MILESTONE derives benefits from being granted Minority Business Enterprise Certification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 4, 2009 --

U.S.-based corporations have been focusing on doing business abroad to save costs. What American businesses don’t always consider are the savings they can realize and the growth to our economy that occurs when they work with minority business enterprises (MBEs), right here in the USA! MBEs in the United States do not come with boarders, negotiated trade agreements, cultural or language barriers, and already comply with U.S. regulations. Making up 15% of all businesses in 2007, MBEs are not only located in all 50 states, but many are also house-hold names. Chartered in 1972, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) was formed to provide a direct link between corporate America and MBEs.

Milestone Technologies, Inc. (MILESTONE), who has been developing and delivering IT support services and solutions since 1997, announced the MBE certification in July 2009. The designation is made by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and by its affiliate, the Northern California Supplier Development Council (NCSDC). MILESTONE is a minority-owned business. Prem Chand, the youngest child of an immigrant family from India, is MILESTONE’s Founder, President, and CEO. Certification affirms that the applicant business is operated, owned, controlled, and managed by (a) U.S. citizen(s), and a majority (at least 51%) of whom are racial or ethnic minorities.

MILSTONE is proud to be part of this supply chain community and expects to increase their supplier diversity opportunities. MILESTONE is optimistic that their involvement will cultivate new partnerships with other corporate members and certified suppliers.

The NCSDC goals are to expose minority owned businesses to the corporate buying market, provide companies with information on qualified MBE suppliers, and to increase corporate purchases from minority owned businesses. NCMSDC provides educational seminars, networking events, and contracting opportunities.

MILESTONE’s Director of Sales Aida Johnson attended a NCMSDC seminar on how to make the most of this certification. The speakers discussed the importance of getting involved at events, keeping your profile updated, and doing your homework on clients. Johnson said, “Being listed as an MBE helps us learn about other opportunities we may have not known about if we weren’t certified.”

Aida Johnson continues with, “It helps us differentiate ourselves from our competition because many organizations today are seeking to engage more MBEs in their contracts. Many clients have asked us about our certifications before deciding to pursue MILESTONE further as a supplier.”

NMSDC wrote, “In 2007, the largest U.S. corporations purchased more than $100 billion in goods and services supplied by MBEs. Now that sounds pretty good, but we’re ready for a lot more. Given the fact that minorities represent 15% of all businesses, 3% of gross receipts and only 4% of corporate purchases, much more must be done.”

Milestone Technologies