Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Newsletter

Memphis sent this bulletin at 08/02/2019 01:46 PM CDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

About Us • Contract Compliance • Business Services • Search SMWBE Registry

Greetings,

You've heard me say that the City of Memphis' Office of Business Diversity & Compliance welcomes entrepreneurs of all ages, backgrounds and capacity. Well in this month's issue we are celebrating our young people.

Our spotlighted company, B. Chill Lemonade is our youngest certified vendor. Founder and President Kinyah Bean is only 11 years old. Read more about her below.

There is also a special section where our team at OBDC shares pictures and fun facts about the young people in our lives. We hope you enjoy.

As we continue for the remainder of 2019 we hope you take advantage of the workshops and resources we are offering to help start, expand and grow your business.

Stop in and see us at the City of Memphis' Entrepreneurs Network Center (ENC) located at 480 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave; Memphis, TN 38126.

The resources are at hand. Are you using them to further your business growth?

"The most important investment you can make is in yourself."

– Warren Buffett

Mayor Jim Strickland and City Council has made it free and easy to access these resources.

Remember, We Mean Business and we want to do business with you!

#WeMeanBusiness

Sincerely,

Director Joann Massey

SBA Region IV Administrator: Ashley D. Bell visits City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center

City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland's Office of Business Diversity & Compliance, TN State Rep. Antonio Parkinson, Rep. Karen Camper, Rep. London Lamar & Shelby County Commission Chairman Commissioner Van Turner welcomed the SBA Region IV Administrator Ashley Bell to the ENC w/an informative luncheon that included business owners, pastors and other officials.

The SBA is seeking to increase the number of 8(a) certified firms in the State of TN. Please call our office at 901-636-9300 to get connected to someone who can help you along the path to certification and accessing opportunities in federal government contracting.

ENC buzzing with activity for the month of July

The ENC hosted multiple workshops throughout the month of July. Lucy Shaw started off the month with part 5 of her Hidden Rules of Business Success series, Business Health Week offered a jam packed week of Business Heath classes that gave entrepreneurs tools to grow, finance and market their business. Keith Dillihunt of Gordon James Financial finished out the month strong turning no's into yes's with having a "plan b" for when the bank says no.

"Loved the down-to-earth, non-scripted presenters. Also loved the interaction between presenters and attendees. Great job!"- Business Health Week participant

"Thank you to all of our certified businesses and entrepreneurs who attended our first OBDC Business Health Week. We served 142 business owners during the five day workshop series. Many of you expressed gratitude with the quality of the presenters and the information that was shared during the week. We will continue to do our best bringing in great speakers and useful tools to help grow your business." - Taylor Tagg

Director Knecht, facilitated a lunch and learn focused on how to do business with Public Works that offered a great opportunity for vendors to come out and meet the staff of Public Works, also to hear about future projects and requirements needed to bid on contracts.

800 Initiative partners, Pathway Lending, Start Co and Epi Center's "Got Capital" workshop was also one not to miss.

We want to thank all of our subject matter experts who facilitated these wonderful July classes and are excited for the upcoming August workshops listed in the "around town" section of this newsletter.

Be sure to follow the OBDC on Facebook to stay up to date on all workshops, special guests, and all things ENC!

#WEMEANBUSINESS

Congratulations to OBDC's certified vendor, Doxicom Global! Because of the 800 Initiative and Doxicom Globals's commitment to hard work, they were able to add new client, the Pink Palace to their customer list.

This month we would also like to acknowledge the OBDC Kids in our lives and/or their accomplishments.

OBDC Kids Are Stars!!!

Happy 22nd Birthday TJ!

Qubbie "TJ" Massey Jr. who is the son of Director Joann Massey and her husband Qubbie Massey Sr. was born August 2, 1997.

TJ is an entrepreneur, student, music producer and investor.

Interesting Fact: TJ started playing football at four years old. He graduated as a starting captain at White Station High. He also plays saxophone, drums and piano and speaks 3 languages.

4 year old Parker is the son of Operations Manager, Ashley Robinson. Parker loves pizza, smoothies, playing and learning with classmates and his big cousin, Evan. Parker is also a star on his basketball team.

Funny fact: Every time Parker does something great on the basketball court, he runs to the stands and gives his mommy a hug. We are sure those game hugs will stop soon, lol.

Fun fact: Parker shares his birthday with his late grandfather, Memphis State Tiger, Ronnie “Big Cat” Robinson on March 9th.

10 year old Gustavo is the son of Business Services Coordinator, Guadalupe Reyes. Over the summer Gustavo put on an amazing Summer Concert at Becuadro, a local music school.

16 year old Bianca is the daughter of Director Massey and her husband Qubbie Sr. Bianca is a twin and worked two jobs the entire summer. She likes music, fashion, puppies and art.

Fun Fact: She has had her artwork hung in at least 3 museums and was a one of the featured artist in Downtown Trolley Night recently. She was also Little Miss Bluff City 2014.

16 year old twin Briana is a also the daughter of Director Massey and her husband Qubbie Sr. Briana worked two jobs the entire summer. She is a dancer for New Ballet and has performed with Young Buck in the Nut ReMix, as well as danced on the Disney stage in Orlando, Fl. Briana is also an honors student.

Fun Fact: Briana has been a guest speaker for St. Jude's Employee Appreciation Day as well as the convening of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queens. She was Little Miss Shelby County 2014.

13 year old Mark Gentry is the nephew of Contract Compliance Analyst, Roshunda Buchanan. Mark was recently inducted as a Bridge Builders this summer, a program that transforms young people in many ways of becoming a community leader.

During the program, Mark learned the value of teamwork, responsibility and trust through engaging activities and assignments. Mark learned how to work and cooperate together with others as a team and utilized those skills to help improve the Memphis community.

15 year old Faith Egedegbe is the daughter of Contract Compliance Analyst, Marcina Egedebge. Faith was invited to Georgetown University in Washington DC by the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) to participate in the Law & Advocacy Program. NSLC’s high school summer law program is designed for aspiring attorneys to experience the challenging complexities of the judicial process through interactive lectures, leadership training and hands-on simulations.

Faith also had a wonderful time meeting new friends and immersed herself in the beautiful sights of our nation’s capital while on her week long experience.

7 year old Marcus Baker, Jr. is also the son of Contract Compliance Analyst, Marcina Egedebge. Marcus recently participated in the Memphis Grizzlies Summer Basketball Camp. During the week long camp, Marcus worked on perfecting his basketball craft by learning about the importance of teamwork and skills training. Marcus had an exciting time being coached by basketball pros and meeting new friends. Marcus was recognized by his coaches and teammates for being a leader and displaying sportsmanship during camp.

1 year old Dante Jr. and 2 year old McKenzie are the children of Creative Strategist, Dante' Robichaux. Dante Jr. recently turned 1 on June 20th and hit a huge birthday milestone- he started walking.

2 year old McKenzie will be starting daycare soon and and is becoming a pro with sounding out her words and reading.

OBDC welcomes Jacobi Washington to City Hall

We are very pleased to announce that Miss. Jacobi Washington has joined the OBDC team as a part-time project manager. Miss Washington joined the OBDC team on July 24th and is currently working out of City Hall. Jacobi is a graduate of Collierville High School and now approaching her junior year at the University of Memphis majoring in Journalism/Broadcasting.

Fun Fact: Jacobi is a twin and she models.

The City of Memphis, Chattanooga State Community College, City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity & Compliance and the Memphis Area Minority Contractors Association present the: TN LIMITED RESIDENTIAL LICENSING CLASS

Upon completion of this course, all students, will possess a general knowledge of construction requirements related to one and two family dwelling units with costs ranging up to $125,000.00. This knowledge will include, but not limited to: construction practices and techniques, materials, methods, codes, applicable regulations relative to zoning, ordinance, safety, and OSHA.

Class Dates:
Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th (8 AM—5 PM)
Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th (8 AM—5 PM)
*Light lunch will be served for all classes.

Location:
Entrepreneur Network Center (ENC), 480 Dr. MLK, Jr Avenue, Memphis, TN 38126

Cost:
$449 ($50 advance payment required to secure class placement)

Requirements*:
• ALL participants must certified and registered with the City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity & Compliance (OBDC) 45 days prior to the start of class or you will NOT be allowed to participate and your money will be refunded (certification to be completed no later than June 25, 2019.)
• Each participant is required to have a 30 minute introductory consultation session with an OBDC Navigator before August 16th.

To enroll, please visit Stephanie Alexander or Katherine Shorter of MAMCA

at the

Entrepreneur Network Center

480 Dr. MLK, Jr. Avenue, Memphis, TN 38126

901-636-9300

For our MWSBE Spotlight this month we want to recognize B Chill Lemonade. 11 year old Kinyah Bean, is the owner and Founder of B Chill Lemonade and is the youngest certified and registered vendor with the City of Memphis. B Chill Lemonade is a freshly squeezed lemonade company with a variety of fresh/homemade flavors. Kinyah got her start when she was challenged by her father, Demetrius Braddock to create a business of her own by the age of 10. Throughout her time in business exploration, Kinyah tried to start an ice cream company but it was not launched. Not losing her focus on her dreams but longing to explore other opportunities, Kinyah participated in various talent driven activities to help increase her social awareness, self-motivation and her self-esteem which are all needed to aid in being a progressive professional entrepreneur. Not only does B Chill Lemonade have a store front located inside of the Hickory Ridge Mall, they are also gearing up to launch an online store soon.

To learn more about B Chill Lemonade check out their website:

https://bchilllemonade.com/

Thank you B Chill Lemonade for your continued efforts to do business in the City of Memphis!!

#WEMEANBUSINESS

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE BANK

Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Ron Brooks, Jr., President of Brooks Brothers Consulting, Inc. and a 17 year business banking leader will lead this interactive workshop with the goal of helping attendees in the following areas:

* How to position yourself and your business to receive funding
* What does the bank/credit union look for in you, your business, and why?
* The secrets the bank/credit union doesn't want you to know that you should know!
* Make your bank/credit union your biggest cheerleader!
* Connecting your business to your community

There will be plenty of time built in for Q&A.

Join us on August 6th!

About Brooks Brothers Consulting: Brooks Brothers Consulting is a financial institution development firm that focuses on helping community banks increase their customer facing platforms, call centers, and online digital channels.

NOTE: This workshop will be held at the Entrepreneurs Network Center in the Multipurpose Room on the Ground Floor inside the Universal Life Building.

Lunch & Learn: Construction Law

Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Time: 11:00 am to 1:30 pm

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Are you starting your business in construction or contract services? Are you running a business but a little unsure of if you're doing it correctly? Then you need to know the basics of construction law!

Join us for a Lunch & Learn on construction law. We will cover such topics as the business plan, business structure, marketing, contract management, and mechanics lien law. Join us and be enriched and prepared!

Capital 101: Introduction to Capital Stack

Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Location: Epicenter
902 Cooper Street
Memphis, TN 38104

So you're ready to seek capital for your business? This 60 minute workshop is a broad overview of different capital options available in the ecosystem and the best strategies for businesses that are seeking capital from the ecosystem. Workshop covers terminology, defining when is the best use, and capital partners. It will also list partners that facilitate the 200 level (or deep dive) into specific levels of the capital stack.

Overview covers:

Terminology: What is debt and what is equity?
Credit Cards
Crowdfunding Options
Kiva
CDFI
Government Incentives
Place-based Incentives (Medical District, Downtown Memphis, South Memphis, etc.)
Angel Investment

Don't forget to plan ahead and pack your lunch that day.

Blue Print Reading & Estimation

Date: Thursday, August 22, 2019

Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Understanding how to read and estimate blueprints is essential to being successful in construction, no matter what your role may be. Join us as we walk through these crucial first steps in your construction business.

In this afternoon workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of blueprint reading and estimating from a Master Tradesman and will receive one-on-one assistance. We will also visit the Plan Room for hands-on training and review.

Be sure to bring an architect's ruler to the class.

YOU'VE CREATED IT...NOW KEEP IT! HOW TO SELF-REGISTER TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHT- Free Lunch And Learn

Date: Friday, August 23, 2019

Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Have you ever wondered how to register your intellectual property without the use of an attorney?

Look no further!

Business owner Sarah Pope, President of The Southern BlueRidge Company, will show you how to make your trademark/design official in a few simple steps. Learn the differences between trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Know what to expect and how to avoid the pitfalls from a fellow business owner who has successfully walked the path of trademark and design registration. Join us for this lunch and learn on August 23rd!

Workshop Leader: Sarah Pope
Owner, The Southern BlueRidge Company

Bio: Sarah Pope is President and Owner of The Southern BlueRidge Co Inc, who produces fine china sold in over 300 stores across the US.

NOTE: This workshop will be held at the Entrepreneurs Network Center in the Multipurpose Room on the Ground Floor inside the Universal Life Building.

Bookkeeping and Taxes

Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Failure to understand your business deductions and tax laws may affect your company’s bottom line. Horne LLP will be here to present information during a Lunch and Learn on bookkeeping and taxes to help make sure you are prioritizing all your financial responsibilities now and in the future, preparing you to grow your business on a solid foundation. They will answer questions concerning business, personal, and new tax laws. There will also be information on how to classify your business. Horne LLP can also help you prepare to submit your financial information for your Contractor's License.

Business Planning Made Simple" Workshop Facilitated by James E. Stokes

Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Location: City of Memphis Entrepreneurs Network Center
480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Memphis, TN 38126

Interested in learning the best business planning methods?

James E. Stokes, Principal Consultant with Bass River Advisors will lead this workshop with a goal to help small business owners make smart business planning decisions. The workshop is interactive and introduces hands-on practice with best in class business planning methods. Participants in this workshop will leave with practical tips and useful takeaways that inform winning business planning practices.

Bass River is a strategic advice and management consulting firm focused on finance, operations and strategy.

NOTE: This workshop will be held at the Entrepreneurs Network Center in the Multipurpose Room on the Ground Floor inside the Universal Life Building.

Interested in getting certified with the City of Memphis? Contact our office at (901) 636-6210 or (901) 526-9300 to meet with one of our Certification Analysts.

Title VI Updates

The Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Director Joann Massey is also designated as the Title VI Coordinator for the City of Memphis. In this role, the Title VI Coordinator has the responsibility for collecting data surveys, evaluations, and other pertinent documentation in accordance with Title VI regulations. Additionally, the Title VI Coordinator represents the City of Memphis during on-site reviews by the respective entities and officers. Information flows from the Title VI Coordinator to the respective entities and officers to ensure accuracy and compliance with program requirements. It is also the responsibility of the Title VI Coordinator to verify and implement the City of Memphis’ Title VI Compliance and Implementation Plan.

What is Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act?

“No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under a program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Click to continue reading.