Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

MBE Survey

Building a

Client Base- 53%

Finding Funding-16%

Changing Strategic Direction-10%

Increasing Competition-9%

Other-6%

Finding Talent-6%

Location or Logistical Issues-

1%

What is the biggest obstacle your organization has overcome to date?

MBE Survey

What is the biggest obstacle your organization has overcome to date?

“Other” Responses:

Building relationships with large corporations. Economy issues 2 major frivolous lawsuits None Pricing Competitive climate not necessarily

competition Having the MBE portion of the bid being

waived out by City Council Technology Issues Stemming from Power

Outages and Email Viruses Finding Qualified Employees at Reasonably

Competitive Salary

What do you see as the biggest issue impacting your business currently?

Increased Competition-12%

Other-10%

Finding Talent-8% Internal Strategic

Decision-Making Ability-3%

Current Economic

Climate- 87%

MBE Survey

What do you see as the biggest issue impacting your business currently?

“Other” Responses:

Getting Contracts Prime not paying invoices in a timely manner. Planning growth within the climate Growth without losing base-clients and with great

service Nothing No loans for small business owners who have

taken a downturn due to economy Funding Creating credibility

What do you see as the biggest issue impacting your business currently?

“Other” Responses (cont’d):

Managing growth Reducing the MBE participation on

some contracts from 10% to 5% Obtaining long term business

opportunities Balancing between Work Demand and

Employee Level Large Turnovers Over coming the stigma of being a

minority company

What are you anticipating for this year’s financial performance?

I am uncertain at this time-19%

Ahead of last year-

27%

On Track with last year-12%

MBE Survey

Behind last year –

42%

Where do you think the company will invest the most energy in the coming

year?

Talent Acquisition & Development-8%

Other-1%

Operational Effectiveness/ Cost-cutting-22%

Business Development & Marketing- 69% *0%

Research & Development

MBE Survey

Where do you think the company will invest the most energy in the coming

year?“Other” Responses: Survival Expansion

How important has the minority-owner designation been to your organization’s

success?

Not at all important-18%

Somewhat Important-

32%

Fairly important-13%

Very important-

37%

MBE Survey

Corporate MemberSurvey

What do you see as the biggest issue impacting your business currently?

Increased Competition-8%

Other-4%

Internal Strategic Decision-Making Ability-

12%

Current Economic

Climate- 77% *0%

Finding Talent

Corporate Member Survey

What do you see as the biggest issue impacting your business currently?

“Other” Responses:

Consumers are changing out what they purchase, when they purchase and if they purchase. Our decisions to some degree are results of customer behavior.

What are you anticipating for this year’s financial performance?

On Track with last year-31%

I am uncertain at this time-15%

Ahead of last year-12%

Corporate Member Survey

Behind last year – 42%

What is the most important criteria your organization considers when selecting

minority vendors?

Quality-

54%

Other-27%

*0%

- Size

- Year in business

- Relationship Management

Responsiveness-4%

Location-4%

Price-12%

Corporate Member Survey

Where do you think the company will invest the most energy in the coming

year?

Research & Development-19%

Operational Effectiveness/ Cost cutting-

65%

Business Development & Marketing-12%

Other-4%

*0%

Talent Acquisition & Development

Corporate Member Survey

How important is it for your organization to use minority-designated vendors?

Very important-

69%

Fairly important-27%

Slightly important-

4%

*0%

Not at all important

Corporate Member Survey

Opportunities During a Recession

• It causes you to get more creative.• It forces you to make the tough

decisions.• It thins out the competition.• It makes it easier to abandon business-

as-usual.• It brings you back to the basics.• It causes you to be less wasteful.

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities