From programs and services provided by the Community College of Allegheny County, legislative updates, how to acquire information on obtaining stimulus funding to obtaining financing, assessing current revenue streams and principles to operating a successful business, much information was to be had during the Western Pennsylvania Minority Supplier Development Council Supplier Diversity Town Hall Meeting.

With a special emphasis to help MBEs and corporations focus on the threats and opportunities they will face in 2010, to “adjust their headsets” and provide specific steps to take to grow their businesses, the affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council hosted the event themed—“New Beginnings…Positioning for Success” Feb. 24 at the CCAC Student Services Center Auditorium. Sponsors included CCAC, PNC and RRI Energy, Inc.

SHARING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE—Addressing issues affecting businesses in today’s economy during the town hall meeting held by the Western Pennsylvania Minority Supplier Development Council were, from left to right: Mark Harrison, Vic Tatum, Craig Bingham, Carl Knoblock, Naomi Moye, Robert Stein and Darrell Freeman.

We’re all seeking the American Dream. For most of us the American Dream is incomplete without either one of two things, homeownership and/or the ability to own your own business. Real estate investing seemingly allows you to take advantage of both. You’re awarded the coveted title of homeowner while at the same time you create a source of income from your income producing real estate property. I’ve heard it stated many times that real estate is one of the great pillars of wealth.

I once heard a real estate investment speaker state that real estate has made more average people millionaires than any other industry. I don’t know the validity of his statement but I do know that millionaire status via real estate investing can often be misleading. It looks good on a balance sheet when your assets minus liability calculation suggest that you’re a millionaire—but are you liquid? Can you easily access your wealth from real estate at a moment’s notice without making price concessions or reducing your equity position by taking out a loan?

(NNPA)—This is the age of high technology. IT companies are leading the way in job growth and high paying jobs as the world does business at the speed of thought. No place else in the world concentrates in this industry better than the Silicon Valley of California (Palo Alto-San Jose area). So with California having a minority population of 52 percent, logic would dictate that this is a place of much diversity and opportunity for Blacks and Hispanics. Sadly, that, according to investigative reporting from the San Jose Mercury News, is not the case. This industry in this location is probably the most segregated and discriminatory place in the United States. The hiring and training by companies like Google, Apple, Yahoo, Oracle, Applied Materials, Hewlett Packard, Cisco and others are acting more like the Ku Klux Klan than a good corporate citizen.

by Charlene Crowell
For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—For most Americans, the Better Business Bureau is the private sector’s gold standard of objectivity and fairness. Founded in 1912, this nonprofit organization today has 123 offices in the United States and Canada that monitor more than four million local and national businesses and charities.

So when this advocate for fairness and transparency issues a written warning against deceitful activity, it is time to take note. After receiving a deluge of complaints, the BBB recently told buyers to beware. The warning also came following an independent investigation and lawsuit by the West Virginia attorney general.