Chatham Business Association Hosts Contractors at QBG Foundation
Posted on 25. May, 2012 by citizen in Chatham, Local News
Rev. Larry Bullock, president/CEO of the Suburban Minority Contractors Association (SMCA) addresses contractors at a special joint SMCA meeting with the Chatham Business Association at the QBG Foundation on Friday. (L to R ) Melinda Kelly, executive director, Chatham Business Association, Edward McKinney, president, Black Contractors United and Rev. Larry Bullock. (Photo by Thelma Sardin)
Chatham Business Association (CBA) and Black Contractors United hosted Suburban Minority Contractors Association’s (SMCA) monthly meeting on Thursday morning at the QBG Foundation.
Earlier this month, at CBA’s monthly meeting, Rev. Larry S. Bullock, SMCA’s president/CEO announced a “strategic alliance” with the CBA.
Thursday’s meeting at the QBG Foundation was the first of many projects for the two organizations.
Bullock told the Chicago Citizen at the CBA meeting that the new partnership will allow both organizations to have “open communication and dialogue” so they can monitor opportunities together.
“We decided that we would have a strategic alliance,” Bullock said Thursday speaking of Kelly and the new alliance CBA and SMCA has formed. “She (Kelly) has a strategy, we have a strategy and some of our partners here today have strategies. At some point all of those strategies have to intersect and so I thank her.”
Kelly echoed Bullock’s remarks and reminded the business owners that cooperation is key, especially when economic development is involved.
“With these partnerships and alliances we’ve got to work together,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to be strategic. This city is going to develop economically the question is will we be ready to participate. We don’t want it to be that it’s done and we look around and had nothing to do with it.”
Ulice Payne, Jr., president/CEO of Sasafrasnet, LLC, one of many keynote speakers at the meeting discussed how his company is changing the oil industry.
Sasafrasnet is the only African American distributor for BP and Exxon Mobil in the United States.
The company is a licensed, world-class wholesaler distributor of petroleum products for the business industry and transportation sectors.
John Donato, chief procurement officer for the Illinois Tollway from the Illinois Tollway was also present at the meeting and discussed minority procurement opportunities.
“I want everyone in this room business to grow and prosper,” said Donato. “This is the key to success. If you don’t know how to use solicitation and opportunities you’re never going to win.”
Donato directed the business owners to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin www.purchase.state.il.us to sign up for automated emails regarding Tollway solicitation announcement.
“We’re not getting that many bids and we’re trying to do as much outreach as possible to get some competition and make sure we’re getting fair prices.”
By Thelma Sardin
Twitter: @thelmasardin
