Serving Since 1974, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico
Leadership
Stan Sena – President/CEO
Since 2009, Stan Sena has served as the President and CEO of the Rocky Mountain MSDC. Previous work experience includes: Managing Director of LNS Services Company, an international logistics consulting organization; Executive Vice President and COO of Ameircold Corporation, the leading third-party supplier of supply chain solutions in the consumer packaged goods industry. Currently, Mr. Sena is President and CEO of Snap Staffing Services. Mr. Sena is very active in the community and serves on numerous boards. Mr. Sena received his BA from Metropolitan State College and his doctorate in law from the University of Denver. He has been an attorney for 25 years and continues to be active in the Colorado Bar Association, the Douglas Bar Association and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association.
Belinda Hooks – Director of Operations
Belinda Hooks has served as the Director of Operations of the Rocky Mountain MSDC since 2010. Ms. Hooks is responsible for executing the fundraising goals set by the President, Communication and Outreach Efforts; Manage and build ongoing relationships with corporate members and MBEs; Oversee and plan all special events; MBE Certification and manage daily operations of the Council. Prior to 2010, Ms. Hooks was the President of an award winning entrepreneurial company that sold promotional products and services internationally. Ms. Hooks holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Dana College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Mission
The mission of the Rocky Mountain MSDC is to drive the growth of Minority Business Enterprises through business relationships with corporations, government, academic entities, and others.
History
In the early 1970s, there were very few minority businesses in Colorado — mostly small, struggling companies striving to do business with Colorado corporations. A strong need existed to match minority businesses with the requirements of corporations.
An informal network of minority entrepreneurs shared their knowledge and expertise in looking for business opportunities. Essential to their success were luncheons with corporate executives, networking opportunities, and trade fairs where introductions were made to corporate procurement officers.
In 1974, executives from corporations in the Rocky Mountain region got together at the Denver Chamber of Commerce and began to discuss the future of minority business in Colorado. Meeting on a monthly basis, these individuals formed the Executive Task Force Committee (ETFC), which later in the year was incorporated as the Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council.
Professional Development
One of the Rocky Mountain MSDC’s core services, Professional Development, is integral in preparing MBEs to compete and succeed in a competitive market place.
Professional Development may range from corporate presentations on “How to Do Business,” to workshops that address procurement and purchasing trends, such as “Teaming & Strategic Alliances,” to growth initiatives such as Capgemini’s strategic planning “Accelerated Solutions Environment,” and Business Consortium Fund’s (BCF) “Access to Capital”, to knowledge and skills building workshops such as “The Corporate Procurement Process… The Untold Story,” “Effective Utilization of Technology,” and “Basic Accounting.”
The Rocky Mountain MSDC obtains input from MBEs at large, corporate members, university business management program experts, and buyers and purchasing agents on professional development programs that are meaningful for entrepreneurs.
4 Core Competencies For MBEs
Certification that is accepted and frequently required by many of the largest publicly, privately and foreign-owned companies.
Database exposure to a minimum of 3500 NMSDC corporate members who access and source our database for MBEs who meet their corporate procurement needs, or who contact council staff for referrals to meet their sourcing needs. Conversely, MBEs have access to our database of 200 corporate member.
Professional development through advanced management education programs; workshops and seminars; Accelerated Solutions Environment workshops that facilitate MBEs through strategic planning sessions; and other expert consulting training programs offered during the year.
Matchmaking, networking events strategically poised to match similar industry corporate and MBE entities for potential business, relationship building, and partnerships and teaming among corporate with MBEs, and MBEs with MBEs.
Benefits For Corporate Members
Corporate Members receive the opportunity of developing a more diverse supplier base, and at the same time, potentially reducing their costs because of greater competition among suppliers. Additionally, they gain exposure to potential suppliers as a result of participating in Rocky Mountain MSDC activities. Significantly, corporate members benefit by being identified in minority communities as employers and strong community supporters.
Minority Business Center
The recently opened Denver Minority Business Center is operated by the Rocky Mountain Supplier Development Council and funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Minority Business Development Agency. For more information about the Denver Minority Business Center, please visit www.colombc.org.
