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-I want to say thank you for attending today’s press release.
My name is Tanya Jimale.
I’m the owner and CEO of Jimale Technical Services.
We’re stationed here in Seattle, right in the heart of Belltown.
I want to share with you that Jimale Technical Services
is a certified minority business enterprise
through the National Minority Supplier Development Council,
the Council.
I’m delighted to host today’s event.
I’m looking forward to sharing
and expressing a lot of information with you.
The Council and the city of Seattle
have both helped JTS blossom
and grow and foster business relationships
right here in the Seattle area.
I appreciate both organizations
to have the vision, more importantly, the passion,
to help grow diverse businesses such as mine.
I can’t say thank you enough.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, and more thank yous.
Jimale Technical Services is 30 --
excuse me, 31 years old,
and we have a diverse team of 40 employees.
We provide construction management
and project control services in the areas --
for the government in the areas of infrastructure development.
Being certified through the Council
has expanded JTS’s knowledge,
its business practices, best practices,
and learned some bad practices, too.
And we’ve also built relationships
beyond my expectations.
JTS has received two scholarships
to attend two executive management programs,
the city of Seattle City Light sponsored
and sent JTS to the University of Washington
for its executive management program.
The Council sent JTS to Dartmouth.
The training has led us to learn
how to meet and team and contract
with large engineering firms
and other construction management firms, as well.
Most importantly, which I’m very, very proud of,
JTS was able to provide great-paying jobs
to its employees.
So one of the things that I felt that it was important
is to share that I truly admire the city’s foresight
in doing business and serving diverse populations.
The city walks its talk.
I’ll give you an example.
Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s,
this building that we’re in, the Trianon Building,
hosted dances and socials.
I think it was called a ballroom at the time.
And during -- this was during the segregation time.
But the city allowed, along with the owners of the building,
to unite all races together and to have a great social.
I have a picture of my parents sitting at a cocktail table
with other races standing behind and dancing.
Well, I want to share with you that, eight years ago,
when my mother was 90, I was sharing with her
that I decided to move the company into a building
that’s called the Trianon Building on Third.
Her eyes lit up, and the first thing she said was,
"Your father and I used to shake a tailfeather down over there."
This is a full circle from the '40s to 2024.
I do appreciate this.
The city stood behind diversity then,
and it stands behind diversity now.
So it’s an honor to join such great leaders
from these two organizations to share the exciting news.
Without further ado, I introduce to you our mayor,
Mayor Bruce Harrell.
[ Applause ]
-Thank you, Tanya. Contrary to popular belief,
I was not here in the 1940s, with her parents, dancing.
But in all seriousness, I want to shout out loudly
how excited we are to have the forum here in May.
I want to thank Tanya
for not only just being a leader in this space,
but for being a shining example of what, particularly, under --
I don’t like the term "underrepresented."
I always say, "We’re represented well."
I’ll just say, as a woman
and as an African American entrepreneur,
to show what a company can do
when given the right opportunity,
taking full advantage of it.
You’re a shining example of that.
I want to thank Ying for being here,
Ying McGuire, President and CEO
of the National Minority Supplier Development Council,
and Karla Malacon,
CEO and President of Northwest Mountain MSDC,
and Fernando Martinez Sr.,
Vice President of Network Success
of the NMSDC, who helped spearhead today’s event.
I knew Fernando before he had
all those descriptions after his name.
So thank you. But in all seriousness,
we are thrilled to be the next host city for
the National Minority Supplier Development Council
Business Economic Forum.
Why? Why would I be so excited?
Well, first of all,
you just have to look at the economic impact.
Minority business enterprises, MBEs,
that are supported by the NMSDC, one of which is Tanya,
of course, account for $482.1 billion
in annual U.S. economic output.
They support approximately 1.8 million jobs.
They account for $136.4 billion in total wages earned.
These numbers speak for themselves.
Here in Seattle, I think many of you know,
I initiated an executive order in this space
expanding contract equity and access for MBEs.
Yesterday, we launched an inaugural deployment
of a program known as the Liberty Project,
where we’re taking the University of Washington,
Seattle University, and Tabor 100 to help entrepreneurs,
particularly in the women- and minority-owned space,
with strategic planning, HR planning,
social media, capacity building, access to capital.
The why is very simple.
This will make us compete in the global economy,
and Seattle is best positioned to excel in this.
That’s why we’re so fortunate to be chosen.
We are, first and foremost, a port city, a trade city.
We have industry, manufacturing, industrial.
Our industries are well-known and widely respected.
We’re also a city of technology and innovation.
We are thought leaders here.
And we’re very outspoken -- at least, I am --
about race and social justice, economic inequality,
looking at who slips between the cracks.
I talked to a young group of women the other day
and I talked to them about,
sometimes society teaches you to be less than.
Even at a young age, you cannot do this.
Well, people like Tanya --
they dispel that socialization of "less than."
That’s why having this forum here again
doubled down on what we take pride in,
and that is our work toward equity.
We are unapologetic in our efforts
to advance a One Seattle Vision. In a One Seattle Vision,
we recognize that everyone are not on the same playing field.
We recognize that. We are open about that.
But just as I talked about the Black side of my family
and the Japanese side of my family
coming here for jobs and opportunity and economic growth,
and put their kids through --
to have their kids have a better opportunity than they had,
I say there’s no substitution for hard work.
We don’t make excuses. Let us have opportunities,
let us have access, and we’ll take it from there.
We will become experts in that which we do.
And so, this forum being chosen here
is going to give us our opportunity with,
I believe, over 500 of the nation’s
most influential policymakers,
academics, business, and community leaders
gathering in Downtown Seattle
to focus on tangible efforts to support women-
and minority-owned business enterprises.
Again, we have a lot of great things to look forward
in this city in the future,
and this certainly ranks among them.
And so with that, as we talk about convening the greatest --
the brightest minds and biggest players
and sending a powerful message that the time for action is now,
Be Next, Now.
I like that. That wakes me up in the morning.
Making no excuses. Be Next, Now.
When we talk about creating a more equitable economy,
I’m very proud to introduce Ying McGuire,
the President and CEO of NMSDC,
to share more about the forum and its significance.
Thank you very much.
[ Applause ]
-Good morning, everyone.
-Good morning.
-If you’re not awake, pick up a coffee back there.
Thank you, Tanya, for hosting this event.
We’re so proud of your achievements.
And thank you, Mayor Harrell, for co-chairing the forum
and for your courageous and unapologetic leadership
in increasing contract equity
and driving an equitable economy in the Greater Seattle area.
Before I talk more about the forum,
let me share a little bit about NMSDC.
The National Minority Supplier Development Council, NMSDC,
was created in 1972 as a direct result
of President Nixon’s executive order to address racial equity.
What began as a government mandate
evolved into a corporate-supported nonprofit,
the longest operating business growth engine
for systemically excluded communities of color --
Asian Indian, Asian Pacific,
Black, Hispanic, and Native American --
and our impact goes far beyond supply chain.
It’s about upward mobility
for the emerging majority of Americans,
an equal shot at participating in the American experiment
of free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship.
I came to this country from China with one suitcase
and $1,000, broken English, to pursue my American dream.
And our work is about enabling our community
to pursue their American dream.
Our work is about correcting an equal access
to wealth-building opportunities.
We do this by certifying minority business enterprises,
like Tanya.
By creating connections -- we’re the matchmaker --
between MBEs and the corporations,
between MBEs and the public sector,
and among MBEs
to help them benefit from each other,
stoking entrepreneurship and growing wealth
for these systemically excluded communities.
And NMSDC’s network includes 23 affiliate councils,
including a great council led by Karla in Seattle,
and 10 international partners.
As Mayor Harrell mentioned,
NMSDC has generated a $498 billion economic output.
That’s a $316 billion annual revenue by NMSDC-certified MBEs.
And that is $970 per U.S. resident.
Think about the impact.
The numbers seem very impressive,
but if you think about it,
$316 billion is only 1.2% of our GDP,
when the population we represent is 40% of the population,
and it’s going to become the new majority of America.
So, therefore, there’s a lot of work for us to do.
And NMSDC celebrated our 50th anniversary two years ago,
we ambitiously aimed to elevate MBE’s revenue to $1 trillion,
a first milestone towards achieving economic equity
for minority-owned businesses.
To further that $1 trillion goal,
we launched the Minority Business Economic Forum
in 2022,
drawing inspiration from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
This initiative aims to galvanize
a vanguard of chief officers and spark actionable solutions
for the unique challenges faced by minority businesses.
And establish crucial growth partnerships
and secure corporate and government commitments
to reach that $1 trillion MBE revenue target.
For 2024, we turn our focus to emerging technologies
and industries like AI, like clean energy,
and opportunities for MBEs for exponential growth,
like once-in-a-life -- a generation,
like once-in-a-lifetime federal investments.
The theme of this year’s forum,
like Mayor Harrell mentioned, is Be Next, Now,
which means being willing to explore, adapt,
and take advantage of the opportunities of the future.
We’re so excited to bring this forum to Seattle.
Greater Seattle’s blend of cutting-edge technology
and green initiatives, led by tech giants like Amazon,
one of our corporate members, like Microsoft,
another corporate member,
and pioneers like Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy.
creates an ideal ecosystem.
And this synergy exemplifies the ideal environment.
Our forum seeks to leverage for MBEs,
offering them unparalleled opportunities
to engage with and benefit from emerging technologies
and the green economy.
I want to thank our co-chairs -- co-chair Mayor Harrell,
and our MBE co-chair, Zones CEO Firoz Lalji.
And Zones is the largest minority-owned company
in the state of Washington and the fourth largest
private-owned company in the state of Washington.
And also, our other co-chair, ASRC,
they’re in the house,
Industrial CEO Steve Ennis, for all your support.
And also, I want to thank Seattle’s hometown airline,
Alaska Airlines, is in the house,
for being the preferred travel partner for this year’s forum.
And finally my gratitude goes to the University of Washington --
Mayor Harrell, you look like you went to that university --
for serving as the official academic partner of the forum,
and its President, Ana Mari Cauce,
for serving as an honorary co-chair.
Before I welcome our final speaker,
I want you to join me to applaud the impressive achievements
of our regional council in Seattle,
Northwest Mountain MSDC.
Washington’s NMSDC-certified MBEs have generated $7 billion
in annual revenue and created 16,000 jobs.
I know Karla Malacon. Thank you for being here.
She’s not feeling well, so we’re going to have Huda,
another leader, to really share with us
what they’re doing across the Northwest Mountain region.
And Mayor Harrell, you mentioned about Fernando Martinez.
I didn’t steal him from the regional council,
but Fernando is responsible for nurturing
and creating these new leaders like Karla and Huda.
So let’s welcome Huda to the stage to share with us
what they’re doing in the Northwest Mountain region.
Thank you very much.
[ Applause ]
-Hello, all. Thank you.
It’s a pleasure to be amongst you guys this morning.
My name is Huda Al-Musawi, and I’m going to be speaking on
behalf of the Northwest Mountain MSDC.
I’m the Manager of Operations here at the Council.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank Mayor Bruce Harrell
for his unwavering support for our council.
His unwavering support for minority businesses
in Seattle is commendable,
and we are grateful for your continued advocacy.
I also want to express my gratitude to Ying McGuire
for her ongoing support and collaboration.
Her leadership has been instrumental in our efforts
to empower minority-owned businesses
and foster economic growth in our community.
So, thank you.
I want to take a moment to also acknowledge
and thank our local MBEs and leadership
for their invaluable contributions
to making this event possible.
Thank you, Tanya.
Your dedication and commitment to driving positive change
in our region does not go unnoticed.
This year, as we convene in Seattle,
we are reminded of the importance of hosting
such a significant event in our city.
Seattle is not only a hub for innovation and technology,
but also a beacon of diversity and inclusivity.
By hosting the Economic Forum here,
we reaffirm our commitment to promoting economic development
and opportunity for all.
Seattle’s strategic location and diverse industries,
including maritime, manufacturing technology,
life sciences, health services,
and construction make it an ideal
setting for fostering collaboration and growth.
The Northwest Mountain Minority Supply Development Council
is proud to be at the forefront
of supporting minority businesses in these key sectors.
Through our partnership with the city of Seattle
and other local agencies,
we have been able to provide essential resources
and technical assistance to MBEs,
helping them thrive and succeed
in today’s competitive marketplace.
These collaborations have not only
strengthened our local economy,
but also created pathways for upward mobility
and prosperity for our minority community.
The economic impact of MBEs in Seattle, King County,
and the State of Washington cannot be overstated.
The NMSDC supports 41 MBEs in Seattle alone,
generating over $1.2 billion in annual revenues,
with a median of $1.4 million.
These businesses collectively employ over 2,000 individuals,
nearly half of whom are from minority backgrounds.
As we embrace the theme of this year’s forum, Be Next, Now,
let us remain steadfast in our commitment
to exploring new opportunities, adapting to changing landscapes,
and seizing the moment to create a more equitable
and inclusive future for all.
Together, we can harness the power of innovation
collaboration to close technological,
social, and economic gaps
and build a brighter future for generations to come.
Thank you once again to Mayor Bruce Harrell,
Ying McGuire,
and all of our partners and stakeholders
for your unwavering support.
Let us continue to work together
towards a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.
Thank you again.
I’d like to pass it on back to Tanya.
Thank you so much.
[ Applause ]
-Wow. This is powerful. This is dynamic.
This is an opportunity to look forward
and do our best that we can,
contribute to the fabric of the city of Seattle.
Now, this concludes our press release.
If you have any questions, we can talk afterward.
And thank you very much for attending. Bye-bye.
[ Applause ]