was well attended by national, state and local corporate leaders. The event was co-sponsored by the Carolinas Minority Supplier Council.

The ENC, which began in the mid-eighties, is a business and social capital-networking development event designed to encourage, build and strengthen business relationships between Historically Underutilized Business and Corporations.

“This event focuses primarily on those Historically Underutilized firms that have major corporations as their primary customers,” said NCIMED President Andrea Harris. “We firmly believe that communications builds commerce. ENC offers major corporations and minority owned firms the opportunity to meet one another, learn together and better explore opportunities to do business.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency National Director, Ronald N. Langston, served as keynote speaker for the conference. “Minority-owned businesses are vital to our nation’s economic health and stability,” said Langston.

“We are making a concerted effort to reach out and touch ethnic/minority business leaders across the country to help them understand that this [Bush] Administration supports them and will lead the way to support less regulations, less taxes, and entrepreneurial growth,” Langston said. “Encouraging small and minority business enterprise is a critical part of the President’s economic growth plan.”

ENC workshops addressed issues that influence business decisions. This year’s conference presenters included industry leaders such as Ford Motor Company’s Director of Supplier Diversity, Dr. Renaldo M. Jensen. “Ford Motor Company has dedicated itself to the economic empowerment of minority communities for over 20 years. As one of the largest corporations in America, we believe we have an obligation to lead through our actions and motivate others though our success.” Jensen is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of supplier diversity.

Opening session remarks by Wachovia Director of Procurement Services Jim Ford and Merck Senior Vice President of Global Procurement Willie Deese set the tone for the conference by encouraging attendees to take advantage of the resources available. “The ENC is an opportunity to develop strategic alliances with people who share common business goals and experiences,” said Ford. Other conference highlights included presentations on e-business, building supplier diversity programs and integrating new business practices into existing structures.

To assist in the building of business partnerships, NCIMED held the conference at Pinehurst Resort. The resort provided a relaxed atmosphere that encouraged active dialogue. “The informal setting of the ENC allows you to step out from behind the desk and away from the office to forge new business relationships with people on a different level,” said Webb Patterson Communications President & COO Carl Webb. “And, people like to do business with people they know and trust.”

The NCIMED would like to thank the following corporate sponsors for supporting the 2004 Executive Networking Conference: GlaxoSmithKline, Progress Energy, Wachovia Corporation, RBC Centura, Duke University, Food Lion, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Bovis Lend Lease Carolinas, Duke Energy, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, First Citizens Bank, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and SpectraSite.

The North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the state of North Carolina. Its mission is to build the asset base among low-wealth communities through business development, access to market opportunities, education, training, research and information.

The Carolina Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC), a branch of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, is providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses. The CMSDC current members include 253 corporate members and agencies, and 395 certified vendors.