IWSCC Newsletter – May 2022
Word of the month = evolution:
the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form. As the IWSCC gains new initiatives, new members, new staff, and new energy, we’re enjoying all the benefits of evolution!
Supplier Spotlight
Advantage Bookkeeping & Business Consulting strives to provide peace of mind to business owners and leaders through our core service offerings of bookkeeping, payroll and tax services. We also provide Certified Executive and Business Coaching and have a training arm that focuses on personal and organizational development through our LEAD Development Processes. These are 12-week virtual development processes such as Leadership, Time Mastery, Customer Service, Employee Engagement, etc.
As a veteran owned company, we are passionate about providing services that support the Canadian businesses, entrepreneurial spirit, diversity, growth of business and leadership within our communities!
We Need Your Help!
This month we’re asking for your help
You might remember that we started the VENT project to gain a better understanding of Veteran Entrepreneurs’ successes and barriers.
This month, we’re asking for your help to ensure we can access as much data as possible for the survey.
More submissions = more data to support future change!
To help us out please:
- Keep an eye on your inbox and share Project VENT via social media and email
- Send the survey to past, present, or future Veteran entrepreneurs you know
Corporate Corner
At Sun Life, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment, where all of our people can contribute to their full potential. Our promise to practice diversity includes our supply base and the partners in our supply chain. Through our Supplier Diversity Program, we recognize, encourage, and include diverse suppliers as part of our competitive bidding process.
We strive to provide equal opportunities and access to qualified diverse suppliers, including veteran-owned and disabled-owned businesses, while maintaining our high standards of quality, service and information security. Our mission is to promote the visibility and use of diverse suppliers across Sun Life’s North American supply base, and to support the communities in which we operate through a diversified supplier community.
What’s Going On…
Project VENT
As we mentioned, our survey will be landing in your inbox very soon. We’re thrilled to be collecting this missing information about the Veteran Entrepreneur experience!
New Podcast Episodes!
Episode 1: We invited guests Cassandra Dorrington, President & CEO of CAMSC, and Catherine Grosz, Corporate Membership Manager for WBE Canada, to introduce the topic of Supplier Diversity, and discuss the certifying councils in Canada and why they’re important.
Episode 2: Our guests Kathy Cheng, President of Redwood Classics Apparel and Lori Benson, the ESG Services Canada Lead at EY/leader of Canadian Supplier Diversity initiatives discussed what the corporate and supplier experience is like at their companies.
A Day On the Hill
On May 17th the IWSCC, along with our fellow certifying councils, spent a day on Parliament Hill! Thank you to Minister Randy Boissonnault for hosting a breakfast for us where we presented to other elected officials and Senators, sharing the importance of Supplier Diversity and 3rd party certification. More to come next newsletter!!
CAN Connect Forum
CAN Connect Forums are an opportunity to connect with experts about topics related to accessibility.
Deidre and Jeff Wilson of Adaptability Canada were guest speakers at a the Forum. They spoke about the current landscape around procurement in Canada and the accessibility, or lack of it, in the procurement space. The conversation touched on the current support systems in place and about future changes that could address the barriers for folks with disabilities. Click this link to watch their seminar.
CAN Connect Forums happen every month and they’re actively seeking new members! If you’re interested in joining, send an email to deidreg@iwscc.ca
Matchmaking Events
Here are our Match-Made-in-5-Minute Events for May:
- May 26th
- June 7th
- June 15th
Keep an eye out for Eventbrite emails to register.
Thank You to Bryan MaxSys Staffing and Consulting!
Pictured here, Bryan Brulotte (CEO of MaxSys Staffing and Consulting) is handing Deidre Guy (President of IWSCC) a check! We’re happy to have MaxSys as one of our Certified Diverse Suppliers. Thank you to Bryan and the MaxSys team. We’re looking forward to investing the donation into more program development.
