Chariman's Message - March 2010
It is my honor and privilege to announce the National Minority Technology Council’s intention to form the largest minority technology joint venture ever amassed in the United States. The vision of this grand undertaking is codified
Welcome to the Dawn of a New Era,
NMTC USA Partnership Website
I am compelled to call to action our army of innovators. This inductive possibility is born from the collective of now 4,500 minority technology companies located in over 40 districts, with an estimated $10 Billion in aggregated annual sales.
under the name NMTC USA. The first round of selected minority technology companies are domiciled in over 100 cities across the US. Please visit our partnership website nmtcusa.com and help me congratulate the over 120 minority owned technology companies who have demonstrated both excellence and success. NMTC USA's business goals are focused on maximizing Council relationships, while leveraging our partner capabilities. Our greatest strength is our own spirit of cooperation, respect, and chemistry caused by our common concern. It is truly amazing how our common adversity is the catalyst that will ignite our greatest unifying accomplishment.
In order to truly grasp the vision of our new frontier we first need to recognize the problem we set out to solve. As a market we generally produce in isolation. There were substantial institutional barriers, making it technologically infeasible to partner. Many of us knew that our operating cost were lower and were either personally or corporately underemployed. We more often than not found ourselves in the role of subcontractor even though we discovered and nurtured both the relationships and the opportunity. As I have met with you over the last 10 years I found a common concern, and a common bond. A unifying truth of our undiscovered and untapped potential; a new frontier.
Now is the time for change. Now is the time for solutions. Now is the time for a leveraged expansion of our market. Now is the time for possibility. Last year our great nation took a step some of us only dreamed possible. We as a market need to answer back with our own bold move forward. It is time we truly monetize our obvious, yet unrealized, joint reach, capacity and comparative advantage. We have the opportunity to create thousands of new, well paid jobs across this great nation. Bringing families out of peril and renewing the communities we now serve.
Pragmatically the Council has undergone a selection process to uncover our first round of qualified partners. We have based our District nominations on company products/services and their potential contribution to the partnership. Issues of management and governance of the relationship will be delineated in confidence. Milestones, including acceptance, technology assistance, on-boarding, ownership and deal flow are forthcoming.
I pray that God grants us favor as we dig new wells together.
With humility and courage,
Karl Cureton
Chairman
National Minority Technology Council
January 2009
Click to View January 2009 Message
November 2008
Click to View November 2008 Message
July 2008
Click to View July 2008 Message
We are very thankful for and deeply appreciate the many contributors to this website.
Our members and partners spend countless hours working to build successful companies.
We appreciate time spent sharing ideas and best practices with us and providing your thoughts and
feelings with our members at large.
Karl Cureton, NMTC Chair
Our beginnings: In 1999 Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore announced that he "is working with the private sector to create the nation's first Minority Technology Council.
The Council will coordinate efforts with minority-owned technology business and existing regional technology councils across the state." Press Release.
This was the first government announcement of the Council. Shortly after our Council Founder and Chair, Karl Cureton, was invited to speak as a panel guest for the National
Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) on the Digital Divide.
The Council has worked over the last decade with State, Federal Officials, and Corporate Executives to develop parity for minority suppliers in the IT marketplace. The Council has now formed a historic partnership of Minority companies ready to leverage their qualifications and reach.