Quarterly News – Fall Edition
This month, CAMSC hosted the 2021 Business Achievement Awards Gala to recognize the incredible accomplishments of our certified suppliers and corporate members. The theme of this year’s Gala, Pivot | Process | Prosper, celebrates the incredible contributions CAMSC partners have made in not only rebuilding but growing Canada’s emerging economy.
Over the past year, we saw our network of diverse and inclusive organizations grow their businesses and supplier diversity programs, respectively. We saw a significant number of new corporate members commit to working with businesses owned by both Indigenous Peoples and People of Colour as they recognize the value of supplier inclusion. These partnerships have resulted in many noteworthy achievements in fields of business growth, technology innovations, collaboration, and community development, which we are proud to honour.
As we look forward to 2022, we are eager to see the achievements and innovations the future holds. I would like to share CAMSC’s vision for the next two years. To that end, I would like to encourage our members and suppliers to attend the webinar on November 10th.
I am proud to announce that CAMSC will be undergoing a digital transformation, improving both our supplier and corporate member experience. If you have not yet seen the new website, we invite you to visit www.camsc.ca and provide us your feedback. Along with updating our website to be more customer-centric and accessible, we are working hard in the last quarter of this year to revamp our supplier database. This will allow our users to access and use information in a more user-friendly way, bringing added value to corporate membership and supplier certification.
in our ongoing quest to address our suppliers’ and corporate members’ needs, CAMSC will be establishing two committees designed to bring your voices to the table. The Supplier Advisory Committee will incorporate suppliers from coast to coast in various industries who represent the breadth and depth of our base. Alternately, our new Corporate Advisory Committee will work to expand on the value of our Corporate Member Forum, and the tools and resources that currently exist. This Committee’s input will allow CAMSC to prioritize focus in areas that hold the most value for our corporate members and suppliers.
We are excited at the potential of what we can achieve together in 2022. To those organizations who are not yet involved with CAMSC, it is the perfect time to join our network of certified diverse suppliers and corporate members as you look ahead to 2022.
Green PI Inc. wins Small Business of the Year Award
How Green PI Inc.’s focus on doing things differently continues to lead to success
For Romeo Jack Barbosa, Director of Green PI Inc., receiving CAMSC’s Small Business of the Year Award is a testimony to the new heights being reached by this design engineering and software services firm, and it’s a significant reminder they are heading in the right direction.
From specializing in two, normally separate industries – design engineering and software development, to conducting research and development projects with local colleges, Green PI Inc. has been creative in the ways they’ve made their mark and grown as a business.
“We’re trying to come up with novel ways of approaching and breaking into new markets,” says Romeo. He notes that if a client (on either side of their business) comes to them with a project that will benefit the community and social environment, they’ll do whatever they can to make the project happen, adding “We don’t shy away from any challenge. It keeps our company growing.”
Winning the Small Business of the Year award was no surprise to Green PI Inc. – they had achieved many financial and technical successes in the past year, despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to overcome the struggles of the pandemic in our own ways and still keep moving forward. Some things we’re doing are developing engineering-focused research projects with colleges and developing products that will put us on a different map altogether. We’ve seen substantial innovations from our engineers,” shares Romeo.
As a small business, Romeo says it’s important to offer clients unique solutions and being open to solving challenges that major corporations turn away from – delivering these solutions has allowed Green PI Inc. to get to where they are today.
Green PI Inc. has secured design engineering projects across Canada and is now entering Mexico, with future hopes of expanding to the US, New Zealand and Australia. Thanks to CAMSC’s Diverse Supplier Certification, Green PI Inc. has also made valuable connections to corporate partners like the CBRE Group, and government entities like the City of Toronto.
With the help of CAMSC, diverse suppliers and corporate members can form valuable relationships, resulting in remarkable achievements and innovations in the supply chain.
“You learn there’s funding and supplier diversity mandates within all levels of government and certain companies that help businesses like us become a viable option for bigger projects,” Romeo explains. These opportunities help smaller businesses like Green PI Inc. move forward and grow.
Green PI Inc. continues to adapt and evolve with the current landscape – expanding on new ideas and finding innovative ways to automate their internal processes. It’s because of this passion and dedication that they also won the Innovative Solutions Canada Award presented by The Government of Canada and Shared Services Canada for their work to bring low-cost high-speed internet access to Government employees and Canadian citizens who work or live remotely around the world.
It’s finding solutions to challenges like these that have propelled Green PI forward. Through their dedication and drive, they are getting the public recognition they need to compete with larger design engineering and software services companies.
“Our consulting provides out-of-the-box solutions by looking at everyday challenges through a unique lens,” he says. Romeo notes that organizations like CAMSC help their business get the chance to bid on projects and opportunities where they can prove their competitive edge. “We have to get out there to show that we exist, and we can do the same things that these big companies can do,” says Romeo.
As for Romeo’s advice to other small businesses and diverse suppliers who are trying to grow in a competitive landscape, he says the key to success is to keep going – no matter what.
Romeo worked as an engineer in India, Oman, and the United States before coming to Canada. When he migrated to Canada in 2002, he realized that finding work in engineering would be difficult. He understood that software was something that all industries needed and was a growing field, so, he started to learn software development in order to increase his chances of landing a job. While he always wanted to work as an engineer, he began to love software engineering along the way. This marriage of two passions is what lead to Green PI Inc.’s unique model of offering two separate (and equally valuable) services across North America.
“I think that failure only comes when you quit trying,” he says, “if you never give up, there is no failure,” shares Romeo. “If you keep trying, the next step could be a success.”
Romeo’s philosophy shows how Green PI Inc. has been able to scale and grow, in two different industries, exponentially. This approach to innovation allows Green PI Inc. to attract more clientele and move forward as a business and build their larger brand – which is a testament to why they are the recipients of the CAMSC Small Business of the Year Award.
Bell Canada wins Corporation of the Year Award
Every action matters when it comes to promoting supplier diversity at Bell
Instant success is just not realistic when it comes to big, transformational change. Great things take time to build. “Something as complex as developing a successful supplier diversity program does not happen overnight,” says Debbie Resendes da Silva, Senior Manager of Procurement Operations and Supplier Diversity Leader at Bell Canada.
Since 2014, Bell has been on a journey to develop policies that advocate for active inclusion and equal sourcing opportunities for diverse-owned businesses. This commitment to supplier diversity is why CAMSC was proud to award Bell Canada with the 2021 Corporation of the Year Award.
“This award exemplifies that every contribution to creating a more diverse and equitable supply chain is an important endeavour. No matter how big or small, it really matters,” says Debbie. “We celebrate anything and everything supplier diversity champions do throughout the organization, recognizing every action’s positive impact on Bell’s long-term Supplier Diversity Strategy.”
Over the years, Bell’s procurement program has evolved to identify and track the work being done with diverse-owned companies, ensuring they are being represented in Bell’s supplier base. Debbie’s Procurement and Supplier Diversity team aims to accomplish four goals in growing the program:
- Sponsor and participate in numerous industry networking events annually in support of supplier diversity, like CAMSC’s Procurement Fair.
- Proactively promote and introduce diverse suppliers to internal buyers.
- Maintain accessibility to a certified diverse supplier database to build awareness of certified partners.
- Celebrate change-makers who continue to engage with and source from certified diverse suppliers.
“A Supplier Diversity Program requires hard work, creativity, persistence and patience. Taking the time to build the visibility of your program, provide education on supplier diversity and communicating with internal buyers, while advocating for diverse suppliers in a dynamic environment can be complex,” explains Debbie. “We have been so proud to witness the positive change in our organization thus far, and we can’t wait to continue this momentum.”
Bell also provides its buyers with an extensive database of certified diverse suppliers, allowing them to find suppliers at the click of a button. It provides buyers information like capabilities, skills, and supplier certification – simplifying the networking process.
“When suppliers are certified, we’re able to build upon our Tier 1 reporting to help identify, track, and ensure diversity is represented in our supplier base,” says Debbie. “We’re finding diverse suppliers to be just as strong and even better than their counterparts. And because they’re certified, we can refer them to procurement managers for opportunities for engagement.
The program has gained such positive sentiment and influence that Bell is witnessing a cultural and behavioural shift to promote economic equity for diverse suppliers. This wave of support has led Debbie to be able to invest in the expertise of Kayla Maduk to join her on the Supplier Diversity Management, and Procurement Operations team.
“The whole idea of every step counts is true. It’s all of those efforts translating into a shift in behaviour and the culture evolves,” says Debbie. “It’s really important to us that we partner with Canadian certification organizations like CAMSC so we can integrate the certified diverse supplier network within Bell.”
Bell winning the Corporation of the Year Award is proof that every effort at any level toward advocacy for supplier diversity counts. It’s building off these small wins that help companies make a big impact, like Bell.
2021 Award Winners
Congratulations to our award winners from the 2021 Business Achievement Awards Gala :
Supplier of the Year Award | Shamira Jaffer, Signifi Solutions Inc.
Small Business of the Year Award | Romeo Jack Barbosa, Green PI Inc.
Corporation of the Year Award | Debbie Resendes Da Silva, Bell Canada
Technology and Innovation Award | Vijay Thomas, Tangentia
Collaboration Award | Stephen Callender, Afro Canadian Contractors Association
Procurement Business Advocate of the Year Award | Nadine Shah, CBRE Limited
And a big congratulations to our finalists:
Supplier of the Year:
eTeam Incorporated
Armada Automotive
Small Business of the Year:
TalentMarketplace
SUKU Vitamins
Robinson Global Managemen
Ellie Bianca
Corporation of the Year:
BMO
EY
Technology and Innovation:
kama.ai (Kamazooie Development Corporation)
Portable Intelligence Inc.
HJ Machine & Pattern
Procurement Business Advocate of the Year:
ABC Technologies – Edet Umoafia, Senior Buyer
Telus Communications Inc – Lloyd Switzer, CPO
Topnotch Employment Services Inc. – Terry Sawh, President
Collaboration Award:
ACCE
Weekly Voice
To all of our corporate members and certified suppliers, we continue to be inspired by your hard work and commitment. It has been a pleasure working with you all this year, and we look forward to what 2022 will bring.
New Members
Welcome to our new members who have joined us this month!
EllisDon is a world-class, employee-owned construction services and technology company that completes in excess of $5 billion in revenues annually, in every market sector and across the globe. Over the last 70 years, EllisDon has grown from being a general contractor to a multi-faceted company that can deliver any aspect of a project.
EllisDon’s corporate culture and approach to business is a reflection of its core values and principles: freedom, trust, complete openness, mutual accountability, entrepreneurial enthusiasm, integrity and mutual respect. EllisDon believes that Inclusive Diversity will enrich our environment, change our industry for the better, and ultimately help improve results. It is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected.
As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood building products that meet the demands of builders, remodelers, and homeowners worldwide. LP’s extensive offerings include innovative and dependable building products and accessories, such as Siding Solutions, LP Structural Solutions, LP® TopNotch® Sub-Flooring, and oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to product solutions, LP provides industry-leading customer service and warranties.
Since its founding in 1972, LP has been Building a Better World™ by helping customers construct beautiful, durable homes while our shareholders build lasting value. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP operates 25 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile and Brazil.
At LP, supporting diversity, equity and inclusion is the right thing to do—it’s right for our company and for the communities in which we work and live. Committing to diversity, equity and inclusion is integral to achieving our vision of becoming a top-tier building solutions company and our purpose of building a better world. Expanding the supply chain by cultivating relationships and opportunities to purchase goods and services from minority- and women-owned businesses is one of the ways LP is committed to building a better world.
Historically, firms led by women and people of color have been underutilized by companies within the manufacturing industry.
By cultivating partnerships with these companies, LP can expand our supply chain while also helping these companies grow, which would help drive the following opportunities:
For their communities: Job creation and economic growth
For LP: Innovative and agile partners to help drive the creation of new products, services and solutions.
Partner Feature
As the leading national technology industry association, TECHNATION proudly represents the Canadian technology companies that are furthering our nation and the world into the future through innovation, creativity and ingenuity. Their mission is to set Canadian businesses apart in a global market while connecting prospective workers, industry leaders and government officials from coast to coast.
As a trusted, reliable source of collaboration within the industry, TECHNATION works closely with senior officials to learn how the industry, government and tech community can identify specific opportunities for co-creation and cultivate a more effective partnership-based approach – especially around the areas of procurement.
The TECHNATION Career Ready Program provides businesses an affordable way to scale-up business and hire for tech-immersive positions. The program is subsidized with funding from the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and covers up to 75% of Canadian post-secondary student wages. The Career Ready Program maximizes recruitment efforts and saves businesses money, while shaping the future workforce in Canada’s tech sector.
Learn more about TECHNATION.
Supplier Knowledge Xchange with BDC and PAC
Does your business plan include government procurement?
The government of Canada fulfills many of its contracts using small businesses. Would you be interested in learning more about how you might be able to leverage these opportunities?
Join Maude Pariseau, Director, Procurement (BDC), Menelaos (Manny) Argiropoulos, Chief, SME Stakeholder Engagement Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC) and Vincenzo Carinci, Director, Strategic Procurement and Payment Services Ryerson University at CAMSC’s Supplier Knowledge Xchange as they share the procurement practices in their respective organizations.
CAMSC Events:
Friday, October 22 – Supplier Knowledge Xchange: How do you do business with Government?
Monday, October 25 – FACEBOOK’s Suppler “Meet Us” Day
Thursday, November 18 – Supplier Onboarding Session
Partner Events:
Tuesday, November 9 – WBE Canada Annual Conference
Monday, November 29 – Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Business Mission
In the News:
CAMSC and CANDO Partnership Aims to Increase the Number of Indigenous Suppliers in Canada for a more Inclusive Supply Chain
CAMSC and Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) have partnered up with shared goals and a commitment to enhancing opportunities for our Indigenous suppliers and their communities. The combined resources and expertise of our organizations will provide Indigenous business owners with greater opportunities to connect with corporate Canada, government organizations, and more, leading to a more equitable supply chain. Read more about how CAMSC and Cando’s collaboration will benefit Indigenous and POC-owned businesses here.
Futurpreneur Partners with CAMSC to Foster Inclusive Supply Chain and Mentorship Opportunities
We are also proud to partner with Futurpreneur to facilitate networking and mentorship opportunities between CAMSC Certified Suppliers and the Futurpreneur network. Futurpreneur is Canada’s only national non-profit organization that provides financing, resources, and mentorship opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs. The partnership creates the space to develop a diverse pool of experienced professional Indigenous Peoples and POC-volunteer mentors who can provide business advice, support, understanding and encouragement to young entrepreneurs, resulting in a more beneficial mentorship experience. To learn more about CAMSC, Futurpreneur, or becoming a volunteer mentor, read the full article.
Meet Our Board:
Azam Dawood – BMO Financial Group
What Supplier Diversity means to Azam: “Supplier diversity means equal access – it takes us toward the ideal of meritocracy. It is a vehicle to let the best of all of us shine through.”
Leslie Eisener – Ciena
Kiruba Sankar – City of Toronto
What Supplier Diversity means to Kiruba “Including Diverse Suppliers in procurement opportunities will create a positive impact and prosperity in our communities.”
Sara Webb – General Motors
Michael R. Bourne – IBM Canada Ltd.
What Supplier Diversity means to Michael: “Marketplace Demographics + Supplier Diversity = Good Business Sense.”
Lisa Mooney – Nutrien
Natalie Marchesan – Royal Bank of Canada
Bashar Cholagh – Stellantis
Mélanie Wiseman – TC Energy
Lloyd Switzer – TELUS
What Supplier Diversity means to Lloyd: “A diverse supply base drives sustained innovation and economic development in our communities while contributing to a more equitable society.”
Notice to CAMSC Supplier Network:
COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Government of Canada contractors
The Government of Canada requires that all public service employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to access federal government facilities. This approach will ensure that federal workplaces are kept safe and that employees who work in them are protected.
In support of this policy, the Government also requires any contracted personnel accessing federal government workplaces to be fully vaccinated. This requirement takes effect on November 15, 2021, in order to provide all government contractors and subcontractors whose work may require access to federal workplaces time to ensure their employees are aware of this requirement and are able to comply with it. The Government of Canada will provide further information and instructions regarding the implementation of the vaccination requirement for contracted personnel shortly.
Information about this requirement can be found in the Notice to Federal Contractors on Buyandsell.gc.ca, and additional details are available at COVID-19 vaccination requirement for supplier personnel.
If you have any questions, please write to TPSGC.PAC[email protected]
Remember: Stay informed about website updates and procurement news by subscribing to the Email notification service for Buyandsell.gc.ca news.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in sharing this information in your supplier community.
Supplier Advisory Committee Secretariat
Procurement Assistance Canada
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Post-Event Survey:
If you attended this year’s Business Achievement Awards Gala, we would love to hear from you!