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IACCGH Small Business Series Shines Spotlight on Supplier Diversity with HMSDC President Ingrid Robinson

By Somdatta Basu

Houston, TX – The IACCGH hosted its second Small Business Series of the year on February 11 at Elite Restaurant in Sugar Land. Co-sponsored by CenterPoint Energy and Wallis Bank, the event featured a powerful keynote by Ingrid Robinson, President and CEO of the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), highlighting the economic impact, programs, and evolving landscape of supplier diversity.

Opening the session, IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip applauded Robinson’s commitment: “Ingrid was on leave for a while, but she made this a priority. “ Jagdip underlined Robinson’s track record in supporting small businesses. “HMSDC helps bring small businesses together to compete with large corporations. Your collective power, driven by HMSDC’s leadership, makes a big difference,” he said. “Certification is important, but it’s not a guarantee of work—what guarantees work is your quality, price, and on-time delivery.”

In her keynote, Robinson detailed HMSDC’s mission to develop and connect Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with corporate and government opportunities. “HMSDC MBEs have a total economic impact of $20.2 billion, with over $16.8 billion in annual revenue that results in the creation or preservation of more than 82,000 jobs,” she stated.

She explained that HMSDC defines MBEs as companies that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by ethnic minorities—specifically Black, Asian Indian, Asian Pacific, Native American, and Hispanic individuals. The certification offered by HMSDC is recognized across major agencies including the City of Houston, Harris County, Port of Houston, and the State of Texas.

“One of our key promises is certification efficiency,” Robinson emphasized. “Once your documents are submitted, it takes just 30 to 45 days to get certified with HMSDC, compared to six months with the city.” She added that HMSDC also expedites state hub certifications, saving businesses valuable time.

Beyond certification, HMSDC serves as a business matchmaker. “We have a corporate services team that directly sources suppliers for specific needs and organizes events where MBEs meet buyers face-to-face. Whether it’s B2B or B2G, our marketplace is where real business happens,” she explained.

Robinson described the “marketplace connectors,” signature events that bring MBEs and corporations to the same table—literally. “At our luncheons, corporations get five seats at each table, and the other five are reserved for MBEs. So, if you want to meet someone from Shell or Harris County, this is your opportunity.”

HMSDC offers over 50 programs, carefully curated through surveys and member feedback. “We call it 5-6-5,” Robinson said. “Five signature events, six developmental programs, and five marketplace connectors that drive our work every year.”

HMSDC currently serves over 1,600 certified MBEs and classifies them based on revenue. “We’ve seen a 20% growth in Class I revenue and positive trends in Class IV for the first time since COVID,” she reported. “When we see a drop in certain segments, we investigate, develop programs, and pivot where needed.”

Robinson said HMSDC partners with over 74 local corporate members and more than 100 community organizations, including the IACCGH, which she described as a “strategic relationship.”

Robinson closed by emphasizing HMSDC’s four pillars: certify, develop, connect, and advocate. She had invited attendees to join the Council’s Public Policy Day in Austin in March. “We take a delegation of MBEs to meet legislators. We show them the real economic impact in their districts—why they should care about supporting minority-owned businesses,” she said.

A lively Q&A followed her talk. Responding to a question about corporate support under the new administration, Robinson said, “We haven’t seen any abandonment. Some companies are more cautious, but many have doubled down. They realize this isn’t about meeting a quota—it’s about business.”

Pic Credit: Bijay Dixit