Ramsay Sims Chair, RESPECT Business Development Committee. John McBride Executive Director. October 31, :00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

Transcription

1 Suzanne Sewell President & CEO Katie Porta Board Chair Ramsay Sims Chair, RESPECT Business Development Committee John McBride Executive Director 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. RBDC Members: Present: Ramsay Sims Capital City Bank YES Shirley Balogh Alliance for Independence/Chair, ROC YES-by phone Casey Cook Florida League of Cities YES Tom Derzypolski BowStern Marketing Communications YES Jack Sams FSU Office of IP Development & YES Commercialization Mickey Crowe NISH NO-Teaching in California FARF/RESPECT: Present: Suzanne Sewell FARF President & CEO YES John McBride Executive Director YES Lisa Felder Programs Coordinator YES Randy Borges Products Manager YES Peg McPherson Marketing, Communications & External Affairs Director YES 1

2 I. Call to Order McBride conducted the duties of the Chair and called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. II. Roll Call Roll call was conducted by Felder. III. Approval of Minutes McBride asked for approval of the minutes of the January 24, 2012 BDC meeting, motion was approved by Balogh and seconded by Sims. McBride asked for approval of the minutes of the April 18, 2012 BDC meeting, motion was approved by Balogh and seconded by Sims. IV. Additions to Agenda McBride called for additions to agenda. No additions were requested. V. Call for Approval of Appointment of New BDC Chair Balogh motioned to designate Ramsay Sims as the new Chair of the Business Development Committee to fill the vacancy created as a result of the resignation of previous Chair, Sheree Keeler. Casey Cook seconded. Sims was approved as the new BDC Chair. VI. Introductions of New BDC Members All current and new BDC Members were introduced by McBride and each member shared an overview of their experience. VII. Political Influences Sewell gave an update of topics that are gaining political influence particularly at the federal level: 14c Wages-Commensurate Wages Medicaid Waiver Funding-Affordable Care Act Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Oregon and the Department of Justice law suit Olmstead Act. VIII. Marketing and Communications Update McPherson presented an update on Marketing and Communications with the following highlights: McPherson envisions a new Big Picture for the marketing of the RESPECT Program. The Marketing contact list is being updated and organized into a multifunctional spreadsheet. McPherson is looking in to expanding a presence for RESPECT on social media sights such as Facebook, Pinterest and 2

3 Google Plus. McPherson shared an idea to produce a Public Service Announcement to make the public more aware of persons with disabilities that they might interact with in integrated settings. Topics of discussion also included ideas of better ways to promote the RESPECT program, including: Chair Sims asked that the BDC members be kept informed through more frequent contact between our quarterly meetings. Sims suggested he might be able to assist RESPECT staff with networking opportunities with government and nonprofit clients. Sims agreed that RESPECT could sketch out a plan and share it with the BDC members who could then look for possible nodes of contact from their sphere of influence. Derzypolski suggested that RESPECT might be losing a branding opportunity when employment center employees are not identified as participants in the RESPECT program. He mentioned that he was not aware that RESPECT provides cleaning services at the Panama City Airport, and RESPECT might may be losing exposure if people think of those employees as Goodwill employees, rather than beneficiaries of the RESPECT program. IX. Update on Trade Shows Borges and McPherson provided an update on recent trade shows they attended: A new RESPECT brochure has been produced and is being distributed at the trade shows. The number of trade shows that RESPECT will be attending has been reduced. RESPECT will focus on attending more NIGP, FAPPO and City trade shows. Reverse trade shows are believed to be beneficial to the RESPECT program. 3

4 McBride indicated RESPECT will look for sponsorship opportunities at tradeshows such as the Florida League of Cities (FLC) rather than simply putting up a booth. Cook suggested the Florida League of Cities conducts regional gatherings where RESPECT could sponsor a luncheon, etc., and RESPECT staff could have the participants attention for minutes to educate them about RESPECT program. X. Update on Products Borges gave an update on Products with the following highlights: Product sales and development have been very active. A few products that have been having quality assurance problems have been dropped from the RESPECT line of products. Problems with the quality of the white marker boards were discussed. Everyday challenges are being handled such as finding new products at good price points and partnering with private industries like PSS and Office Depot. Borges discussed why enclave models, where a person with disabilities is brought to an integrated location to work, is an important part of the products area future. The Florida Lottery has recently increased the number of products RESPECT is working on to 27. Florida State Hospital is lso increasing RESPECT product orders. A suggestion was made that RESPECT should incorporate the local employment centers in conversations with local procurement people so they associate a purchase from RESPECT with helping people from their community rather than an entity from Tallahassee. XI. CNA Fee Reduction McBride discussed recent changes to the CNA Fee: The CNA fee on RESPECT Products was reduced from 7% to 6% and was incorporated on October 1, The Service CNA fee remains at 6%. The reduction reflects roughly a 1% 4

5 reduction in price for customers and a 14% reduction in revenue for the RESPECT Program. Employment Centers do not receive any less revenue due to the CNA fee reduction but the RESPECT headquarters entity will realize a significant decrease. RESPECT has a goal of an overall 5% CNA fee for both products and services. This will take several years to incorporate. XII. DOT Contract Renewals McBride provided an update on Department of Transportation Contract Renewals with the following highlights: The DOT District 2 contract has been renewed. The bid was awarded to ICA, the Asset Management Company that RESPECT partners with. The contract is worth 34 million dollars over 7 years. XIII. Schedule Next Meeting The next BDC Meeting is scheduled for: Wednesday, February 20, :00am-12:00pm RESPECT of Florida Conference Room XIV. Adjournment Chair Sims adjourned the meeting at 11:36am. 5