From Huff Post

We are currently facing the greatest threat to first class citizenship, competitiveness, economic growth, and moral fiber as a nation since segregation. A deep digital divide – a chasm between those who have and have not yet adopted broadband – exists at a critical point in our nation’s history where we are transitioning from an industrial to a digital society.

Although one-third of American adults still had yet to adopt broadband at home in 2010, nonadopters were disproportionately African American and Hispanic. The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported in 2010, for example, that an 11 point gap existed between white and African American broadband users (67 percent versus 56 percent, respectively).

The spending patterns, geographic footprints, and communications needs of people of color are the keys to success in evolving telecommunications markets, particularly in wireless, where minorities over-index in adoption. In 2010, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies published Comparative Trends in Adoption, Acceptance and Use, astudy that oversampled African Americans and Hispanic Americans to learn more about broadband adoption trends. The study found that African Americans and Hispanic Americans are more likely to go online to conduct a job search, look for religious and government benefit information, apply for government benefits, research entrepreneurial ideas to begin an online business, and transfer money.

Despite the divide between the digital haves and have-nots, there is some good news: people of color are leading the nation in wireless broadband and smartphone use to close the digital divide. But even this development is threatened by an impending spectrum crunch where demand for wireless spectrum will soon eclipse the supply, resulting in higher prices for mobile broadband users. And it’s not as if minority communities can afford the inevitable price hikes that will come from spectrum shortages – minority communities are facing depression-level unemployment and dramatically reduced household incomes.

The Racial Wealth Gap Fuels the Digital Divide

The racial wealth gap is a key factor that holds millions back from adopting broadband, for a simple reason: in most cases, a computer – and even many smartphones – can’t be bought out of income. Computers have to be bought out of savings – out of wealth. And the racial wealth gap has grown to epic proportions.

It is important that we understand why this unfair and systemic wealth gap exists: As detailed in the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council’s On the Path to the Digital Beloved Community: A Civil Rights Agenda for the Digital Age, historic race-based inequities in public policy were prevalent. These inequities included removing Native Americans from land, then parceling it for white settlers; refusing to protect minorities’ property rights; and passing laws like the 1924 Alien Land Act, which kept Asians from owning land or forming corporations. These public policies have existed since the nation’s founding and only began to be rectified in the mid-20th century – within many of our lifetimes. During their existence, they served to create a stable middle class for whites, while minorities had little to no wealth or savings.

This problem was compounded by the nation’s discriminatory social security policies. Those in certain occupations that included agricultural laborers, maids, and janitors – jobs that two-thirds of African Americans held – were not eligible for social security benefits when they retired. As a result, children and grandchildren were forced to support elders, wealth could not be put toward savings and investments, and minorities therefore relied much more heavily on credit than whites. This created a large disparity in debt to asset ratios between color lines.

By 2009, the gap separating African American households from white households had grown to 20:1, and the gap separating Hispanic from white households had grown to 18:1, according to the Pew Research Center. It is not a coincidence that the citizens who are on the other side of the digital divide – the ones who can’t afford a computer, or who access the Internet using their smartphones out of necessity, rather than choice – are the same citizens who are on the other side of the racial wealth gap. Wealth is a direct factor in determining the level of digital access that you are able to purchase.

This deep and persistent racial wealth gap is the reason our most important and influential industries – media, telecom, and broadband, which comprise one-sixth of our economy – don’t look like America, but instead are disproportionately white. The wealth gap is a significant market entry barrier that we cannot afford to ignore.

To its credit, the FCC has helped launch Connect to Compete, a partnership between corporations and nonprofits to increase broadband adoption, digital literacy, and access to equipment and training tools. But these efforts alone are far from enough to rapidly bring 100 million Americans – 37 percent of whom are people of color – online.

Minority Business Enterprises Can Bridge the Digital Divide and the Wealth Gap

One-third of our population – about 34 percent – are people of color. To put that in context, this means that people of color possess a third of the nation’s intellectual capital, a third of its entrepreneurial initiative, and a third of its inherent managerial capability.

Yet, especially in the telecom and tech industries, most of these human resources are ignored. This waste of talent is uneconomic and inefficient for America. Companies that successfully implement diversity will benefit from a broad array of talents and viewpoints that can help them serve their customers as our nation rapidly becomes majority-minority.

Minority-owned businesses use these human resources – intellectual, managerial, and entrepreneurial – every day, and they understand the needs of minority communities and are willing to invest in their future. Unfortunately, many minority-owned businesses in the telecommunications industry, such as minority broadcasters and publishers, are in crisis. As the Small Business Administration’s 2010 report to the president, The Small Business Economy, notes, “Minority-owned establishments were more likely to close than businesses owned by their nonminority…counterparts. At the same time, the rates of job creation due to the expansion of minority-owned establishments were consistently higher than those businesses owned by Caucasians.”

Minority business enterprises (MBEs) in the communications industries enhance society as a whole. By providing affordable service and equipment, as well as broadband adoption programs, public purpose media, and digital literacy training, MBEs promote first-class digital citizenship and generate wealth that stays in the minority community.

Many companies understand the importance of working with MBEs when it comes to modest subcontracting or procurement opportunities. But this is a limited view. MBEs should not be synonymous with small business. Minority entrepreneurs should have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital economy, as small entrepreneurs, as consultants, as partners with the telecom companies, and as large business owners.

Despite the FCC’s acknowledgement that diverse participation is critical to broadcasting, minority broadcast ownership levels are abysmal and shrinking fast. Between 2007 and 2009, minority full power commercial radio ownership dropped by 9 percent, and minority full power commercial television ownership dropped by one-third. But in a multicultural and multilingual society, minority media ownership is the key to serving all Americans.

Minority ownership initiatives in the communications industries, such as the Tax Certificate Policy, the Distress Sale Policy, and the Telecom Development Fund, have been dismantled. Nonetheless, many new solutions to the minority ownership crisis are on the table, and one that’s especially promising is the Media Incubator Proposal. Under this proposal, a broadcaster that finances or incubates a disadvantaged business – bringing a new voice to the marketplace – would be permitted to obtain a waiver of the ownership limits for one additional station. This race-neutral, win-win proposal has been pending before the FCC, without opposition, in six dockets for 22 years. Hopefully, this year will be the year in which the Incubator Proposal finally finds the support of its champions.

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Managing growth for my Hispanic business was tough and required a whole new skill set including managing scaled up finances, technical responsibilities and hugely increased human resource duties. Be prepared. On Tuesday, I shared some anecdotes and my thoughts on how to best manage growth. Today I am imparting six lessons I learned along the way to apply to your Hispanic business.

1. Update your business plan on a regular basis. I said this before, but I’m saying it again because as you grow, everything changes and you have to plan again as if you were just starting out. Think your progress along instead of simply being reactive.
2. As you increase the scale of your company, the marketing function becomes even more important because you need a higher level of business activity to pay all of these employees, landlords, lease holders and taxes. And if you take on new overhead to handle the new business, try to keep it flexible or get a guarantee from the new clients regarding the flow of income, otherwise you could find yourself stretched to service a client who for whatever reason suddenly has a change of plans, leaving you in the lurch with overhead to cover.
3. Don’t expect to take a whole lot of your profits home–you’ll need them for a cushion for slow periods, for newer versions of software, for employee training, for marketing and business development travel.
4. When you are an entrepreneur, you will never need a vacation more than you will as your company is growing, and it will never be harder to get away. Everyone looks to you. If you’re doing this as a couple, it may be even harder. And finding a trusted lieutenant you can leave in charge is tough. So if you do get away you’ll have to keep your trips short and check in frequently. Happily this is aided these days with smart phones and the internet, but that can mean you don’t really get away at all. I would recommend physically active vacations because while you are skiing or snorkeling or hiking in the mountains it is hard to think about anything other than what you are doing at that moment, and when you stop, you are so tired from your physical activity, you just relax.
5. You can’t be paranoid about your employees, but you can’t expect them to be angels either. So manage through coaching, check in with them regularly, be as laudatory as you can when deserved, and when innocent mistakes are made use them as a teachable moment and DO NOT YELL. When you stumble upon really good people who provide professional services to your company, stick with them, even when they switch companies. Your service will be better and you will earn their loyalty.
6. As a Hispanic business owner, you have to be careful to follow the employment verification laws even if you disapprove of them. If you want comprehensive immigration reform, work for it.

Source: http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/05/6-lessons-learned-from-managing-growth/

In addition, The Council’s 40^th anniversary celebration includes a salute to the initial 1973 minority business owners that were certified by The Council and the founding corporate members during the Business Opportunity Expo from June 19-20 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Manhattan.

In 1973, when The Council was launched, President Richard Nixon was in office.  That year, The Council certified 50 minority businesses from New York and New Jersey.  There were less than 20 Fortune 500 companies that signed on to be founding members. These early corporate members included Banker’s Trust, AT&T, NYNEX, Citibank and Con Edison.  Avon hosted The Council’s first office in their corporate headquarters.

Today, in 2013, President Barack Obama is in office. The Council has approximately 225 corporate members encompassing Fortune 500 companies, institutions and government agencies.  There are approximately 1,300 certified African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American businesses. These minority businesses have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $2 billion. In 2012, The Council’s certified minority businesses totaled over $27 billion in revenue from corporate contracts.

“Across the 40 year span of The Council, corporations have acknowledged that supplier diversity and inclusion have proven to be a financially viable business case, not only to the corporation, but to the economic stability of communities,” said Lynda Ireland, president and CEO, The Council.  Under her direction and leadership for almost 20 years, The Council certifies minority businesses to be eligible to compete for contracts with its corporate members. Through special events, business workshops and sourcing services, The Council is a conduit in creating partnerships.

The Council is an award-winning National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate. Its jurisdiction encompasses New York State, North and Central New Jersey and Trenton.

In addition, The Council’s 40^th anniversary celebration includes a salute to the initial 1973 minority business owners that were certified by The Council and the founding corporate members during the Business Opportunity Expo from June 19-20 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Manhattan.

In 1973, when The Council was launched, President Richard Nixon was in office.  That year, The Council certified 50 minority businesses from New York and New Jersey.  There were less than 20 Fortune 500 companies that signed on to be founding members. These early corporate members included Banker’s Trust, AT&T, NYNEX, Citibank and Con Edison.  Avon hosted The Council’s first office in their corporate headquarters.

Today, in 2013, President Barack Obama is in office. The Council has approximately 225 corporate members encompassing Fortune 500 companies, institutions and government agencies.  There are approximately 1,300 certified African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American businesses. These minority businesses have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $2 billion. In 2012, The Council’s certified minority businesses totaled over $27 billion in revenue from corporate contracts.

“Across the 40 year span of The Council, corporations have acknowledged that supplier diversity and inclusion have proven to be a financially viable business case, not only to the corporation, but to the economic stability of communities,” said Lynda Ireland, president and CEO, The Council.  Under her direction and leadership for almost 20 years, The Council certifies minority businesses to be eligible to compete for contracts with its corporate members. Through special events, business workshops and sourcing services, The Council is a conduit in creating partnerships.

The Council is an award-winning National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate. Its jurisdiction encompasses New York State, North and Central New Jersey and Trenton.

In addition, The Council’s 40^th anniversary celebration includes a salute to the initial 1973 minority business owners that were certified by The Council and the founding corporate members during the Business Opportunity Expo from June 19-20 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Manhattan.

In 1973, when The Council was launched, President Richard Nixon was in office.  That year, The Council certified 50 minority businesses from New York and New Jersey.  There were less than 20 Fortune 500 companies that signed on to be founding members. These early corporate members included Banker’s Trust, AT&T, NYNEX, Citibank and Con Edison.  Avon hosted The Council’s first office in their corporate headquarters.

Today, in 2013, President Barack Obama is in office. The Council has approximately 225 corporate members encompassing Fortune 500 companies, institutions and government agencies.  There are approximately 1,300 certified African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American businesses. These minority businesses have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $2 billion. In 2012, The Council’s certified minority businesses totaled over $27 billion in revenue from corporate contracts.

“Across the 40 year span of The Council, corporations have acknowledged that supplier diversity and inclusion have proven to be a financially viable business case, not only to the corporation, but to the economic stability of communities,” said Lynda Ireland, president and CEO, The Council.  Under her direction and leadership for almost 20 years, The Council certifies minority businesses to be eligible to compete for contracts with its corporate members. Through special events, business workshops and sourcing services, The Council is a conduit in creating partnerships.

The Council is an award-winning National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate. Its jurisdiction encompasses New York State, North and Central New Jersey and Trenton.

SOURCE: http://www.sys-con.com/node/2650403

NEW YORK, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council (The Council) will celebrate its 40^th anniversary throughout 2013 with special events and programs examining The Council’s direct impact in developing economic partnerships between New York and New Jersey metro area minority businesses and Fortune 500 companies, institutions and government agencies.

In addition, The Council’s 40^th anniversary celebration includes a salute to the initial 1973 minority business owners that were certified by The Council and the founding corporate members during the Business Opportunity Expo from June 19-20 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Manhattan.

In 1973, when The Council was launched, President Richard Nixon was in office.  That year, The Council certified 50 minority businesses from New York and New Jersey.  There were less than 20 Fortune 500 companies that signed on to be founding members. These early corporate members included Banker’s Trust, AT&T, NYNEX, Citibank and Con Edison.  Avon hosted The Council’s first office in their corporate headquarters.

Today, in 2013, President Barack Obama is in office. The Council has approximately 225 corporate members encompassing Fortune 500 companies, institutions and government agencies.  There are approximately 1,300 certified African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American businesses. These minority businesses have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $2 billion. In 2012, The Council’s certified minority businesses totaled over $27 billion in revenue from corporate contracts.

“Across the 40 year span of The Council, corporations have acknowledged that supplier diversity and inclusion have proven to be a financially viable business case, not only to the corporation, but to the economic stability of communities,” said Lynda Ireland , president and CEO, The Council.  Under her direction and leadership for almost 20 years, The Council certifies minority businesses to be eligible to compete for contracts with its corporate members. Through special events, business workshops and sourcing services, The Council is a conduit in creating partnerships.

The Council is an award-winning National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate. Its jurisdiction encompasses New York State, North and Central New Jersey and Trenton.

SOURCE New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

Nathalia Ortiz began her career as an intern at Univision network in Miami in 2000. She parlayed that into a steady position as production assistant for a national dance/music show called “Caliente”; all while attending Florida International University. She received her BS in Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. She earned the “Employee of the Year” award after her first year in the company and eventually became one of the main producers for coordinating national and international productions.

Some of her earliest work on-camera includes reporting for several Univision network shows; among these the fast-paced teen magazine show, “Control” and a regular segment on “Caliente”.

In 2005 she became part of one of Univision’s Special Events department. Nathalia was entrusted with essential aspects of live events including Univision’s premiere award show, “Premio Lo Nuestro”, “Latin Grammys”, and “Premios Juventud”, for which she was part of the original production team.

Nathalia decided to shift her focus completely to journalism in 2006. She became the weekend reporter for WLTV, Univision’s local station in Miami. She covered events such as President Bush’s visit to Miami and issues regarding Cuban political affairs, local crime and politics.

She moved to New York City in late 2008 to report for News12 and shortly after joined NET (the Catholic cable channel of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens) as reporter and fill-in co-anchor of “Currents”. In 2011 Nathalia created the Hispanic Media department for “De Sales Media”, the media company of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. In this role, Nathalia lead the launch of Spanish-language print and digital entities as part of an initiative to serve the Catholic Hispanic community in greater New York City.

At the end of 2012 Nathalia joined Telemundo-Nueva York as co-anchor of the new live morning show “Buenos Días Nueva York”. Nathalia is the co-hosts on a daily basis, from 6 to 7 am, covering topics that include health, wellness, technology, cooking, politics and community affairs. Besides journalism and TV production, her passions include ballet, fashion, wine-tasting and entrepreneurship.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of public affairs and government relations for Nielsen, a global leader in measurement and information that measures what consumers watch and buy in more than 100 countries around the world. She holds responsibility for widening the scope of the company’s government, community, and corporate social responsibility programs across the United States; oversees the company’s national multicultural advertising strategy; works to expand public outreach efforts across the company’s businesses; and is the visionary behind Nielsen’s award-winning annual African-American Consumer Report. She previously served as senior vice president of communications in support of Nielsen Consumer North America and prior to that role served as the vice president of public affairs.

Prior to Nielsen, Cheryl was an executive for the NBC affiliate in Chicago, and headed the marketing and communications departments for several multi-million dollar non-profit organizations, including, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, The YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and the Girl Scouts.

She serves on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. She is a former board member of the Museum of Broadcast and Communications and Chicago Foundation for Women. She is co-chair of the Executive’s Club of Chicago’s Civic Committee; the Network of Executive Women’s Executive Leaders Forum’s Steering Committee and serves as a mentor for the University of Chicago’s Harris School for Public Policy mentor program.

Cheryl has won numerous awards and honors. In 2012, Purdue University named her a Distinguished Alumna; was featured in Essence Magazine; NBC’s the Grio.com included her in its “2012 Class of 100 Americans Making History Today”; and Target Market News named her “Executive of the Year.” The Chicago Tribune profiled her in its weekly “Remarkable Person” feature and she has been featured in other numerous national, regional and local magazines and publications.

Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Purdue University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management.  Cheryl can be reached at cheryl.pearson-mcneil@nielsen.com or via Twitter @Powerfulpenny.

Take your business to the next level!

7 Key Benefits:

1. BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS!
Learn the best ideas in minority business development and selling to purchasing entities.

2. ACCESS TO SUCCESS!
Meeting well-connected people is the most valuable aspect of the Business Opportunity Expo. Meet hundreds of industry executives and minority business owners…. Professionals like yourself.

3. INFORMATION-PACKED SESSIONS!
Cutting edge workshops to hone your skills.

4. NETWORK FOR BIGGER OPPORTUNITIES!
Build your business or improve your corporate purchasing activity by meeting with the people you need to know to get your job done.

5. PARTICIPATE IN THE TRADESHOW: CONDUCT BIG BUSINESS!
The alternative– spend the entire year trying to catch up. As an exhibitor or walk-through participant, the more than 100-booth trade show is designed just for you. There is no substitute for face-to-face contact.

6. GET THE BEST BUSINESS VALUE FOR YOUR $$$!
The full conference registration fee includes Conference materials, all program sessions, meal functions, Business Opportunity Fair and special events. There is no additional charge!

7. RECHARGE!
Attend the region’s benchmark forum on minority business development and return to your workplace bursting with new ideas, contacts and enthusiasm.