The Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC), one of the 23 regional councils in the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) network, has been experiencing a revival of sorts over the past three years. During this period our signature events have been restructured and reformatted to add efficiency and vitality while remaining relevant to our cause. We have experienced unprecedented growth among our corporate supporters, while adding world-class talent to our operational team. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the revival is that most companies and organizations that have joined our cause, are either doing supplier diversity for the first time ever, or revitalizing programs that were stalled. A few of our most recognizable new supporters are AirBnB, Google, The Gap Inc., Saleforce.com, The Las Vegas Golden Knights.  

We have also developed wonderful partnerships with mainstream media outlets such as the San Francisco Business Times, who printed the Bay Area’s first List of Top Companies for Supplier Diversity, and our local San Francisco CBS Television affiliate, KPIX, who interviewed us on air.  Additionally, we were a partner  with the Northwest and Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Councils in what we believe was the network’s first Tri-Council connection event, bringing corporations and MBEs from each constituency together on a single day, saving thousands in travel & entertainment costs while also meeting the businesses objectives of all participants.  

Finally, we are proud to see growth among our MBEs with 41 MBEs moving up a class in 2018.  What’s to come for 2019? Our answer is: More of the same! We will continue to recruit new companies and organizations to start buying from MBEs, seeking new relationships with mainstream media outlets, and delivering excellent capacity building and continuous learning programs to the MBE community. Our primary goal is merging economic development in communities of color with supply chain excellence. We believe we are on the right path, and hope that any companies who understand the importance and value of economic inclusion will reach out and join us. www.wrmsdc.org