MBN USA

May 19, 2025

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The program is free to Class 1 and Class 2 certified MBEs

By Genny Hom-Franzen

3 takeaways

• ·       OMSDC University was launched in 2022.
• ·       The program aims to help MBEs grow profitably and meet or exceed corporate member requirements.
• ·       Artificial intelligence (AI) and Lean-Six Sigma certifications are being added to the curriculum this year.

When Christopher ParhamDarabi, president of LogonTutor LLC (LogonTutor.com), joined the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council’s (OMSDC) ‘University,’ his business was a promising startup struggling to break into large enterprise contracts.

Like many minority business enterprise (MBE) owners, Parham-Darabi had the technical chops but lacked the procurement savvy and network access demanded by corporate buyers.

However, after graduating from the 16-week Ohio MSDC University experience, he wasn’t just armed with a new certificate.  Thanks to his participation in the program, Parham-Darabi could pitch his services directly to Fortune 500 procurement teams at OMSDC’s annual gala, landing meetings he never imagined.

“OMSDC U [University] has helped me with networking, scaling and workforce development practices for contracting with enterprise clients. It provided LogonTutor.com with substantial exposure at the OMSDC gala by showcasing our work and granting access to key target clients,” Parham-Darabi said.

His success illustrates a paradox that has long frustrated supplier diversity advocates: corporate procurement offices genuinely want diverse suppliers, yet too often, MBEs with less than $10 million in revenue often lack the polished processes, financial fluency and network connections to win contracts. Enter OMSDC’s first-of-its-kind solution — OMSDC University, a fully virtual, cohort-based “business school” for MBEs that launched in 2022 and ran its first pilot cohort in 2023.

OMSDC University includes 13 instructor-led and self-paced courses over a 16-week pathway, culminating in a final portfolio submission. The program comprises 12 active learning weeks interspersed with four reflection weeks. Its content is further tailored to MBEs based on their annual revenue. OMSDC offers the program free to Class 1 and Class 2 certified MBEs. Class 1 MBEs have annual revenues up to $1 million. Class 2 entrepreneurs have yearly revenues of $1 million to $9.9 million. The program is also open to Class 3 entrepreneurs (annual revenues of $10 million to $49.9 million) and Class 4 entrepreneurs (annual revenues of $50 million and up) for a fee. OMSDC is exploring ways to make the content more relevant and valuable for their unique business challenges.

Topics covered include business acumen, operational excellence, financial management and final proposal and portfolio preparation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and Lean-Six Sigma certification preparation, a data-driven methodology combining lean principles (focusing on eliminating waste) with Six Sigma principles (focusing on reducing process variability and defects), are being added to the curriculum this year.

“A defining hallmark of OMSDC U is its emphasis on tangible deliverables. MBEs don’t just tune in — they build a “business-ready” portfolio. That might include a supplier capability statement, a riskmanagement plan or a detailed proposal for a hypothetical — or real — contract opportunity,” said George Simms, president and CEO of Ohio MSDC. “Each portfolio component is critiqued by instructors drawn from corporate supply chain teams, turning abstract concepts into practical artifacts.”

He added that participants also earn digital badges after completing each module, which are shareable on LinkedIn and other networks. These badges signal to procurement professionals that an MBE attended training and demonstrated proficiency in core competencies. At the end of the program, graduates receive a Certificate of Pathway Completion and are formally recognized at the Council’s annual Supplier Diversity Awards Gala.

Simms is excited about the university’s successes. Twenty-three participants have completed the program via two cohort classes, and nearly all of them have cited new connections with corporate buyers and fellow MBEs.  

Registration for the 2025 OMSDC University cohort class begins in June, and Simms encourages corporations to invest in change and MBE.

 “OMSDC University isn’t just another supplier diversity checkbox. It’s a full-blown learning engine designed to equip MBEs with the operational rigor and strategic insight today’s procurement teams demand,” Simms said. “By blending virtual instruction, hands-on portfolios, and direct corporate mentorship, Ohio MSDC has created a scalable, replicable model that could reshape supplier diversity efforts nationwide. As other MSDC affiliates and corporate partners evaluate their programs, they should watch Ohio’s experiment closely. Because in a competitive marketplace where readiness equals revenue, building a truly diverse supply chain starts with education, and OMSDC University may have just written the blueprint.”

To learn more about Ohio MSDC, visit ohiomsdc.org.

To learn more about OMSDC University, visit ohiomsdc.org/university.

To learn more about LogonTutor.com, visit logontutor.com.