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October 28, 2025

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Regional affiliates target sustainable growth for small businesses

By Zachary Rinkins

Minority-owned businesses have faced a competitive landscape that has long demanded agility, resilience and innovation. In today’s environment — with federal programs in flux and companies reevaluating their approach to supplier diversity — the 23 regional affiliates of National Minority Supplier Development Council Inc. (NMSDC) are working to ensure that diverse suppliers not only remain in the pipeline but also thrive.

Patricia Crenshaw is chair of the NMSDC Affiliate Councils’ Presidents Group, which represents the regional affiliates. She is also president and CEO of the Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council.

“Our goal is to help small businesses navigate the landscape in any way we can,” Crenshaw said. “Irrespective of the climate, our goal remains the same: Help these enterprises grow and become sustainable.”

Unity and accountability

After nearly two years of negotiation, all 23 regional councils recently reached a landmark agreement with NMSDC. The pact, she said, underscores a commitment to collective accountability.

“The main piece that comes out of the agreement is that the councils and the national office [NMSDC] will be accountable for the success of the businesses we serve,” Crenshaw said. “There are some other terms like indemnification and transparency, but the main piece is that we are now accountable to each other, and we must have key performance indicators [KPIs] to measure and accomplish our goals.”

She remains optimistic about working with NMSDC interim president and CEO, Don Cravins Jr., who took the helm in August 2025. (See related story on Page 12).

Over the past year, he has served as an NMSDC board member and chair designee, supporting the executive committee. From 2024 to 2025, Cravins was head of government affairs and outreach at Williams Companies Inc. From 2022 to 2024, he served as the first-ever undersecretary of minority business development at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). From 2021 to 2022, Cravins was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Urban League, and from 2010 to 2022, he was an adjunct professor in the School of Professional Studies at George Washington University. From 2004 to 2009, Cravins was a member of the Louisiana State Legislature.

“Don Cravins Jr. has an impressive track record and tremendous credentials,” Crenshaw said. “We look forward to working with him to deliver results for our stakeholders.”

For member businesses, that means that councils are aligning more closely with national leadership to deliver measurable results. For corporations, it means greater consistency and reliability when sourcing from suppliers.

Competing in a shifting environment

Crenshaw emphasized that minority-owned firms are not given contracts — they compete for them.

“These businesses have not been given anything,” she said. “It is an opportunity to be considered for the opportunity — to have a seat at the table. Our member businesses have always been in a competitive environment. Now, some of the tables are not as readily available as they were last year. But those businesses are accustomed to pivoting and can pivot faster than many corporations.”

Crenshaw said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, member firms demonstrated that agility by shifting operations to meet urgent needs in areas such as masks and sanitizers. That same creativity, she said, will be key to weathering current challenges.

“This is a time for creativity,” she said. “We will create programming and other avenues to help them increase their bottom line. And that is why they get certified.”

Building community and capacity

Certification may open the door, but the Councils offer much more. Programs such as the Minority Business Executive Program and North Central MSDC MBE [minority business enterprise] CEO Academy foster peer networks, mentorship and skills development.

“We are not all about certification. We are about supporting businesses,” Crenshaw said. “When I talk to new members, I talk about a community. Community partners should continue to connect because things can change, but conversations keep going.”

In the programs, she noted, even competitors have found value in collaborating.

“Sometimes it’s even competitors on that call, and they see that they have something else in common as a CEO,” Crenshaw said. “Once you get to the top, it can be lonely. But when you have peers you can trust, it makes a difference.”

The road ahead

For both member firms and corporate partners, the Councils’ value lies in preparing suppliers to compete effectively — while providing companies with access to innovative and dependable partners.

“For the small businesses, it’s the ability to be competitive and agile,” Crenshaw said. “For the Councils, we’re supportive. Our mission is to help members develop and work together. The Councils provide education and resources to help you build your business, to help you find a pathway that you didn’t see.”

As the business climate evolves, the Councils are positioning themselves as both advocates and solution providers.

“We will navigate this time with our MBEs, our corporate members and our national office,” Crenshaw said.

For small businesses considering growth and for corporations seeking diverse suppliers, the councils remain a vital bridge — one that aims to strengthen supply chains, expand opportunities and build lasting community wealth.

To learn more about NMSDC’s regional affiliates, visit nmsdc.org/about/regional-affiliates.