Jim Cooper's Orange County; Black History: The Achievements

Jim Cooper's Orange County is made possible by grants from Disneyland Park announcing its new attractions Star Tour is now boarding passengers for a space flight adventure by signal landmark incorporated developer of Southern California real estate and builder of Landmark homes and by Robert have an account temps providing permanent and temporary accounting financial and EDV personnel with offices in Newport Beach and throughout Southern California. Among the important benefits of observance of like Black History Month of the national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King is the requirement for all America to make annual assessments on the condition of all minorities in the fabric of our national life. Each year there are reminders that discrimination and injustice still exist in housing jobs and educational opportunity. But there are also positive figures for betterment in achievement and racial goals. One of those positive reports is that black own private business has increased in America by 47 percent between 1977 and 1982. Today there are 600000 minority owned businesses in America and 25 percent of those

are in Southern California. I'm Jim Cooper and today I look at black history in Orange County where the spotlight on achievement in the business arena. In our county where unemployment stands at only 4 percent black unemployment is 6 percent and black teenage unemployment is about 17 percent. Many black residents in Orange County are important role models for youth however and many local Black

represented in the profession in education and the corporate and private business operation. They all talk about some of those business achievement with special guest. But first let's look at a major project Minority Business Opportunity day which took place this week in Anaheim. Now in its 16th year the minority business opportunity day trade fair held its Tuesday in Anaheim with attended by 450 minority business men and women mostly from Orange County. The objective was to meet with purchasing executives of one hundred thirty eight Southern California corporations who could be buyers of what the minority entrepreneurs offer to sell the fair alternate year between Los Angeles and Orange County. This is the sixth time that is taken place in Orange County. Another group the Orange County Regional purchasing Council help in sponsoring the event attended by more than 600 minority business people. The corporations which privately joined together to sponsor the trade fair trade from giant aerospace and electronics firms to insurance food service

manufacturing and cosmetic companies. We're staffed by purchasing officers and personnel executives of the corporations who are potential buyers of the minority business as a company product. All those books cost several hundred dollars for the corporations the fee was only $25. For any minority business person to attend. The idea is to create a single form place for black Hispanic Asian or American Indian businesspeople to make contact to be followed up later to develop new accounts. The largest number of minority entrepreneurs were among the growing numbers of successful black and Hispanic business owners in Orange County. I talked to some of him as Benoit is president of the Orange Coast Electric Supply Company headquartered in Santa Ana. He came to his first faire in 1980 and that helped him started a business. What is it meant to you to come to this fair and how did it help you as a Hispanic businessman starting out. In 1980 we were in the middle of a recession and I started in an Electric Supply Company with an area that I had had a lot of experience and what I

didn't have any customers at the time that I started so I attended the first minority opportunity day that I was invited to at that time and made several contacts and in the weeks that followed up I got substantial business from several of the companies that we see here today. And I'm still getting business today. Very simply what's the value to these. Suppliers who come and reach one hundred thirty eight corporations here in one room today. It's enormous. Now where do you get to all the contacts that you make in there today but it saves you dollars and travelling expenses and it saves you hours and hours and time and without your have to make appointments are premade for you so it's just enormous. Jim Charlo is president and owner of Tron tech incorporated and aerospace and defense contractor even coming to these fairs and 1982. What's the biggest plus from the standpoint of the suppliers. Well Jim I think one of the one of the biggest that is for a company like mine is the opportunity to expose their wares and their capabilities to us is a large number of companies at one location and one

telling. What's in it for the 138 corporations that come here and and employ the goods and services of all the suppliers. Well it's sort of a reverse of what I just said for myself. They in turn will find out what is available right now in the minority and the small business community. As far as capabilities are concerned mainly high tech. What about many minority business men who are trying to start out and again new accounts to gain new business. How important is this. I think this is a very very important format for those companies OK. I believe that the key here is perseverance perseverance and more perseverance to follow up on THE LEAD and to do what you say you can do as a minority business man who had to start out tonight and what every competitive business how does it change your life. How does that help your life. I'll tell you being in business as a minority entrepreneurs has changed my life significantly from being in the corporate world. Here I find that in addition to perseverance

it's belief and faith. And that's very important. Whether the corporations were manufacturers wholesalers or those in the building trade industry the attitude of the corporations was one of openness and encouragement but competitiveness was a key word. The corporate people want to encourage purchases from minority businesses but they expect the services and products to be competitive with all suppliers. Some Orange County minority business firms say that 30 to 40 percent of their annual business comes from contact that are made through the trade fair like Malcolm Smith a plant manager for Coca-Cola food and he's also a general chairperson for the whole event here today. What's the biggest motivating reason that you have for getting so involved putting so much energy into this. But you know I think it's it's a civic pride on the part of Coca-Cola foods that we have a chance here to develop some economic opportunity for the minority suppliers as well as give them a chance to take a look at us. What way do you have of measuring the success of this whole program of the hundred and thirty eight corporations involved here

today. That's that's difficult to do because you don't measure it in dollars and cents you know measure the numbers of people that come. Probably the sellers measured by the amount of contacts that they make and it's more or less done on an individual basis. You can measure it somewhat by just the number of people that come back year after year after year. But companies and sellers. What about the all of the suppliers that come here all these years. One of the biggest plus the big has been offer them well or else can you meet one hundred and thirty eight people or companies and talk to the people that can make the decisions whether or not they need their particular items. You don't do that by making sales calls or getting on the phone. The large turnout and professional approach of the minority business men and women present strong evidence of the growing communities of successful black Hispanic and Asian business people now located in Orange County. Their numbers are clearly growing. What it all helpful for the 138 companies and corporations who are buyers of goods and

services. Was it productive for the four hundred fifty minority businesses who came to sell their wares. Well from the comments on both sides of the table today the answer was positive and enthusiastic. It was productive and well worth the continuing effort. Jim Cooper at the Minority Business Opportunity day trade fair in Anaheim and that was a lot of fun. And now we're going to meet our guest James McClelland as president of the Black Business Alliance of Warren County he was one of the founders when it was established in 1903 to promote black business development in Orange County. He's the sales representative for Digital Equipment Corporation and formerly co-owned to import importing companies with his wife when Dylan and his manager a business development program for Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles. She's also chairperson of the board for the Southern California regional purchasing Council. She's on the executive board of the Black Women's Collective and a member of the Federation of Business and Professional Women. Sal Dawson the small and disadvantaged business program manager for Ford air and air a new tonic program in Newport Beach.

He's also chair of the Orange County Regional purchasing Council. He studied international economics at the University of Heidelberg Germany and has 15 years experience as an advocate for Minority Business Development. Robert Miranda is co-owner of Miranda and a certified public accountant a USC graduate who started this firm with a partner seven years ago and they now employ 20 professionals in small business tax and accountant services. He's chairman of the board of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and is in Orange County United Way board member. We often think of many contributions of black people and of all minorities during Black History Month in the arts and music and any other contributions that we this year want to focus on. Visit Jeevan. What kind of achievement. What kind of marks are being made by many many people in the business and corporate world which particularly in Orange County. I think I'd like to start with you again because your organization today is having the business outlook for the 90s. The black ribbons alliance is having the business outlook for the night you are that's

correct you have a black business. Exactly what are you finding out from that. What we're finding out several things one it's a combination of good news and bad news one we're in probably one of the most conducive areas of the country to start a business. Any type of business where you're a minority and majority male female Orange County certainly has the credentials as being a very very lot of economic vitality a lot of economic vitality. We heard statistics that far exceeding any other part of the country the workforce here showed a greater interest being willing to work as their own employer start their own business I think that's like at thirty seven and thirty nine percent of the individuals that were surveyed and the one thousand eighty one thousand eighty five survey. So you have a very very vital area to work with. And our constituency which is a broad base of all types of businesses share and that enthusiasm. The other side of the coin basically Jim is that it is traditionally or has been traditionally

harder in Orange County to start a business if you are a minority especially if you're black and it's strictly because of the historical background that Orange County has had perhaps culturally and. Racially and also from the standpoint of accessibility to traditional forms of financing capitalization and promotion advertising. And it's to that end that black business alliance of Orange County wants to try and help make a difference through networking through bringing to four more and more about those vital companies that are getting started here by minorities and also to network with the majority community to make sure it is well known. The expertise to we have in so many different areas. I think a 65 page book that your organization puts out. Yes I was very impressed with the 65 pages of minority businesses. Right we do that I want to read. We do that annually. And it's part of the service that we've dedicated ourselves to this community and that is one basically let others amongst ourselves also let others

know that there is a sizable amount to live on and operated businesses in Orange County that they represent not only just your traditional mom and pop stores but some very very innovative and creative business some very sophisticated exactly exactly that's important to know because I think it you can get to the illusion or at least a feeling that most businesses that are in Orange County either are not visible or the small of a variety don't represent some of the more attractive businesses that we've gone that if we were doing the show 20 years ago. I would not be holding in my hand the directory with 65 pages of black and that minority been probably have it all one we have and to pay there is like you say black. Good news and bad news the least that's on the good news. What about your feelings about this. You must feel pretty good about the big turnout you had to have the minority business opportunities. Oh I feel I can even more as the word for Dad each year when we hold the trade fair that it's thanks to its outstanding Let's see how large

numbers continually grow you know the one thing I can reiterate on what German say that. Is a see how many new businesses that are coming out each other to new companies that should save small or disadvantaged business companies that are coming out and ever in the whole spectrum of the business community. That's right and they're getting away from the basic And that is strictly Beinn should say billing and services. There in high tech. High tech high tech which is a very has been a very difficult area. The thing I was impressed about walking around there with the 600 people there I was in Number one the big turnout but the degree of sophistication of the services and goods that were being offered. We're not talking about a Florida florist shop here we're talking about be looking make electronic components and do them well and competitively. That's what I meant about high tech you know you're in the corporate world they're in the tonic you know on both sides of the aisle of both being in the corporate world but

also what it's like to be on the outside to to make an appeal to them to sell your your wares or your goods and products. What about that. Yes we have understood and tried to meet our role in increasing minority business development for a number of years internally within my company a Ford aerospace. We are concentrating on the large volume commitments. We're looking at the high tech side of it and we are finding these type of suppliers in Orange County and elsewhere. But I wouldn't find out 20 years ago here we probably would have founded 20 years ago and of course the emphasis if it had a been an emphasis in that time frame minority development would have been in other areas. But today we have a growing awareness of what it's going to take to in a face what I understood as well as the commercial side of the marketplace that Southern California. Where do we go from here what is one of their hope of the not just the

minority business opportunity day but what are your hopes what are the vision that you see for you for your group. Well one of the things that personally I have is that I would like to see the day come when we don't have to make a distinction between minority businesses or small business and that we enter society did looks upon business for business sake. Then you've got the monster you don't cut the mustard That's right it is that's it. And but until we meet that particular objective or go we're going to have to strive for goals and objectives that's going to bring about this type of betterment in the marketplace. But that's what we like to do but I think we can make it clear that some of the aerospace firms for example the big aerospace firms are mandated by government contract to make an effort to make a positive effort in an affirmative action and also in and purchasing. But a lot of the corporations that were there at this thing did not have to do that in other words they didn't have to be there on Tuesday a cosmetic company doesn't have to make this effort and yet you have a big participation. OK what's the magic that you

think that you account for that. It's a good faith effort really good. I can speak from Coca-Cola. What we're doing is putting back into the minority community what we are taken out and therefore we store above that and put emphasis on the good faith effort and it's a real that's a real effort not a phony effort you know. Productive in other words of course a couple of people I talked to a couple of suppliers said they get as high as 30 and 40 percent of their annual business from coming to think and the follow ups not just become another one day but all the follow ups. That's a pretty impressive figure. Yes it is Jim. And you know I think there's Malcolm Smith point out that you know work and you find as many majority companies at a single gathering in a single day that you can that such an event as this it would take you years to cover one hundred forty some odd companies you know and here you have these people in under one roof in a day devoted especially for their best

interests. So from a marketing point of view and as as ice breaker as an intro into the corporate structure this is it's a it's an audio forum. We promote it and we think it's working. We have heard from you you started a business with the other one. One partner not in hiring 20 other people as a minority business and how tough was it. It has been tough for that to do over again I probably would do it over again but it is a challenge to start your own business. I think the programs that the major corporations are going to reach out to work with minorities are very significant very impressive. But it gets down to the basics of the free enterprise system if you're competitive you're going to succeed and I think that's what's happening now to some of the activities of corporate America reaching out. To work with minorities. That makes some sense in terms of the the social value but also to have an area given the year with Yes I have been and I get 20 you're hiring 20. That's correct. Tell me how many of your clients also minority businesses. Yes they are. We were using a lot of growth that way and absolutely we work with a lot of minority companies are just getting

started we work with them in terms of their their development their financial needs. Their financial planning requirement so that they can be successful in in the main stream of the economy and you know I think of the word role model in order to hear a lot of role models at this meeting I'm sure they're at your place. I think of the downside. Our unemployment figures we are both in Ornstein we only have 4 percent unemployment 6 percent among blacks but 70 percent among black youth. How does what we're doing what we're talking about an address to them. Well young men young black men and young black women or two perhaps add a rounding out of this that we all I think mirror the pride that we have in the efforts that we work with and the community we work with here in Orange County in Southern California in general but there are some very disturbing signs Jim that are on the rise and that if we don't take your eye we're going to have some very very serious problems in the future for example about the continuous unemployment statistics of not only blacks in general but the black youths

which are are sometimes two and three times higher than the local unemployment statistics get almost three times three times higher exactly Also there's some disturbing things from the support systems that businesses have to look at for example there's been a net decrease in the number of black college students over the last 20 years in this country. Statistically there is about 14 percent of the workforce in the United States that call themselves professional or managers. And the black community it's less than 7 percent. So you know you have to kind of round out our our feeling of positiveness and expectation with the idea that things perhaps are not as good overall as we hoped. I think the comment was made there is more segregation in 1987 in the board room of corporate America than there ever was in the south in 1057 in the classroom. And those are very very important indications of how we're going to have to monitor our progress and be that much more

aggressive. The end results of the way we see it from our organization from the like of this alliance is a fact is going to be more reliance on self-help. There's going to be more reliance on the quality of the individual who chooses to run their own business they're going to have to have more support structures like the embryo D like the Black Prince alliance group. We're going to have to be more more inventive about the way we choose to help our own fortunes in the future we're going to look to corporate America. We're going to look to inventive programs for the government. But we know that it's going to take primarily our own. Innovation and sweat and tears to make a lot of these things come the fore. I'd like to read to all of you a quote from Ebony magazine on a server that they did. They said even at the black president said made a difference in the fabric of American society most of today's black students the young people wanting to make a greater impact than their predecessors are more concerned about financial success than mere titles or positions and see themselves

as prosperous entrepreneurs. By the end of the century when you pick up on that a little bit is that a valid QUEST FOR MY lot of young black to well want to see my own personal opinion on that. I think it is I think the emphasis is today's infor says I think it's strickly away from the titles. I don't think so many of the students are concerned nowadays as we were I should say when I was in high school. As for ads get in the title first but now I work at a bank but what do you do with a band that's right. No I think the concentration is basically on. The money OK. Getting the money to go forth with that. And that means establishing a business that can show work and not so much as a title I get how do you have something to say about that. Well yes and entrepreneurship is a proper goal for a lot of young black people. Yes I certainly am all for it because that's a career that I chose. Yes I think it is. We cannot separate our well-being today from the

economic prosperity that we all enjoy. And it's so much a part of the American dream to be an entrepreneur I suppose as apple pie motherhood. We certainly want to set those type of role images from where we're from where we're coming from today and hopefully inspire the youth tomorrow to be business people in their own right. It certainly is a worthy endeavor. And. We want to anything we can to make it work but it's work way to work both ways that the tremendous contribution not only to black people getting where they should be and many a high high level corporate job but the contribution to come back to society because of their being their statement this or are right that a rising tide helps all boats that if you inspire anyone in the efforts of becoming all they can become then everyone gets to benefit Dr. Charles Drew who found out how to isolate and preserve blood plasma was a credit to saving thousands of lives and world war 2. And yeah exactly and that saved

not only black lives it's a white lives saved lives all over the world. So you have to have ways of inspiring and giving perhaps some innovative ways of encouraging people to do some of the things which perhaps we call on cheaper newer ship but are following the lines of creativity and innovation and that the contribution of every bit as an important contribution to talking about contribution and literature and the arts and the kind of things that we do that and I think one thing that we don't want to miss Jim With that out of all of this. The entrepreneur spirit does impact on the labor force and we are an age and we're rapidly moving toward even greater age of technology where jobs are will be a supply and it's from the entrepreneurial spirit the small businesses minority businesses that's going to impact the labor forces of tomorrow and give us those jobs that's going to mean something to the family structure. Robert what would you like to say to young a lot of young Hispanic men and women who maybe have been hesitant to try out becoming an entrepreneur.

Well I think it's exciting to see that the youth are looking more toward business as opportunities and opposed to just getting into a corporate environment and staying there through them through their retirement. So I would encourage in the opportunities certainly there you have to you know apply them so that they would have to do in any career path but I would certainly encourage them. A Wall Street survey recently asked many corporate executives who are black. This question about how would you describe the attitude of your corporate opportunities in other words are you striving to get up so high or can you go on up. And 59 percent of them said that the attitude they see in the corporate climate of their corporations was indifferent 41 said patronize it 40 percent said reluctant to accept black and only 24 percent were encouraging black to move up the corporate ladder. Any one of you want to pick up on that. I'll just say just basically I think we're finding in today's present business environment where the onslaught of all shore countries getting very very much into a lot of the businesses that are productive. Corporate America is closing ranks and is doing a lot of

things for their own preservation. But our doors the black being close up the ladder I think it's not necessarily close it's based upon the fact that it is no longer a tendency to look to where those goals when you get to that level to try and meet. There certainly are at the entry levels and perhaps want to two steps into it. But at the higher levels I think it is basically I think insensitive was one of the terms are you is I think it's definitely what about that you say and different because I don't know the concentration now days and so much on the ethnic group period. Man that a lot of the corporations are cutting back and tighten their belts but do nothing about black women on the way up. Any advice to them. Yes keep Oh boy. Don't stop. Establish high goals and objectives and achieve and achieve them. On that note our time is almost up and I do want to thank all of you for your comments on black business opportunities in this year of 1987. A lot better than what about 20 years ago.

Please join me next week at the same time when I'll have a special guest March Wang Yue secretary of state for California. I'm Jim Cooper thanks for being with us. Jim Cooper's Orange County is made possible by grants from Disneyland Park announcing

its new attractions Star Tours now boarding passengers for a space flight adventure by signal landmark incorporated developer of Southern California real estate and builder of Landmark homes and by Robert have an account Thames providing permanent and temporary accounting financial and EDV personnel with offices in Newport Beach and throughout Southern California.