New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council's Business Opportunity Expo 2008 Hits Manhattan from June 2-3

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 29, 2008 -- Methods for minority businesses to network their way to booming sales will be explored at the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council's Business Opportunity Expo 2008 held from June 2-3 at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway in New York City.

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Commissioner John Egan of the New York State Office of General Services will be cutting the ribbon to open the Trade Fair section of the Expo on June 3 at 9:15 a.m. "Governor Jon Corzine and Commissioner John Egan committing to participate in this major Expo on minority business ownership, shows that New York and New Jersey have a vested interest in the growth of minority businesses," stated Lynda Ireland, president & CEO of New York & New Jersey.

"Governor Corzine's presence cements the relationship between The Council and the administrative efforts to revamp New Jersey's minority and women business enterprise program. The Council is recognized as a force providing direction and participation on minority business enterprise inclusion in New Jersey," said Ireland. "We are currently working to arrange for a Memo of Understanding with New Jersey accepting our certification, as we currently have with the State of New York."

Dr. Randal Pinkett, founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, who is nationally known as the season four winner of NBC's "The Apprentice," will be the keynote speaker at the Power Breakfast on June 3 at 8:00 a.m. Dr. Pinkett, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-educated Rhodes Scholar and author of No-Money Down CEO: How to Start Your Dream Business with Little or No Cash, is also a New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council certified minority business owner. His company, BCT Partners, is a multimillion-dollar, management, technology and policy consulting services firm based in Newark, NJ.

The Council's Business Opportunity Expo is considered New York City's top conference on major private, public and foreign-owned firms outsourcing to minority businesses. This year's theme, Maximize Your Network to Increase Your Net Worth, examines the impact of networking in growing a business. There will be workshops on making the perfect business pitch; fine-tuning networking techniques; building your circle of influence; presenting solution-based proposals; and positioning supplier diversity as a profit center.

The Expo attracts the nation's leading supplier diversity executives. At the Expo, corporate members and Council-certified African American, Asian, and Hispanic and Native American business owners will have the opportunity to strategize, meet and negotiate during two days packed with educational workshops, luncheons, networking receptions and a major trade fair. The 2008 Expo is chaired by corporate co-chair Theresa Harrison, director of supplier diversity, Ernst & Young and minority business enterprise co-chair Anthony S. Kendall, vice chairman of client services, Mitchell & Titus.

This year's Construction Summit at the Expo will feature the symposium Are Your Green Enough for Us?/or LEED Certified? This green symposium, directed at minority business owners, will present the latest practices that reduce waste and increase value in the building and construction services.

"The Council is pleased to have Dr. Pinkett, one of our Council-certified MBEs, as a keynote speaker with this year's Expo. Dr. Pinkett's outstanding business practices and advocacy of entrepreneurship is inspirational," stated Ireland. "We are also excited about the green symposium at the Construction Summit. It's important that our construction MBEs be attuned to utilizing green trends and practices in their business."

On June 2, Jennifer Openshaw, the author of The Millionaire Zone, will be the keynote speaker for the Sponsors' Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. She is the CEO of Openshaw's Family Financial Network and is heard nationwide on ABC Radio. Monica Morales of WNBC NewsChannel 4 will host the luncheon.

Other keynote speakers include Craig Clayton, Sr., founder and CEO of The Spartacus Group, which specializes in managing corporate diversity, at the Welcome Breakfast on June 2 at 8:30 AM. In addition, Mike Jones, president of Discover Leadership Training and a former highly decorated Houston police officer, will speak at the Networking Luncheon at 12:00 noon on June 3.

"Networking has increased many bottom lines for both our corporate members and minority businesses," said Ireland. "In fact, networking has helped The Council achieve major collaborations with The State of New York and The City of New York. Through Memos of Understanding with the city and state governments, The Council's certification is readily accepted and our certified minority business owners have the ability to directly bid for state and city contracts."

For more information on The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council's Business Opportunity Expo 2008 Maximize your Network to Increase your Net Worth, please call 212-502-5663 or visit the website at www.nynjmsdc.org

ABOUT THE COUNCIL:

The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. identifies minority suppliers; certifies bona-fide minority business enterprises; and facilitates procurement opportunities between Corporate America and Council-certified minority suppliers. That supplier group includes Asian Indian-American, Asian Pacific-American, African-American, Hispanic- American and Native-American businesses located throughout downstate New York (Albany and below) and Northern and Central New Jersey including Trenton. The Council's corporate membership consists of the largest private, public and foreign-owned firms; in addition to government agencies and educational institutions.

http://www.nynjmsdc.org

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