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105 W. Adams, Sui te 2300, Chicago, I l l inois 60603 312-755-8880 www.chicagomsdc.org

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Thought leader in minority business since 1968. DECEMBER 2012

The Chicago Minority Supplier Develop-ment Council (ChicagoMSDC) has received a one-year grant to expand the territory of its Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center - Chicago into St. Louis. Executive Di-rector, Hans Bonner, has hired Charles Henson to serve as the Business Devel-opment Manager in the new St. Louis location which will be housed within the St. Louis MSDC offices.

Charles began his career in the Design & Construction In-dustry, having graduated from Washington University with a degree in Architecture. He later founded a successful professional services company, Design Alternatives, Inc. For nearly 20 years, he provided hu-man resources consulting that included:

Meet Charles Henson, Business Development Managerrecruitment, customized training solutions, and the placement of several thousand technical & professional individuals.

As the Director of Community Relations for one of the nation’s largest construc-tion conglomerates, McCarthy Building Group, Charles was entrusted in a new role for the company to implement cultural change, develop a Mentor/Protégé program for minor-ity contractors and promote community outreach endeavors.

More recently, Charles served as the Mid-west Regional Account Manager for Global Learning Partners, a training solutions or-ganization headquartered in California.

CENTER EXPANDS INTO ST. LOUIS

On October 16, 2012, MBDA Business Center client, Jagoli AIA, LLC, hosted a grand opening of its new showroom at 401 North Wells, in Chicago. Inspired by three generations of furniture design and manufacturing, Daniel Garcia, continues the family passion for creating furnishings that transcend the classically inspired into distinctly modern pieces. With a manu-facturing facility at 4101-4109 W. Lake St. in Chicago, Jagoli has established itself as a local, reliable, under budget furniture fabricator. The new showroom, managed by the Merchandise Mart, allows design-ers and customers to see and feel sam-ples of Jagoli creations.

Before entering into the lease at 401 North Wells, Danny sought help from the MBDA Business Center – Chicago. The Jagoli lease, like all other commercial leases, came down to one essential theme: the bright line between obligations of tenant and those of the landlord. After factor-

LESSONS INCOMMERCIAL

LEASING

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te CHICAGOBUSINESSOPPORTUNITYFAIR

BACK TO BASICSNavy Pier,Chicago

regroup, refocus, renew APRIL 17 - 18, 2013

WORKSHOPSEXHIBITOR SET-UP

MBEIC AWARD RECEPTION

thursdaySPONSORS BREAKFAST

CBOF TRADE FAIRDINNER DANCE

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for more information on exhibit booths and sponsorship opportunities

www.chicagomsdc.orgCynthia Jordancjordan@chicagomsdc.org312-755-2555

105 W. Adams, Sui te 2300, Chicago, I l l inois 60603 312-755-8880 www.chicagomsdc.org

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ute SEND YOUR

ANNOUNCEMENTSAND SUCCESSSTORIES TO:

Megan Nakanomnakano@chicagombdacenter.com

...St. Louis continued from page 1...Leases cont. from page 1

ing the cost of the rent and common area maintenance fees, the prospect of hav-ing to make repairs to the space must be budgeted. Take the time prior to signing the lease to negotiate shifting the burden or the obligations of maintenance back to the landlord.

When reviewing a lease, pay particular at-tention to tenant responsibilities such as:

What Operating Expense Payments are included and what percentage are you on the hook for? Expenses can

include utilities, landscaping, HVAC maintenance, trash collection, and

other ongoing costs.

Is there a tax obligation?

What insurance coverage must you carry? Is there an indemnification

requirement?

In what condition will you assume the space? What is your recourse if the landlord fails to deliver the

space on time?

In the event of restoration of the premises, when is it the landlord’s duty to repair and when the tenants?

What are tenant’s rights if the landlord fails to repair?

Review each of these items with your at-torney prior to signing a lease. You may also consider working with a real estate broker, such as the Tenant Advisory Group, who not only helps you find the right space, but negotiates cost saving terms with the Landlord.

For more thoughts on leases, feel free to contact Joshua Gutstein, Senior Financial Consultant of the MBDA Business Center-Chicago, at jgutstein@chicagombdacenter.com.

Charles is a community leader and founding member of PROUD (People Reaching Out for Unity and Diversity) which was founded in 1995 and is recognized by the Clinton Administration as a promising practice. He is also a published author, motivational speaker, youth mentor and coach. He is a board representative for non-profit agencies and school boards and is frequently featured in the St. Louis press.

Charles has received the Better Business Bureau’s Customer Satisfaction Award for Business, is a McCluer High School Wall of Fame inductee, was the first African Ameri-can selected “Citizen of the Year” for the City of Ferguson MO in 2006, was recognized as a Person of Notoriety by North County, Inc. and was named amongst the Who’s Who in Black St. Louis in 2007 and 2008.

Louis Ortiz will also be joining the staff of the MBDA Business Center - St. Louis as a Business Consultant. Amongst his many accomplishments, Louis has founded his own consulting business, taught business and economics as an adjunct professor, and served as a Business Consultant to the St. Louis MSDC for several years. Louis has a BA from the University of Puerto Rico, an MA from the University of Illinois and has completed coursework for a PhD.

Please contact Charles Henson at chenson@chicagombdacenter.com or 341-422-3314 if you or any of your asso-ciates are seeking financing or require as-sistance with certification or navigating pro-curement opportunities in the St. Louis area.

MBEICHOLDS GENERAL

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGThe Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) held its General Meeting on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Chicago South Loop Hotel.

The MBEIC is an elected board comprised of MBEs whose function is to serve in an advisory capacity to the ChicagoMSDC Board of Directors ensuring that the voice of the MBE community is represented.

Joyce Johnson, President & CEO of Anchor Staffing, Inc. was elected to a two-year term as Chair of the MBEIC. Joyce has over 30 years of staffing and recruiting experience and has grown her company to be one of the largest minority & woman owned staff-ing firms in the Chicagoland area. Thomas McLeary, President of Endow, Inc. will serve as Vice Chair and Karen Eng, President & CEO of CSMI as Secretary.

This year’s meeting featured speakers, Jim Cabrera, President & CEO of UBM Facility Services, Inc. and Marquis Miller, Vice President of Field Operations, Nation-al Minority Supplier Development Council.

Joyce Johnson, MBEIC Chair