|
|
|
|
Construction
Partnering Program (CPP)
The
Construction Partnering Program managed by MEDA and the Association
of Women Contractors is in the match making business. With 11
successful partnerships under its belt, including the wildly
successful Thor Construction with M.A. Mortenson, the CPP announces
its latest match - Hispanic-owned Stripe Right (www.striperight.com) and Carciofini
Company. The smaller business, owned and operated by David
Casas, partners with Carciofini as it grows its infrastructure and
learns how to bid and perform on larger jobs. Right now they
are working on the University of Minnesota Bioscience Building doing
caulking and masonry and another project is coming up soon with the
Minneapolis Children's Hospital with Knutson Construction as general.
Founded in the Twin Cities in 1975, Carciofini has built a reputation
as an expert in the fields of sealants and expansion
joints. Carciofini's President, Frank P. Grazzini says,
" Our model is simple - take care of our customers at all
times. Our involvement with the CPP is to help encourage
small disadvantaged companies to further their development.
We're excited to be involved."
Dave Casas and
Frank Grazzini Jr. at the CPP Open House.
The
CPP is responsible for partnerships at work on many major public and
private projects, among them the Regions Hospital expansion, Guthrie
on the River, the Wellstone Center, the 494 bridge project, the
Minneapolis Central Library and Medtronic's Mounds View Campus.
The program helps small minority- and woman owned businesses become
businesses of scale that create new quality jobs and make a higher
economic impact.
|
|
Board Spotlight 
Corey
Peters
Vice President
of Finance United HealthCare
Corey
first joined the MEDA Board of Directors in 2006 when the foundation
staff at RBC Wealth Management offered it as a good option for
community involvement. They thought it would fit him
since, besides his job as an RBC executive, he and his wife ran a
dating service business in Seattle, Washington. Although
he now works on the commercial business side of United Healthcare as
VP of Finance, he remained on the MEDA board because he connects and
identifies with MEDA clients. He also lives a small business owner's
life every day.
"I find it especially rewarding when I see MEDA helping a new
American who came to this country with limited resources and who then
just went out and did it - opened a business and started growing
it," says Corey. "It's really an inspiring
organization to be involved in."
He
thinks the most important role MEDA plays is serving its clients one
at a time because the "biggest thing is to sit down and talk
things through, to have an ear of experience that an entrepreneur can
bounce ideas off of... sometimes you get so involved that you
are too close to your business and need objective opinions."
Corey's
advice to MEDA clients right now is to be cautious, stick to your
core business and execute your business plan. "Look
at growth from a conservative standpoint and really analyze your risk
carefully."
MEDA
thanks Corey for contributing his time and talent to our board and
also to our clients; he starts next week as a mentor to a growing
distribution business!
|
|
|
MEDA Employee Spotlight 
Mark
Cooper joined MEDA in 2005 bringing with him a wealth of business
experience. He has been an entrepreneur, a corporate buyer and
a diversity manager. He even did a stint as the Chair of the
then Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council. Now he
serves all Minnesota businesses as an Area Manager for MEDA's
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).
"Right
now there is a flurry of activity at PTAC, and I attribute that to
the downturn in the economy. Many businesses are losing
commercial accounts and are trying to replace them with other sectors
of business. They are approaching government contracting as an
opportunity, especially with the economic stimulus funding on its
way," says Cooper.
His
responsibility now as a PTAC area manager is to introduce businesses
to government contracting, from teaching the basics to follow up,
with additional consulting on details. Mark's advice to
potential clients remains the same offered prior to our current
economic situation. "Government contracting opportunities
are out there, with more coming. But don't expect a quick
sale. You have to think long term and scope out all of the
rules, regulations and procurement laws. The opportunities are
there, but you must educate yourself, be professional and persistent
in order to get them." If you want to learn more, check
out the PTAC website - www.ptac-meda.net or contact Mark
Cooper at 612-259-6578 or mcooper@meda.net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
Accomplishment
Your Return on Investment
Based on the value of new
jobs created through business starts, loans portfolio clients and
Pacesetter job growth, MEDA returns a minimum of $11 of
economic impact for every $1
invested.
|
|
2008
Accomplishment
Year
In Review
MEDA's 2008 preliminary
outcomes are as follows:
· 570
clients served; 155 new to MEDA (27%);
· 12,000 hours
of direct client service
· 20
MEDA-assisted start-ups, projecting $13.2 million in first year
revenues and creating
220 new jobs
· 16 private/public
projects utilizing MEDA Construction
· 21 active
mentoring relationships
· $940,000
of new loans through the MEDA Loan Program
and another $10.4
million secured from areas banks, creating 20 new
jobs
and sustaining
over 160 additional positions
· MEDA's
Loan Portfolio clients employ 420 w/average weighted wages of $20/hr
· 96
government contracts awarded to entrepreneurs of color for $141 million
· 4,373 volunteer hours
augmented our capacity to serve our clients
· A completed perception survey to help us better connect with the
community
|
|
Upcoming Events
PACESETTER NEXT STEPS SERIES
Tuesday,
February 17
8:30 a.m. -
12 p.m.
Location Changed
- Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP
_____________________
2009
PTAC
Training Series
helping
all Minnesota businesses
pursue government
contracts
ADVANCED CONTRACTING SERIES: A
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
February 24th
- Moorhead
Doing Business with the Corps of Engineers.
February 24th
- Bloomington
Doing Business with the State of Minnesota.
February 26th
- St.
Cloud
Introduction to Government Contracting.
March 4th - Alexandria
Selling to the Government - Advanced Successful
Strategies.
March 5th - Alexandria
GSA Schedules and More: A Business Perspective.
_______________________
Executive
Development Series (EDS)
May 13th, 2009
July
30, 2009
Mary K. Brainerd
President
& CEO HealthPartners
Register (612) 332-6332
|
|
