SCMSDC’s Gateway Conference was the place to be for minority entrepreneurs interested in taking their business to the next level and corporations and other organizations committed to partnering with diverse suppliers to enhance their competitive position.

Held March 14 and 15 at the Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry, the event was the council’s biggest networking event of the year, attracting corporate representatives and minority business enterprises (MBEs) over two days.

The conference combined for the first time two major council events — the Minority Business Opportunity Day (MBOD) expo and Supplier of the Year (SOTY) awards — into one action-packed affair.

“The Gateway Conference expanded networking opportunities for all attendees and brought together our two most exciting events into one convenient venue,” said SCMSDC President Virginia Gomez. “By all accounts, it delivered on its promise to open doors for minority entrepreneurs.”

The first day of the conference focused on supplier development to increase MBEs’ business acumen, followed by an evening reception for additional networking opportunities. Day 2 featured the MBOD expo; industry forums, which provided an in-depth look at what it takes to do business with certain industries; and a celebratory SOTY awards reception and dinner.

Day 1 – engaging workshops/seminars

The supplier development workshops had something for everyone — covering such topics as how to lead others, the nuts and bolts of hiring quality employees, effective social media strategies and how to empower yourself and others. There was also a frank discussion on what it takes to have a successful partnership with corporate members. Here’s a rundown on the workshops:

• SCE EDGE Workshop – “Business Leadership: Becoming an Effective Leader” – Led by LaSonya Berry of McPherson, Berry and Associates, Southern California Edison’s popular supplier development program was aimed at helping MBEs create and accomplish their personal best and better manage their companies.

• Real Talk…Do You Want to Know the Truth?– Moderated by Reginald Williams of Procurement Resources, Inc., panelists included Michael De La Cruz, Group O Inc.; Jason Trimiew, Facebook; Mark Cordova, Cordova Bolt; and Vaughn Williams, Southern California Gas Co. They candidly shared their views on how to get in the door at their companies and said trends in supplier diversity include collaborative engagement, cost reduction/avoidance, supply chain optimization, sustainability (products/services) and ensuring stakeholder/shareholder value. Trimiew, who recently launched Facebook’s Supplier Diversity Program, said, “Everyone at Facebook is a buyer and can engage with a potential buyer.”

• Labor Laws Every Professional Should Know — Kristen Nesbit, an employment law expert and a partner at the Los Angeles law firm, Fisher & Phillips, covered what all business owners need to know about employment law to avoid legal problems, ranging from employee schedules to wage statements and timekeeping practices.

• Leadership & Influence: How to Empower & Succeed — Ryan Patel,former vice president of Global Real Estate & Business Development at Pinkberry, said that to grow a brand, long-term planning, scalability and accepting critical feedback are needed. He also talked about “the importance of empowering yourself and others and taking advantage of an interconnected network.”

• Status Matters: Elevate Your Social Media Strategy — Margaret Hernandez Brown, founder and chief digital strategist of Socialize LA, a digital marketing and social media strategy firm, focused her presentation on building a social media presence that increases a company’s visibility, credibility and likability. She stressed the importance of posting regularly on social media sites to connect with potential customers and stay top-of-mind. “People want to know you’re active,” she said.

Day 2 – MBOD expo, industry forums and SOTY awards dinner

Following an SCE EDGE Workshop on “Hiring and Onboarding Talent” with Berry in the morning, MBOD’s ceremonial ribbon-cutting took place before the doors opened to the MBOD expo.

The four-hour expo attracted corporate representatives from a wide range of industries for the sole purpose of engaging with diverse suppliers for potential business opportunities. Booth after booth, business cards were exchanged among diverse suppliers and representatives from Who’s Who in Corporate America with commitments to follow-up after the event.

After the expo, instead of the traditional one-on-one matchmaking held at past MBODs, this year’s conference piloted a cluster of industry forums open to all interested parties. This new Q&A session expanded the communication and information exchange among MBEs and specific corporations in the construction, healthcare, entertainment and utility industries.

Moderated by Williams, the industry forums included the following panelists:

• Construction: Robert Lowry, Swinerton; Priscilla Chavez, PCL Construction; Sophia Cavalli, Balfour Beatty; Michelle Smith-Ballard, Turner Construction. The panelists discussed the challenging bonding and safety requirements MBEs need to meet to win contracts, and the importance of learning what their companies are buying and differentiating your services.

• Healthcare: Jillnell Joiner, American Red Cross; Andaye Hill-Espinoza, Kaiser Permanente; Mario Munoz, Anthem. Williams said attendees need to consider how their services can lead to improved patient outcomes. Munoz also recommended that MBEs practice their sales pitch and focus on value-added services.

• Entertainment: Melanie Gunn, Time Warner; Ben Tubuo, The Walt Disney Company; Aura McCracken-Byrd, Comcast NBCUniversal. McCracken-Byrd said when working with entertainment companies, “it’s important not to bite off more than you can chew.”

• Utilities: Emma Maxey, Golden State Water; Michelle Chieks, SoCalGas; Dennis Thurston, Southern California Edison; Ken Ashford, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Williams noted that California utilities are ranked among the best in diverse spend, with several utilities exceeding 45 percent with minority, women and service disabled firms. Thurston encouraged attendees to take advantage of the council’s services and networking events to grow their businesses.

The evening concluded with the rousing SOTY awards dinner in which minority entrepreneurs were celebrated for their outstanding achievements.