Of the St. Louis American
While major development engines are revving to make St. Louis an even greater city, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is surveying the area as a possible host for its 2011 national convention.
More than 50 local and national NSBE members convened Monday evening at the Kwame Building Group’s Jack Thompson Square Building for a reception to host the 2011 Convention Selection Committee.
St. Louis – for a number of reasons – is in the running for the confab that would bring more than 12,000 engineers, business owners and corporate supporters to the area.
NSBE Alumni Chapter President Ronald Moore said St. Louis could win because of the number of African American engineering firms (seven) and for the fact that three local African American businesses were ranked in Black Enterprise’s Top 100 Businesses (World Wide Technologies, Millennium Digital and Robert Cos.) last year.
Moore, a materials engineer for MSD, also cited substantial alumni membership and collaborations with Washington University, St. Louis University, University of Missouri-Rolla, University of Missouri-Columbia and Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. NSBE also works closely with St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley, where the organization plans to establish a second office in addition to the current office at the MET Center.
Culturally, Moore cited the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, Portfolio Gallery, World Black Wax Museum, Scott Joplin House and the Old Court House, site of the historic Dred Scott case as reasons why St. Louis would make an attractive choice for the organization.
He also pointed to other cultural attractions like the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis Arch.
Affordability and the convenience of Metro Link service from the airport to downtown hotels could also sway the selection committee to choose St. Louis.
On Tuesday members of the selection committee, including NSBE’s executive director and national treasurer, canvassed downtown hotels and America’s Center.
But in the end, the probability of minority contracts will likely decide if St. Louis will host the national NSBE Convention in 2011, according NSBE Executive Director Carl Mack.
Noting that a NSBE event this year in Pittsburgh brought more than $35 million to the city, Mack said the organization can “no longer afford to drop that kind of financial resource into a city and the (African-American business) community gets none.”
“We can find brick and mortar anywhere and any city can roll out great hotels and convention centers, but who’s going to roll out the opportunity to say were not interested in exclusive contracts,” Mack said.
According to Mack, NSBE recently walked away from an Orlando convention and bureau manager who was offended when the organization requested an African American food service vendor.
“He wanted to tell me about exclusive contracts. I don’t give a damn about Orlando from that perspective,” Mack said.
However, Mack said he was impressed by the reception and hospitality the organization received in St. Louis from Moore, the mayor’s office and Kwame Building Group.
“We’ve never had a reception like this in our community with our community to the degree that you all have put forth and it means a great deal to us,” Mack said, adding that the organization looks forward to bringing 2011 to St. Louis, which would impact the local economy and students.
“This would be a great step to give our children an opportunity to interact with professionals and show them that there’s a wide range of jobs,” said Charles Bryson, a Sr. aide for Mayor Frances G. Slay. “It could be a mind-opening experience.”
Moore said that with more than 65 colleges and universities and at least 300 major corporations on hand, the convention would have quite an impact on more than 200 local junior and high schools students who could benefit from engineering and educational workshops.
NSBE is comprised of more than 270 chapters on college and university campuses, 75 Alumni Extension chapters nationwide and 75 Pre-College chapters, divided geographically into six regions.
With more than 10,000 members, NSBE is the largest student-managed organization in the country and awards several scholarships annually.
Its mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
