Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Focus on Development through the NCAABA Supplier Academy

In order to succeed in today's economic climate, businesses have to be agents of change.  Successful businesses must have a range of talents including vision, creativity, agility, tenacity and resourcefulness to mobilize the resources needed to inspire, create, and leverage economic change.

On October 14-15, 2009 a select group of suppliers and business leaders will participate in the National Council of Asian American Business Associations’ (NCAABA) Supplier Academy at UCLA.  Academy participants will engage in intensive development and training to improve on critical business skills such as preparing winning proposals, creating winning teams and collaborating to deliver the innovative solutions, products and services that are needed by corporate and public sector procurement and supply chain organizations.

The nonprofit NCAABA has enlisted an impressive list of presenters and subject matter experts focused on supplier diversity and development for diverse businesses.  John Suh, Chairman of LegalZoom.com, will deliver the luncheon keynote address on Wednesday, October 14th.  Additional featured speakers include Adolpho Bailong & Juan Camacho of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's office and Alexander Kim of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office along with many other prominent diverse business leaders from the community.

The goal of the NCAABA Supplier Academy is to train (and sustain) a cadre of NCAABA Academy alumni and business leaders that are prepared to pursue corporate (and public) procurement opportunities and mentor other diverse businesses with an emphasis on APA owned businesses.

“The NCAABA Supplier Academy is an extension of our commitment to provide the Asian Pacific American (APA) business community critical training that will enhance connectivity and improve their success in securing corporate and public sector contracts,” said Jamie Borromeo, Executive Director of NCAABA.

The NCAABA supplier academy is being presented in partnership with over 32 community based organizations focused on advancing the development of diverse suppliers.  Wells Fargo is the presenting sponsor of the NCAABA Supplier Academy.  Participating sponsors include Bank of America, The Walt Disney Company, Sempra Energy and Southwest Airlines.

NCAABA encourages suppliers interested in expanding capacity and development of APA businesses to apply for candidacy in the NCAABA Academy.  Applications are due by 5 PM, Friday, October 2, 2009 (new deadline) and can be completed by visiting the NCAABA website (www.national-caaba.org), where there is a full list of presenters, partners, academy events and activities. Some scholarships are being made available to participants meeting certain criteria also outlined on the site.

For more information regarding the Supplier Academy, contact Elena Ong, NCAABA Outreach Director at elena.ong.ncaaba@gmail.com or 310-948-2947.

To download the necessary application materials by the new Oct. 2 deadline, see http://www.national-caaba.org/index.cfm/id/33.