The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council is one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council nationwide. These regional councils comprise a network of local staff teams who meet the needs of GMSDC corporate members and Minority Business Enterprises day-to-day. In Georgia, that ecosystem consists of more than 400 corporations and 1,200 MBEs across the state, across every imaginable industry and area of specialty.
One of the many programs and initiatives the GMSDC offers to MBEs is the Centers of Excellence Certificate Program (COECP), a national initiative sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, in partnership with the NMSDC. The program’s goal is to accelerate the growth and development of GMSDC certified Class II MBEs, companies with annual revenues between $1 and $10 million. This one-year initiative seeks to enhance the prospects for these firms to compete more effectively and win larger contracts with corporate and governmental clients.
The recent graduation ceremony marked the culmination of a transformative journey for these 18 Georgia MBEs:
Jennifer Barbosa – International Supply Partners
Barry Bennett – Metals & Material Engineering
Barry Crocker – Cyntechs
Star English – Star English Construction
Heather Fatzinger – Full Cycle Communications
Gretchen Fuller – Warner Fuller Consulting
Cynthia Jones-Parker – Jones Worley Communications
Jennifer Lyles – Firesign Inc.
Kevin Mobolade – Swipe Credit
Guiomar Obregon – Precision 200
Holly Reed – The Diamond Suede Group
L’Tryce Slade – Slade Environmental Consulting
Brennon Smith Sr. – Jbrennon Construction Inc.
Kendra Ward – Unboxt
Cheryl Washington – Platinum World Logistics
Chondra Webster-Myers – WEBMeyers Construction
Jamira Williams – JLUL Logistics LLC
Sabrina Williams – Southern Perfection Painting
A major component of the COECP is coaching and encouragement from corporate and governmental mentors who work directly with the mentees on essential elements of long-term business success. Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development delivers the academic curriculum component of the program, alongside Fifth Third Bank Executives and other resources provided by the NMSDC. This year’s Georgia cohort was comprised of minority business owners whose companies are engaged in a wide variety of industries.
Reflecting on their journey, a few of the graduating cohort shared their thoughts:
“I have participated in many business development/cohort programs and this has been the best one by far. I leave this program with an actual action plan for growth and development that I can implement to help reach my business goals,” said Barry Crocker, President & CEO of Cyntechs.
“The content of the lectures delivered by Rutgers Business school and invited speakers were very applicable, timely and well delivered, also the fact we were assisted by Executive Coaching and Mentoring made the concepts learnt easy to apply to get the most impact,” said Guiomar Obregon, CEO and Co-Founder of Precision 2000.
“The timing of the COECP was perfect. I began the program while faced with making critical decisions for my business. I completed it empowered and emboldened with best practices, lessons learned, and proven strategies to help my business grow,” said Cynthia Jones Parks, President and CEO of Jones Worley Communications.
The national Centers of Excellence Certificate Program is one element of Fifth Third’s $2.8 billion commitment to support lending, investment, access to capital and targeted philanthropy through its Executive Leadership Council’s Accelerating Racial Equity and Inclusion initiative. The COECP effort is driven by a partnership with the Minority Supplier Development Councils in Ohio, Georgia, Mid-States and Michigan. For more information on the GMSDC and its initiatives, please visit www.gmsdc.org.
