Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to Join MBDA and NMSDC for 2017 National MED Week and NMSDC Business Conference in Detroit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today announced that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will participate in the 2017 National Minority Enterprise Development Week celebration and National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in Detroit. Secretary Ross will provide remarks during the keynote luncheon today at the Cobo Center in Detroit.  

National MED Week is an annual week-long observance led by MBDA that honors the outstanding achievements and leadership of minority-owned firms, organizations and advocates from across the Nation. This year, President Donald J. Trump proclaimed National MED Week October 22-28.

MBDA will host their 35^th annual National MED Week in conjunction with the 2017 NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange in Detroit. The conference and business exchange provides a platform for attendees to network and exchange information, tools and resources to grow and scale their businesses locally and globally with a specific focus on minority supplier development. 

This year, MBDA Acting National Director Christopher Garcia will recognize the 2017 MED Week Award Winners during the NMSDC Power Breakfast today.

"We're excited to welcome Secretary Ross to our 2017 National MED Week celebration. His presence signifies this administration's unwavering commitment to the minority business community, and the Motor City is absolutely the perfect place to spotlight America's economic revitalization," said Director Garcia.  "We're also thrilled to reaffirm our commitment to working with NMSDC. Through this partnership, we're able to provide not just dynamic programming for businesses, but also greater access to high-level business development opportunities to grow their businesses and facilitate long-term economic growth and prosperity for the Nation."

The annual NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange attracts more than 6,000 corporate CEOs, procurement executives, business leaders and supplier diversity professionals from the top multinational companies, international organizations and minority firms.

"Our 2017 Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange will focus on fueling economic growth for corporate members and minority business owners to take advantage of opportunities for commerce and overall business growth. When the U.S. nears the point where minorities comprise greater than 50 percent of the population, the need for strong minority-owned businesses in national and global supply chains will be vital to the health of our growing economy," said Louis Green, Interim President of NMSDC.

The MED Week programming and NMSDC Conference will feature exhibits, workshops, panel discussions and "Powered by MBDA" sessions on topics such as Hurricane Disaster Recovering and Rebuilding Opportunities, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Boot Camps, Winning Federal Contracts, Going Global: New Markets, Fueling Company Growth, Protecting Your Business Enterprise, Technology and the Supply Chain and more.

For a full schedule of NMSDC events and "Powered by MBDA" sessions visit nmsdcconference.com The MBDA booth number is #752 and is located inside of the Cobo Center.

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is an operating bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. Established in 1969, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that provide greater access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.

About NMSDC
The NMSDC advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and connects them to corporate members. One of the country's leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. The NMSDC Network includes a National Office in New York and 23 affiliate regional councils across the country. The network also includes five international partner organizations located in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China and South Africa. To meet the growing need for supplier diversity, NMSDC matches its nearly 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to our network of more than 1,400 corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. NMSDC, a unique and specialized player in the field of minority business enterprise, is proud of its unwavering commitment to advance Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American suppliers in a globalized corporate supply chain. For more information, visit www.NMSDC.org.

Contact: Dijon Rolle
Phone: (202) 482-1375
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.mbda.gov  
Fax: (202) 482-5117

SOURCE Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

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