Where can I find minority or female-owned event companies?
Supporting companies owned by female or ethnic minority entrepreneurs is nothing new, but it is part of what the government calls being a good corporate citizen. And many companies have policies in place for doing a percentage of business per year with such companies.
If you’re looking for these types of vendor firms—often called minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women business enterprises (WBEs)—a number of independent organizations offer directories of vendors if you join their network and pay membership fees for access to the information in their databases.If you’re looking for MBEs, the National Minority Supplier Development Council is one of the largest independent organizations for minority business certification. (Membership dues vary; the New York and New Jersey affiliate fee is $3,000 per year.) Members can search the council’s online database where you can find companies like event planning firm Events Unlimited Inc. or brand marketing agency Crystal McKenzie Inc.. You can also find other event companies at one of the many trade fairs the nonprofit regularly hosts. The NMSDC also has training programs that show how to be innovative with diversity development.
For WBEs, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and the National Women Business Owners Corporation are the notable associations. Both certify vendors, and the WBENC requires companies to purchase memberships in order to search its database for qualified firms. Fees ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 are based on a company’s reported revenue. Companies registered with the WBENC include graphic design firm Desai Communications and the recently certified, Florida-based yacht and cruise ship charter and meeting management company Landry & Kling Meetings at Sea. There are national conferences and business fairs for networking, and the WBENC runs an online marketplace where companies can post opportunities for WBEs.
Want to hit two birds with one stone? Both the Minority Business Network and Diversity Information Resources Inc. operate online directories of MBEs and WBEs. The former also offers free membership to an online community of companies, allowing corporate buyers and minority- and women-owned suppliers to network with one another, while the latter publishes an annual directory of suppliers as well as guidebooks with a calendar of related events.
Supporting companies owned by female or ethnic minority entrepreneurs is nothing new, but it is part of what the government calls being a good corporate citizen. And many companies have policies in place for doing a percentage of business per year with such companies.
If you’re looking for these types of vendor firms—often called minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women business enterprises (WBEs)—a number of independent organizations offer directories of vendors if you join their network and pay membership fees for access to the information in their databases.If you’re looking for MBEs, the National Minority Supplier Development Council is one of the largest independent organizations for minority business certification. (Membership dues vary; the New York and New Jersey affiliate fee is $3,000 per year.) Members can search the council’s online database where you can find companies like event planning firm Events Unlimited Inc. or brand marketing agency Crystal McKenzie Inc.. You can also find other event companies at one of the many trade fairs the nonprofit regularly hosts. The NMSDC also has training programs that show how to be innovative with diversity development.
For WBEs, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and the National Women Business Owners Corporation are the notable associations. Both certify vendors, and the WBENC requires companies to purchase memberships in order to search its database for qualified firms. Fees ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 are based on a company’s reported revenue. Companies registered with the WBENC include graphic design firm Desai Communications and the recently certified, Florida-based yacht and cruise ship charter and meeting management company Landry & Kling Meetings at Sea. There are national conferences and business fairs for networking, and the WBENC runs an online marketplace where companies can post opportunities for WBEs.
Want to hit two birds with one stone? Both the Minority Business Network and Diversity Information Resources Inc. operate online directories of MBEs and WBEs. The former also offers free membership to an online community of companies, allowing corporate buyers and minority- and women-owned suppliers to network with one another, while the latter publishes an annual directory of suppliers as well as guidebooks with a calendar of related events.
