Strategic Imperative #1 is designed to develop and implement new ways to increase certified minority-owned business engagement and opportunities with both Buying Entities and other minority-owned businesses.

Traditional methods include Hard Hat Construction Expo, ACCESS Business Expo, State of Texas Spot Bid Fair, Quarterly Buyers Luncheons, MBE Input Committee General Sessions and various industry related session like Dallas ISD Day and Fort Worth ISD Day.

The working group is concentrating on new ways to further increase business opportunities. These include:

1. Determining what Buying Entities are looking for in terms of pre-qualifications, specific sourcing needs and emerging sourcing needs.
2. Examining methods to promote and increase MBE-2-MBE connections and opportunities.
3. The Minority Business Development Agency — Dallas Fort Worth Business Center (operated by the Council) also plays an important role in helping to connect minority-owned businesses with government and private sector opportunities. The MBDA offers a monthly Business Networking Breakfast.

Strategic Imperative #2 has developed a curriculum of tiered programming to assist certified minority-owned businesses increase their capacity, improve operations and build sustainable businesses. The imperative also concentrates on working with supplier diversity professionals and our buying entity partners to enhance supplier diversity programs.

For MBEs, The tiered programming include:

1. A developed curriculum that introduces certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to corporate-taught courses related to Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Strategic Planning, Succession Planning and Technology. 
2. D/FW MSDC Mentoring Program. The inaugural program began July 2018. In 2020, 22 minority-owned businesses are being mentored by our Buying Entities.
3. Specialized operational training courses.
4. Intense 12-month pilot program to scale minority-owned businesses to the next level with equity, acquisition/merger and debt possibilities.

The MBDA offers a number of specialized seminars related to SBA 8a certification, Access to Capital and financing alternatives available.

For Supplier Diversity Professionals the Council is working with to determine needs in order to better help upgrade programs.

Strategic Imperative #3 is targeted to implementing elements that improve the infrastructure of the Council. In particular, this working group looked at several key areas:

1. Updating the Board of Directors Information/Resource Package and policies for sign-off, i.e. Conflict of Interest, Whistleblowers, Sexual Harassment, etc.
2. Training and utilizing a software solution to enhance matchmaker capabilities. This includes creating MBE profiles and developing a database of buyers and supplier diversity professionals who are a part of the membership.
3. Improving overall utilization of technology systems and solutions.