Chamber Launches Quick Connect, a New Supplier Diversity Directory

Business View – March 2022 / Business News

The Mobile Area Chamber’s new Quick Connect, a Supplier Diversity Directory, is now live, featuring local minority-owned businesses.

https://quickconnect.mobilechamber.com/

Quick Connect, found on the homepage of mobilechamber.com, includes business profiles and gives large corporations the ability to quickly locate minority- and women-owned businesses. It also highlights business resources, training and contracting opportunities, making it a go-to resource for those looking to do business with minority business enterprises (MBEs).

“Quick Connect will allow them to be exposed to larger corporations that are looking to diversify their supply chain and the public at large,” said Darrell Randle, vice president of small business development for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

It’s completely free to be included in Quick Connect and the developers have made it easy to set up a profile by selecting “Free Listing” on the directory and answer a few questions.

“The platform is very user friendly and makes it easy for business owners to keep their information current, and it will give disadvantaged businesses the opportunity to increase their exposure,” said Barbara Peters with SmartLiving LLC, who helped test the platform.

The platform is very user friendly and makes it easy for business owners to keep their information current, and it will give

disadvantaged businesses the opportunity to increase their exposure.”

Barbara Peters SmartLiving LLC

Dr. Valerie James of VisionSpot Enterprises served as the 2021 vice-chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Chamber and played an integral role in launching Quick Connect.

“The directory is designed to heighten visibility and access to a broader range of matchmaking opportunities for underrepresented and certified businesses with supplier diversity procurement agencies, and increase exposure to contracting and sub-contracting connections and collaboration among our members,” said James.

The directory was created by Qwally, a company known for working with local governments to build a more inclusive digital landscape. It has recently worked with the city of Mobile’s Innovation Team and Office of Supplier Diversity to launch a website increasing the percentage of minority- and women-owned businesses landing city contracts by walking business owners through the process.

“I am looking forward to the launch of the directory because of the impact and the enhancement in highlighting the minority diverse culture in a huge positive manner,” said Ruthie Johnson of Bama Pest Control, who helped test the directory. “So much information about each company is available at your fingertips.”

I am looking forward to the launch of the directory because of the impact and the enhancement in highlighting the minority

diverse culture in a huge positive manner.”

Ruthie Johnson Bama Pest Control

Randle strongly encourages every business that meets the government standard for being recognized as a minority-owned business to create a listing. “We’d like a comprehensive list so that we never hear the phrase ‘I can’t find minority-owned businesses,’” said Randle.

For assistance setting up or updating a profile in the Chamber’s Quick Connect, contact Brenda Rembert at brembert@mobilechamber.com or 251.431.8607.

Click here to read the Business View – March 2022

Additional information is on the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s website at mobilechamber.com, on Facebook at @MobileChamber, Instagram at @mobile-area-chamber and Twitter at @MobileChamber.