Diverse Vendor Certification Do I Need It? & How To Get It.

1. Diverse Vendor Certification Do I Need It? & How To Get It.

2. Moderator and Speakers • G. Nancy Allen • President & CEO, Women’s Business Development Council of Florida • Desiree Hanson • Supplier Diversity Coordinator, Moffitt Cancer Center • President West Coast Chapter of FMSDC • Dana Hill • Sr. Manager, Supplier Diversity, Florida Blue

3. Objective • Educate diverse business community on value of certification through nationally recognized certifying bodies such as: • National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) • Regional Council Business Fair, Orlando: August 15-17 • National Conference, Denver: October 28-31 • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) • National Conference, Orlando: June 19-21

4. Networks at a Glance • WBENC • 14 Regional Partners • Over 500 corporate members at the regional and national level.  • The majority of the Fortune 1000 accept WBENC certification • Processing of WOSB applications for Federal Contracts • www.wbenc.org – National • www.womensbusiness.info- Regional • NMSDC • 36 U.S. Regional Councils • 3,500 corporate members • 16,000 MBE’s • $100 billion spent with MBE’s • National Certification • www.nmsdc.org - National • www.cnfmsdc.org - Regional

5. Should You Certify? • Why are you in business? • What/Who is your target market? • National or Regional • Are you prepared to open your business records? • Ability to be certified must be proved by applicant • Are you prepared to take advantage of the marketing opportunities? • Do you have the capability and capacity to service a large corporate account

6. Shared Certification Benefits • Access • Access to marketing opportunities • Corporate Close Up meetings • Matchmaker meetings • Networking • Over 16,000 MBE’s and 10,000+ WBEs in the national database • Local, regional, and national referrals • Chapter Meetings • Knowledge • One on one coaching/consulting • Executive Training • Educational opportunities and scholarships available to universities and colleges • Access to resources through local, regional, national and international partner organizations

7. Overview of Certification Process

8. Certification Criteria - NMSDC • Business is for-profit enterprise • Business is at least 51% ethnic minority owned. Ethnic minority owned is defined as any business having owner(s) belonging to the following minority groups: African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian, Asian Indian, Pacific Islander and Native-American • Minority/ethnic owner(s) must be U.S. Citizens • Minority/ethnic owner(s) must operate, manage and control the firm on an daily basis

9. Certification Criteria - WBENC • 51% ownership by a woman or women. • Proof of effective management of the business (operating position, by-laws, hire-fire and other decision-making role.) • Control of the business as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases and contracts. • US Citizenship or US Resident Alien Status

10. Groups Not Certifiable • Green card holders and/or *Resident Aliens • Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) • Asia Minor Region (Peninsula between the Black Sea & the Mediterranean • Persian Gulf (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.) • Europe • Northern Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, etc.) *Resident Aliens acceptable to WBENC

11. Council receives Application. • Application Received Letter is sent to applicant. • Desk audit • Additional Documentation Required Checklist • Follow up calls and e-mails are made to firm as needed. • Once all documents are received, file moves to the Review Process by the Certification Specialist • Schedule appointment to interview firm’s majority owner(s). • Certification Specialist conducts a site review of the business facility. • Cross check information provided on the application during the site visit. • Certification manager prepares Board Report with the recommendation from the Committee Members and makes the final decision. • Once approved, Letter & Certificate is mailed and applicant is invited to the New Supplier Orientation • If applicant is denied, denial letter is sent to applicant which explains the appeal process • Certification Specialist reviews file to ensure candidate meets the NMSDC /WBENC Certification Standards • If additional items are needed from applicant, Certification staff will contact applicant by email and/or telephone • Once complete, Certification Specialist will schedule an on-site visit with applicant. • Certification Committee Members review files and ensures that the applicant meets and demonstrates control, ownership and management. • If Committee members request additional documentation, Certification staffer will notify applicant and presented at the next review. • Done prior to Site Visit for WBENC • Review Application & Documentation • Complete Application & Documentation • Site Visit • Board Review & Approval • Review Application & Documentation Certification Process

12. Committee Review • Comprised of an odd number (no less than 5) of corporate members in good standing. • The purpose of the Certification Committee is to determine whether companies are in fact owned, operated and controlled by the ethnic or gender group identified. • Confidentiality Agreement • It is the responsibility of the applicant (MBE/WBE) to prove to the certification committee that it meets the requirement, rather than the responsibility of the certification committee to prove they do not meet the criteria.

13. Denial • Council will inform the applicant in writing of the Board’s decision, including the reason for denial and its right to appeal. • If the applicant disagrees with the decision, applicant may initiate an Appeal by writing a letter to the Council President within thirty (30) days of denial or termination.

14. Reasons for Denying • Insufficient evidence that minority owner(s) directs policies of the business and make day-to-day decisions. • Insufficient evidence that the Board of Directors is under control of the minority group member(s). • Insufficient evidence that the firm is controlled by minorities. • Insufficient evidence that stock is under control of minorities. • Insufficient evidence that applicant demonstrates managerial control. • Evidence that a contractual relationship exist with ah non-minority group member that allows said individual to control the corporation. • The minority firm maintains a substantial relationship with a non-minority firm in the same or similar line of business, including the following: -Equity ownership -Management -Inter-firm transactions, including sale from the same inventories, common use of machines or equipment and common sales representatives. -Sharing office or manufacturing facilities -The use of common employees • A non-minority is the recipient of financial benefits that are not commensurate with the duties performed. • The minority business owner does not hold the highest officer position in the company. • Applicant individual was unable to document his/her ethnic origin. • Applicant individual was unable to demonstrate U.S. Citizenship. • Resident Alien status expired (WBENC applicable only) • Failure to submit required documents.

15. Appeal Hearing • Applicant is permitted to elaborate or explain their submission but under no circumstance can new, modified or additional materials be submitted as part of the appeals process. • After hearing or reviewing the evidence presented by the applicant, the Certification Committee can recommend to: uphold the denial; or advise Certification staff to issue a certification. • Decision of the Appeal’s process by the Board is final. • Applicant can reapply after one year from the date of certification denial. • Both Local and National appeals process

16. Questions & Answers

17. Contact Information • Nancy Allen • nancyallen@womensbusiness.info • www.womensbusiness.info • (305) 971-9473 • Desiree Hanson • desiree.hanson@moffitt.org • http://www.moffitt.org/supplierdiversity • (813) 745-7810 • Dana Hill • Dana.hill@bcbsfl.com • www.bcbsfl.com/supplierdiversity • (904) 905-0266