MLOA Hosts Guest Speaker at Miami Meeting

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation Miami — On October 13, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) held its last in-person meeting of the year during the Chauffeur Driven Show at Loews Miami Beach Hotel. The breakfast meeting gave the association’s far-flung membership base a chance to convene face-to-face, as well as listen to speaker Sheila Bright, who recently retired from AT&T as their supplier diversity director and is now working as a consultant.

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by recognizing the board of directors’ hard work and dedication, as well as emphasizing that membership has the benefit of “giving you a network of more than 450 cars,” thanks to the MLOA’s 149 members.

Citing the association’s value proposition of increased education, networking, financial literacy, fellowship, and development, Brewster also recognized the support of vendors like Create-a-Card, Battisti Customs, and Advantage Funding, saying that because of such partnerships, “together, we all develop as businesses.”

Guest Speaker Sheila Bright Bright then took to the mic, speaking about the importance and value of supplier diversity to large corporate institutions. She advised the audience on ways to pursue, obtain, and leverage their ability to offer a diverse supplier base—which, in turn, results in “a really measurable ROI” for the corporations who work with minority-owned businesses.

A crucial piece of advice that Bright shared was well-aligned with initiatives that the MLOA has been offering, like helping its members seek Small Business Administration certification: “Getting certified needs to be a 2015-2016 goal,” she said. “You’re leaving money on the table if it’s not.” Bright also met with a handful of MLOA members in good standing for brief one-on-one sessions.

The meeting capped off with Sarah VanBeek and Katie Martinez of Chosen Payments presenting the association with a check for $1,500.

Visit mlooa.org for more information.

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