veteran. advocate. entreprenuer. leader
National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
NVBDC – 2012
National Veteran Business Development Council
In late 2012 and after years of successfully completing Federal and State contracts, Mr. King was disappointed in the fact that he had not been awarded any contracts with corporations. Knowing that under Federal law if a corporation had a contract with the Federal government that they could be required to submit a sub-contracting plan that included Minority, Women and Veteran owned businesses, he wanted to know why in most cases Veteran owned businesses were not being included.
Mr. King was advised to contact the supplier diversity managers at the corporations to find the answer to his concerns. Being in Michigan, he reached out to the “Detroit 3” (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and Kellogg’s each of whom had a long successful history of supplier diversity programs. Their answer was direct and simple – they would not contract with Veteran owned businesses until “you veterans create a certification program that meets our corporate standards”. Not knowing what that really meant,Mr. King was directed to the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) and the Great Lakes Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Both organizations were willing to teach Mr. King and his team their certification methods.
As 2013 began, Mr. King made the decision to suspend operations of his company, Keith King and Associates, and focus on the development of a certification program for veteran owned businesses. He also began to recruit his Officers: Brigadier General (ret) Richard Miller, Richard White, Joe Sternburg and Guido Capaldi were the first to join him. Being good military men, they immediately began to write the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) based on what they were learning from the Women and Minority groups.
They filed with the IRS to apply for their 501(c)3 non-profit status. The business plan was written. By-laws were created. A lawyer was hired. They secured their business name and website address. The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) was taking shape. The search then began to find veteran business owners who would be willing to submit their documentation to the NVBDC to become certified at stringent, corporate best practice standards.
nvbdc – 2014
NVBDC is Born – Changing How American Businesses Perceive Veteran Owned Companies
The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 that provides certification to Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses (SD/VOBs) in the United States. The NVBDC’s mission is to support and promote SD/VOBs by providing them with resources and opportunities to grow and succeed in the marketplace, while also assisting corporations with meeting their supplier diversity goals.
SD/VOB Certification
Certification by the NVBDC is a rigorous process that involves verifying the ownership, control, and operation of a business by service-disabled andveterans. The NVBDC certification is recognized by corporations and government agencies as a reliable indicator of a business’s status as an SD/VOB.
The NVBDC provides SD/VOBs with access to opportunities by partnering with corporations and government agencies that have supplier diversity programs. The NVBDC certification can provide SD/VOBs with a competitive advantage in the marketplace by demonstrating their ownership and control by service-disabled and veterans, which can differentiate them from competitors.
Corporate Membership
Corporate membership with the NVBDC provides corporations with access to a certified network of SD/VOBs, a streamlined procurement process, reputation and brand recognition, networking opportunities, and compliance with regulations. By joining NVBDC as a corporate member, corporations can fulfill their supplier diversity targets while also supporting SD/VOBs and demonstrating their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Resources
The NVBDC also provides SD/VOBs with resources and support to help them grow and succeed in the marketplace. The NVBDC’s Veteran Business Resource Center provides education, mentorship, and networking opportunities for SD/VOBs. Additionally, the NVBDC hosts an annual Veteran Business Matchmaker event, which brings together SD/VOBs and corporations for matchmaking and networking opportunities.
One of the primary benefits of NVBDC certification is that it can help veteran-owned businesses access new opportunities for growth and success. Many corporations and government agencies have programs in place to promote the hiring of veteran-owned businesses, and being NVBDC-certified can help these businesses stand out and secure contracts and partnerships that they might not otherwise have been able to win. By giving veteran-owned businesses access to new opportunities, the NVBDC helps these businesses grow and succeed, which in turn strengthens the U.S. economy as a whole.
Background
Prior to the establishment of the NVBDC, there was no uniform certification process for veteran-owned businesses, which made it difficult for these businesses to compete for contracts and opportunities with larger corporations and government agencies.
In 1999 PL 106-50 established the Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Small business as a legal business classification in the Federal Government procurement regulations. This was followed by Public Law (PL 108-183/December 16, 2003), known as the ‘‘Veterans Benefits Act of 2003’’, which enabled Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses to receive sole-source and restricted competition contracts for goods purchased by the Federal Government. Fast forward 3 years, the CVE Public Law (PL 109-461/12-22, 2006)leads to the creation of what is to become known as the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) in 2008. The law required the VA Secretary to create and maintain a database of Veteran Owned Businesses.
In 2012 NVBDC created the rationale for Veteran-Owned businesses to be included in Corporate Supplier Diversity programs. The presentation included data on economic disadvantages, educational disparity, and career hindrances. The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) was established in 2013 to address the growing need to identify and certify both service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses (SD/VOBs) in the commercial (corporate) marketplace. The NVBDC administers a rigorous certification process designed to withstand the scrutiny of governmental and corporate entities seeking to utilize certified SD/VOBs. The NVBDC adopted these rigorous standards to align with supplier diversity industry best practices.
In April 2014, NVBDC completed its Certification process testing in conjunction with representatives from GM, Ford, Stellantis, Kellogg’s, WBENC, NMSDC, VBOC, SCORE, and the VA. RECEIVING THEIR COLLECTIVE APPROVAL, NVBDC launched its certification program while it worked on completing its online certification program which was released nationally in June 2015.
The NVBDC’s certification program helped level the playing field by providing a standardized certification process that is now recognized by corporations and government agencies across the country.
Billion Dollar Roundtable
In 2017, the BDR governance committee evaluated NVBDC’s certification process and recognized its program as the only accepted veteran business certification that meets the BDR audit standards.
The BDR Governance Committee evaluates certification organization requests on an ongoing basis as a means for recognizing greater numbers of diverse suppliers. To maintain consistency among the 32 Members of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, diverse suppliers must be certified by one of these third-party certification agencies:
- National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
- The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- National Veteran’s Business Development Council (NVBDC)
- Disability:IN
- National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
For BDR purposes, certified means that U.S. suppliers have been confirmed by a third-party certification agency as being at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one of the five diversity certification organizations it recognizes.
Today, 32 corporations make up the Billion Dollar Roundtable, 28 of whom are NVBDC corporate members. By demonstrating the BDR and NVBDC impact, we believe that others will embrace our vision and join us on this important mission to support our Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses.
As noted in the 2022 BDR Impact Report, the aggregate Tier I supplier diversity spend of BDR member companies increased over the past year by $20 billion to $96 billion.
NVBDC Certified SD/VOB 2022 Economic Impact Data for Tier 1 Spend by BDR Members.
As a result of this partnership, Billion Dollar Roundtable members have spent over $3.3 billion with NVBDC-certified VOBs, creating a significant impact on the U.S. economy as shown below:
- $3.3B Tier I Spend
- $2B Payroll
- $3.7B Added value to GDP
- 44,498 # of jobs
- $6.7B Impact on Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses.
This is a significant milestone, as it not only highlights the growing importance of supporting diverse businesses but also demonstrates the impact that NVBDC Certified SD/VOBs are having on the economy.
Many NVBDC/BDR members, including companies such as Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Apple, Google, Meta Supplier Diversity, and Amazon all of whom have made it a priority to work with NVBDC Certified SD/VOBs. They recognize the unique value that these diverse businesses bring to the table, including their agility, innovation, and commitment to quality.
Economic Impact
Moreover, the impact of this spend goes beyond just the businesses themselves. When SD/VOBs are supported, they are able to create jobs and opportunities within their communities, such as the $3.7B Added value to GDP and 44,498 jobs created.
This impact can have a ripple effect, as more veterans are able to enter the workforce and contribute to the economy, and reinforces our view that entrepreneurship is another form of employment and helping our veterans succeed in business helps them, their families, and the communities in which they reside.
By working with NVBDC Certified SD/VOBs, members of the BDR are not only supporting a diverse supplier base but also benefiting from the expertise and innovation that these businesses bring to the table. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved, as SD/VOBs are able to grow and thrive, while corporations are able to tap into new sources of innovation and creativity.
The BDR’s recognition of the impact of NVBDC Certified SD/VOBs is a testament to the growing importance of diversity and inclusion in the business world. By supporting these businesses, companies are not only doing the right thing but also benefiting from the unique value that these businesses bring to the table. The total economic impact in 2022 was $6.7B for our Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses.
Social Impact
In addition to helping individual businesses, NVBDC certification also has broader economic benefits. Veteran-owned businesses are a vital part of the U.S. economy, generating billions of dollars in revenue and creating jobs for millions of Americans. By promoting and supporting veteran-owned businesses, the NVBDC helps to create a more diverse and resilient economy, one that is better able to weather economic downturns and promote sustainable growth over the long term.
Overall, the National Veteran Business Development Council plays an important role in supporting the veteran community and promoting economic growth in the United States. By providing a standardized certification process for veteran-owned businesses, the NVBDC helps these businesses access new opportunities, grow, and succeed, which in turn benefits the U.S. economy as a whole. Whether you are a veteran looking to start your own business or a corporation or government agency looking to partner with a veteran-owned business, the NVBDC is an important resource that is well worth exploring.
In summary, the National Veteran Business Development Council is a non-profit organization that provides certification to SD/VOBs and resources and support to help them succeed in the marketplace. The NVBDC also assists corporations with meeting their supplier diversity goals by providing access to a certified network of SD/VOBs, a streamlined procurement process, and networking opportunities.
The NVBDC’s work is crucial in supporting and promoting SD/VOBs and promoting diversity and inclusion in the business world.
if you are a veteran business owner, click below to learn more about NVBDC