Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council

10/09/2026

Corporate Connections heads to the North Central region.

The North Central Council hosts Michels, a major energy and infrastructure contractor, for a look at how they source, what they expect from suppliers, and where their work is headed. Lucie-Anne Radimsky presents. Armetha Pihlstrom, Founder and CEO of Pihlstrom Consulting Group, moderates. Live Q&A at the end.

Thursday, October 15, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT / 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Register: https://gmsdc.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=18640&

Use code CC2026 at registration to attend at no cost.

Still to come in the series:

Oct 20 — Chicago
Oct 22 — Michigan

Attend one session and get to know a company. Follow the series and get to know markets you may never have had a reason to look at.

10/08/2026

Corporate Connections heads to Florida.

The Florida Business Development Council hosts Travel + Leisure — how a major travel and hospitality business sources, what they expect from suppliers, and where their work is headed. Live Q&A at the end.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT / 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Register: https://gmsdc.app.neoncrm.com/event-detail?event=18664
Or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Use code CC2026 at registration to attend at no cost.

Still to come in the series:

Oct 15 — North Central
Oct 20 — Chicago
Oct 22 — Michigan

Attend one session and get to know a company. Follow the series and get to know markets you may never have had a reason to look at.

10/07/2026

Reminder! Corporate Connections heads to the Capital Region tomorrow.

The Capital Region Council hosts AARP for a look at how a national organization with a membership in the tens of millions sources, what they expect from suppliers, and where their work is headed. Kimberly Ayers, Director of Supplier Strategy and Engagement at AARP, joins as special guest. Elizabeth Caulder, President and CEO of Phoenix Lifestyle Marketing Group, moderates. Live Q&A at the end.

Thursday, October 8, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT / 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Register: https://gmsdc.app.neoncrm.com/event-detail?event=18625&
Or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Use code CC2026 at registration to attend at no cost.

Still to come in the series:

Oct 13 — Florida
Oct 15 — North Central
Oct 20 — Chicago
Oct 22 — Michigan

Partners announced as each session is confirmed. Attend one and get to know a company. Follow the series and get to know markets you may never have had a reason to look at.

10/07/2026

Save the date — Thursday, December 3, Las Vegas.

Opportunity Day 2026: Small Things Have Power, Creating Connections that Last.

A full day for the arts, media, and entertainment ecosystem — production, design, agencies, studios, and the staffing, catering, AV, print, and transportation businesses behind the work. Less pitching, more conversation. Storytelling first, then who should know each other, then what you could build together. Corporate representatives will be in the room too — the people whose job is finding capable businesses and getting them in front of the right teams.

December 3, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM · Las Vegas, NV

Registration details coming soon.

10/06/2026

🚨 SBA Small Business Size Standards Proposal: Your Input Matters 🚨

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the public comment period on its proposed changes to small business size standards through November 20, 2026.

If finalized, the proposal would:

🔹 Consolidate nearly 1,000 industry size standards into 338
🔹 Shift many industries from revenue-based to employee-based thresholds
🔹 Increase many size standards, potentially affecting eligibility for small business programs and set-aside contracting opportunities

These proposed changes could impact how businesses qualify as "small" and compete for federal contracting opportunities. Businesses may want to review the proposal and consider how it could affect their industry, growth strategy, and competitive position.

📅 Comment Deadline: November 20, 2026
📝 Learn More & Submit Comments: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/24/2026-19546/small-business-size-standards

WRMSDC shares information of potential interest to our network and does not endorse or take a position on proposed regulations or policies unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Know a small business owner who should be aware of these proposed changes? Share this post with them.

10/06/2026

As we conclude our Hispanic Heritage Month recognition campaign, we're proud to celebrate the Hispanic-owned businesses in our network! Thank you.

• Rapid Response Force LLC
• Reliable Concepts Corporation
• RENUoil of America, Inc.
• Reset Marketing and Events, LLC
• Residential and Commercial Lighting, LLC
• Ricardo Marrun Construction Inc.
• RLS-CMC, Inc.
• Road Runner Catering LLC
• Romero Brothers Interiors
• S.J. General Building Maintenance, Inc.
• SBM Management Services, LP
• SBM Management Services, Puerto Rico, LLC
• Schweiger Plumbing Inc.
• Sequoia Fire Protection
• Service by Medallion
• Sierra Packaging & Converting, LLC
• Silicon Valley Venture Capital Corp
• Silver Creek Construction, Inc.
• Silver State Medical Supply LLC
• SIMCO Electronics
• Sobel Linen Company
• Soluntix LLC
• Sonya Paz Inc.
• Spotless Facility Services Inc.
• Spy Ego Media LLC
• Stat Delivery Service, Inc.
• STAT Logistics International, Inc.
• Steadfast Construction LLC
• Stealth Talent Solutions, Inc.
• Studio Vara, Inc.
• Sunnyvale Automotive, Inc.
• Sunstate Installations, Inc.
• Sunstone Partners Management, LLC
• Suntender Valuations, Inc.
• T. Marshall Associates, LTD
• The Ant Colony Inc.
• The Fuller Company
• Thismoment Content Cloud LLC
• Tigre Construction Specialties, LLC
• T**A Architecture, Inc.
• Toro Flooring LLC
• Toro Reinforcing, LLC
• Torres Brothers Construction, Inc.
• Tortillas Incorporated
• Total Process Systems, Inc.
• TR Digital Inc.
• Transpacific Steel, LLC
• True North CoLab, LLC
• TshirtGuys.com
• UltraEx, LLC
• Unique Scaffold
• Unistaff, LLC
• United Facilities Group
• Universal Flooring Inc.
• Valdez Painting, Inc.
• Vanir Construction Management, Inc.
• Vasquez Coffee Company
• VC Automation Inc.
• Venegas Company, Inc.
• Villa Design Group LLC
• Vine Electric Inc.
• Virgen Advertising Corporation
• Vistech Manufacturing Solutions, LLC
• Viva Transcription Corporation
• Vivid-Accent Painting Co.
• Voler Strategic Advisors, Inc.
• West Best Foods, Inc.
• West Coast Mechanical
• Western Electric S. LLC
• Window Masters, Inc.
• Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc.
• Zitro Acoustics Inc.

10/02/2026

Corporate Connections heads to the Capital Region.

The Capital Region Council hosts AARP for a look at how a national organization with a membership in the tens of millions sources, what they expect from suppliers, and where their work is headed. Kimberly Ayers, Director of Supplier Strategy and Engagement at AARP, joins as special guest. Elizabeth Caulder, President and CEO of Phoenix Lifestyle Marketing Group, moderates. Live Q&A at the end.

Thursday, October 8, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT / 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Register: https://gmsdc.app.neoncrm.com/event-detail?event=18625&
Or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Use code CC2026 at registration to attend at no cost.

Still to come in the series:

Oct 13 — Florida
Oct 15 — North Central
Oct 20 — Chicago
Oct 22 — Michigan

Partners announced as each session is confirmed. Attend one and get to know a company. Follow the series and get to know markets you may never have had a reason to look at.

10/01/2026

Small Business. Big Contracts. Even bigger energy. ⚡

This week during Oakland Tech Week, WRMSDC teamed up with UCOP and DGS to help small business owners learn how to compete for contracting opportunities with major Bay Area organizations.

The highlight? Our panel. Moderated by Abim Odusoga of UCOP, it featured:

Donna Ruff - WRMSDC/ Circularity
Demeshia Swanson - CA DGS
Danielle Marshall, MBA-MDE(UCLA-EBV) - VIBN
Jaymee Lomax - WBEC Pacific
Maitjian Welke - USPAACC
Cathy Adams - OAACC

As members of Circularity's Alliance of Community Leaders (ACL), these women brought real-world insight, honest advice, and plenty of laughs. Our VIBN reps put it best: each panelist was dynamic on her own, but together they're a force to be reckoned with.

We have a feeling this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for what's coming next from this group. 👀

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to our partners for making it happen. 🙌🏾

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

Reminder! Corporate Connections heads to the Southern Region tomorrow.

The Southern Regional Council hosts the Export-Import Bank of the United States and America's SBDC for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. EXIM is the federal agency that supports American exporters; the SBDC network provides advising and resources to small businesses nationwide. Moderated by The Goddess Group. Live Q&A at the end.

Thursday, October 1, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT / 1:00 – 2:30 PM CT
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Register: https://gmsdc.app.neoncrm.com/event-detail?event=18635

Use code CC2026 at registration to attend at no cost.

Still to come in the series:

Oct 8 — Capital Region
Oct 13 — Florida
Oct 15 — North Central
Oct 20 — Chicago
Oct 22 — Michigan