Diversity NetWorking

NetWorking happens at mixers, seminar and community events. Almost a decade ago, I met the following gentleman because of our involvement in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and of a connection I had with his wife. Meet Greg Maes, Supplier Diversity Small Business Coordinator Supply Chain Management for Chevron Global Upstream (a Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Division Company).

Maria Elena: Thanks for taking the time to meet with me Greg! I know what a hectic travel schedule you keep. You recently won an award, congratulations! What is the official name of the award?

Greg: Corporate Advocate of the Year 2007 for the Women Business Enterprise Alliance. I accepted the award at their annual banquet in Houston, Texas.

Maria Elena: Tell me more about what you do and why diversity in networking is vital to your position?

Greg: I supervise our supplier chain and coordinate Supplier Diversity with Small Businesses. Chevron is a corporate entity and some of our projects are funded federally through the Department of Defense and the Department of Education. There are metrics that we, as a company, are responsible for and our contracts are reviewed annually to insure compliance. I’m directly responsible for 28% of our service and materials that Chevron Upstream utilizes. That equates to $1.4 billion dollars of supplies and materials that we seek to do business with women in business, veterans, service disabled business owners, small businesses and HUBs (historically underutilized businesses). Additionally, 6% of our service and material funds, must be spent in minority owned businesses. I am responsible for eight states: Texas, Alaska, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Alabama and Oklahoma.

We’re a large company so there are many divisions and three other people who do what I do. I’m involved with the upstream side of the business which is the exploration and production side of the oil business. There is also a downstream side to the business which takes place after the production phase through to the point of sale.

Maria Elena: So, where do you network to find the businesses you work with?

Greg: I’m focused on providing small businesses a chance in the corporate world. For example, I was able to work with a small trucking firm so that they have an opportunity at one section of our business. I network closely with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) . They certify businesses and minority own so I know that when I connect with anyone through the council that their business can be verified as a minority owned business. They host educational programs, seminars, expos and even gala events that provide the networking opportunities to meet suppliers and small businesses that could do business together.

I also network with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC began with a vision of a world of commerce where successful women business owners would have equal opportunities in the marketplace, and where corporate supplier diversity programs that included women’s business enterprises (WBEs) would be commonplace. Today, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the nation’s leading advocate of women’s business enterprises as suppliers to corporate America. They host conference and business fairs, match maker meetings, award banquets, scholarships for businesses striving for certification, and even “done deals” which showcases the great connections and business between women owned enterprises and corporations.

I also network at any events hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and several Hispanic, Asian and Native American Organizations across the country.

Maria Elena: Those sound like wonderful entities – yet so “big city”. How do you make connections in the rural areas where some of the small business owners that you want to connect with operate?

Greg: I seek affiliates of these larger organizations all the time. For example, I’m heavily involved with our local Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and worked with Texas Tech University and the chamber to bring the HUB Expo to our area. In Houston, there’s the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) and in Dallas, the Women’s Business Council. Then I start looking at minority business council events such as the Houston Minority Business Council who hosts a large business expo to bring us all together. Statewide groups, such as the Center for South Texas Minority Business Councils, have affiliates in several areas that do small scale events with the same purpose.

Maria Elena: Typically, your networking would include what activities?

Greg: I spend time connecting with people who network heavily and are involved in their community like you, Maria Elena. I go to networking breakfasts, lunches, seminar, expos, and conferences. My strongest source, by far, is word of mouth, Maria Elena, from community connectors such as you. You can provide me insight into up and coming businesses, businesses I’m not aware of, or networking venues that I’ve never been to.

 

Greg gives networkers an insight on to where we can focus our networking efforts. Join me next month as I continue my visit with Greg to see what more we can do to connect with companies like Chevron.

 

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