LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
RUBY McCLEARY
F
riends,
The year is 1967 and the United States is in the midst of the Vietnam War. The news headlines were reporting of race riots that erupted in different parts of the country. In the judicial system, the United States Supreme court unanimously ends laws against interracial marriages and Solicitor General, Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as the first African American Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
PHOTOGRAPH BY DOT WARD
While change was taking place on the national level, Chicago was creating its own historical news. Early in the year, a blizzard had pummeled Chicago with a record 23 inches of snow causing 800 buses and 50,000 automobiles to be abandoned. A few months later, another group would make history and the birth of supplier diversity would emerge from the city. A collection of minority business owners, leaders and corporations would gather to host the first Chicago Business Opportunity Day. The goal of the event was to increase minority held business contracts while expanding the minority business community. As we celebrate the 50th Annual Chicago Business Opportunity Fair (CBOF), our focus remains the same, and that is to increase minority held contracts and to support the Minority business community. The Chicago Regional Purchasing Council grew out of this event only later to become Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council. ChicagoMSDC continues to be a pillar of strength and support in supplier diversity. ChicagoMSDC has worked incessantly for minority-owned companies to be a part of the economic growth locally in the City of Chicago and on a national platform led by its parent company, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The collaboration between minority-owned companies, dedicated corporations and loyal employees has catapulted supplier diversity in Chicago and is setting trends for the rest of the United States. On behalf of the ChicagoMSDC Board of Directors and staff, we would like to say thank you! If you have been involved in the last 50 years, your legacy can be seen in every new Minority-owned company that becomes certified and in those whose growth surpasses expectation. In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.� Economic impact and job creation are critical to our communities. If you are new, we encourage you to become involved. The work of ChicagoMSDC is not finished and we will continue to find ways to advance the footprint of minority-owned companies. Ruby McCleary Director Supplier Diversity, United Airlines Chairman, ChicagoMSDC Board of Directors
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