Dear friends and colleagues:
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with CAMSC at the 11th Business Achievement Awards
On behalf of the board of directors and CAMSC staff, thank you for celebrating with us last week at the 11th Business Achievement Awards.
This highly anticipated annual event dedicated the evening to the nominees and winning organizations who share our commitment to supplier diversity that contributes not only to Canada’s economic development but also creates jobs and wealth in Aboriginal and minority communities.
Last year, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the awards and CAMSC. This year, we focused on momentum, collaboration and partnership. Since CAMSC’s inception in 2004, corporate members have spent $1.7 billion on diverse suppliers. We expect that number to grow as we enter our second decade. We can’t afford to stand still. At the gala, we highlighted many initiatives that have been undertaken in recent months and announced new ones that will be undertaken in the coming months.
These new initiatives included delivering on shared events with the Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE) and the Black Business Initiative (BBI). We announced our very first joint event with the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) and the WBE Canada. Last week, we launched our inaugural Inclusive Procurement Leadership Roundtable (IPLR) that will drive thought leadership on how supplier diversity can delivers competitive business, social and economic value in the Canadian marketplace.
We are committed to helping our members succeed – both on the supplier and corporate side. That means, we continue to reach out to our many partners, both national and international, to collaborate on programs that provide opportunities to network, learn and grow.
We were fortunate to have Joset Wright-Lacey, President of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. from the U.S. as our keynote. She discussed learnings from the organization’s over 40 years history and shared her insights to the importance of supplier diversity in the U.S. We are both members of the Global-Link International Program, which allows our members to meet and to work with their counterparts in a number of countries including Australia, S. Africa, China and the U.K.
As we continue to facilitate business relationships between diverse suppliers and corporations, we ask all of you to take advantage of the opportunities that will be provided by CAMSC in upcoming months.
Make the most of the programs and participate in the events. Every event is a chance to make a connection.
Thanks again to our members and supporters who attended the gala last week. I hope you made great connections as you shared in the celebrations.
Each year, the gala is a success because of the team behind it. We thank our generous corporate sponsors and partners. Thanks also to the CAMSC team that works behind the scenes.
Once again, congratulations to all our nominees and our winners who continue to demonstrate the strengths of supplier diversity as an integral part of our economy.
I hope you had a wonderful evening. I know I did. See you next time.
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Sincerely, Cassandra Dorrington President and CEO CAMSC |