"You're In the Spotlight"
SUE's Spotlight seeks to highlight for profits and non-profits that its members would want to do business with. Each month, the AB - Advisory Board highlights one or two businesses so they can also gain exposure.
If you are interested in being a featured business (for profit or non-profit) call our office at 908-587-8152 / or send an email to info@suenet.org
You're In the Spotlight
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So Proud of of You. Who had a BALL last week! Thank you so much @behindthebook for inviting King Khalid (lol) and me to meet with three classes at PS 6X in the Bronx! @behindthebook is an AMAZING organization! They purchased books for each student in the class, and hosted a series of workshops for the students that covered the themes in “King Khalid is PROUD” (@myproudking)! The students even met with a video game designer! AMAZING! Truly grateful for the work they do, and for their commitment to making sure the children they work with are PROUD like King Khalid!
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Another author making her mark in the children's book industry this year. Edonie, Mason , Owner of Masonfirm,LLC a boutique law firm became an award wining author when she won the Purple Dragonfly Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature. My book won Honorable Mention in four categories: New Author Fiction, Picture Books 6 & Older, Best Cover Design and Best Illustrations.
Published my first children’s book, “The Adventures of Princess Anyah of Antibarba: The Fishing Expedition” about a Black Princess from the Caribbean. I was inspired to write this book after my 5-year-old niece told me she could not be a princess because all the princesses were white with long hair. I had to do something. One person can make a difference and every little girl deserves to feel like a princess.
[www.masonfirmllc.com]
Copyright © 2022 Mason Firm, LLC, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a current or former client or you met Founding Member, Eldonie S. Mason, Esq. at a networking event. Our mailing address is: Mason Firm, LLC. 1 Gateway Center, Ste 2600. Newark, NJ 07102
Published my first children’s book, “The Adventures of Princess Anyah of Antibarba: The Fishing Expedition” about a Black Princess from the Caribbean. I was inspired to write this book after my 5-year-old niece told me she could not be a princess because all the princesses were white with long hair. I had to do something. One person can make a difference and every little girl deserves to feel like a princess.
[www.masonfirmllc.com]
Copyright © 2022 Mason Firm, LLC, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a current or former client or you met Founding Member, Eldonie S. Mason, Esq. at a networking event. Our mailing address is: Mason Firm, LLC. 1 Gateway Center, Ste 2600. Newark, NJ 07102
As most know my daily is the operation and oversee a construction company. Well I want to share some information with you.
Construction costs to ease in 2024
By Jake Perez, Editor at LinkedIn News
Soaring costs for construction materials likely won't plateau until 2024, industry experts tell Construction Dive. With inflation and lingering supply chain issues acting as aggravating factors, some experts believe prices could go up between 9% and 12% by the end of the year. In 2023, prices are expected to go up another 7% before returning to the long-term average of 2.7% in 2024. By that time, prices would be 25% to 28% higher than they would have been compared to a pre-2020 trajectory.
Construction costs to ease in 2024
By Jake Perez, Editor at LinkedIn News
Soaring costs for construction materials likely won't plateau until 2024, industry experts tell Construction Dive. With inflation and lingering supply chain issues acting as aggravating factors, some experts believe prices could go up between 9% and 12% by the end of the year. In 2023, prices are expected to go up another 7% before returning to the long-term average of 2.7% in 2024. By that time, prices would be 25% to 28% higher than they would have been compared to a pre-2020 trajectory.
- Complicating the forecasts, the prices of some materials keep going up (cement, concrete), some are falling (steel, lumber) and others are leveling off (insulation).
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Women's History Month - As we close out Women's History Month, I want to acknowledge a new initiative by two young mothers Sherlisha Burkett and Montese Anderson. These two young ladies recently launched an organization that empowers youth in the community. Young Kings and Queens. I had the pleasure of speaking on behalf of SUE at their Youth Summit on March 20th. During this time of many challenges for our youth ( due the COVID pandemic, being separated from their friends, cancellation of recreation and sport activities) this has been trying times for them. We need to always keep our youth engaged so we do not lose site that they need our support too. These are a few photos taken at the event. |
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Last Month's Woman in the Spotlight
Beverly was born in and continues to reside in New Jersey. As long as she can remember, the desire to create has always been uncontrollable. She recalls as a little girl spending hours with her friend Billy, drawing her own paper dolls and their outfits, constructing convertibles for them out of shoes boxes and, when alone in her room, copying the pictures from a gilded page book of bible stories, which today she keeps safely tucked away on her bookshelf.
Beverly’s formal training began in the late 60s at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in English, but found it impossible to stay out of the art department. There, under the tutelage of renowned painter David Driscoll and sculptor Martin Puryear, she learned principles of design and color theory. She’s studied collage with artists such as Jonathan Talbot and conversations with Benny Andrews were a great inspiration. Beverly has exhibited her work throughout New Jersey, New York and she recently had a most successful solo exhibit in New Orleans.
After graduating from college, Beverly set about raisings two great kids and worked in structured jobs with absolutely no leeway for creativity. She continued to take art classes and enter groups shows, but something was missing. However, it was while commuting to work and listening to the book, “Women Who Run With The Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype”, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, that Beverly was assured that one day her art, even though jumpstarted later in life, would become her number one irrepressible priority.
Beverly describes her time in the studio as a form of self-therapy and healing. as much of her work flows from personal experiences. She enjoys exploring different mediums, but collage, assemblage and fiber, seem to be the most self-fulfilling. There’s always something out there to satisfy her need to experiment
Visit her website. www.beverlymccutcheonart.com, My favorites are those of the Butterfly Series
When Wallflowers Bloom: Beverly McCutcheon
https://edgemagonline.com/article/when-wallflowers-bloom-beverly-mccutcheon/
Teaming Up For More Opportunities
Teaming with other companies and organizations can be tremendously beneficial in many ways for small businesses. For example, when you have a larger (or more experienced) teaming partner as your subcontractor, you can expand your capacity and geographic footprint, enhance your team's past experience and past performance, get assistance with proposal writing, increase your financial capability to fund awarded contracts, and increase your bonding levels (when applicable).
However, you don't have to be a prime contractor to benefit from teaming. An often overlooked aspect of teaming is the greater number of opportunities your firm may be able to access as a subcontractor. In this tip of the month, we discuss three types of entities you should consider teaming with as a subcontractor to potentially increase the number of opportunities you can pursue and win.
Entity 1: Large Prime Contractors. Large prime contractors well positioned in the government marketplace enjoy a steady flow of opportunities. In many cases, the government also requires these large primes to have subcontracting plans with specific goals and a plan to maximize opportunities for small businesses. However, even without a subcontracting plan, most large primes have plenty of subcontracting work to go around.
Entity 2: Other Small Businesses. Teaming with other small businesses can give you access to set-aside opportunities in socio-economic categories where you don't hold a certification such as 8(a), Women-Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, HUBZone, etc. In this challenging economic climate, you can expect to see more set-asides as the federal government seeks to support and sustain small businesses. Furthermore, you may find that it's easier to team with other small businesses whose owners and managers are more open to connecting and discussing teaming opportunities.
Entity 3: Non-Profits. Many contractors overlook non-profits as a potential source of subcontracting opportunities. However, non-profits receive a good portion of the government's annual spending through grants and contracts. Besides, in many cases (but not all), for-profit firms can't go directly after grant opportunities and, therefore, need to team up with a non-profit to get a share of the grant funding.
The bottom line is this: You may find many more opportunities coming your way if
Teaming with other companies and organizations can be tremendously beneficial in many ways for small businesses. For example, when you have a larger (or more experienced) teaming partner as your subcontractor, you can expand your capacity and geographic footprint, enhance your team's past experience and past performance, get assistance with proposal writing, increase your financial capability to fund awarded contracts, and increase your bonding levels (when applicable).
However, you don't have to be a prime contractor to benefit from teaming. An often overlooked aspect of teaming is the greater number of opportunities your firm may be able to access as a subcontractor. In this tip of the month, we discuss three types of entities you should consider teaming with as a subcontractor to potentially increase the number of opportunities you can pursue and win.
Entity 1: Large Prime Contractors. Large prime contractors well positioned in the government marketplace enjoy a steady flow of opportunities. In many cases, the government also requires these large primes to have subcontracting plans with specific goals and a plan to maximize opportunities for small businesses. However, even without a subcontracting plan, most large primes have plenty of subcontracting work to go around.
Entity 2: Other Small Businesses. Teaming with other small businesses can give you access to set-aside opportunities in socio-economic categories where you don't hold a certification such as 8(a), Women-Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, HUBZone, etc. In this challenging economic climate, you can expect to see more set-asides as the federal government seeks to support and sustain small businesses. Furthermore, you may find that it's easier to team with other small businesses whose owners and managers are more open to connecting and discussing teaming opportunities.
Entity 3: Non-Profits. Many contractors overlook non-profits as a potential source of subcontracting opportunities. However, non-profits receive a good portion of the government's annual spending through grants and contracts. Besides, in many cases (but not all), for-profit firms can't go directly after grant opportunities and, therefore, need to team up with a non-profit to get a share of the grant funding.
The bottom line is this: You may find many more opportunities coming your way if
- You know where your business has the best fit (think subcontracting),
- You know where the money is flowing to the companies in your industry,
- You proactively build relationships with other businesses, and
- You can make your partners better and more competitive.
Eldonie S. Mason, Esq.
Founding Member of Mason Firm, LLC has been selected as a Class of 2019 Grand Marshal for Jersey City Carnival, representing the island of Antigua. Carnival '19 is Jersey City's exciting twenty fourth annual Statewide Caribbean Carnival Parade which will be held on Saturday, July 27th, 2019, starting at 12:00 p.m. from Jersey City's Lincoln Park. The Carnival brings together the music and culture of the Caribbean and last year the event drew over 20,000 people.
Tanisha Garner is the owner of Chozin Designs,
A business developed as a budding entrepreneur that creates custom made jewelry and t-shirts. Her customers range from youth to adults. I am also a recent graduate from Rising Tide Capital in January and I was selected to be part of the “Newark Shops” through the Newark Economic Development Corporation. I had the honor to cut the ribbon and present a speech for our grand opening.
During that week a tragedy took place at John W. Hyatt Court, which is next to Hawkins Street School, which shook our community. We came together and hosted a community talk where we strategized ideas to help keep our youth focused in a positive direction and allowed our neighborhood to heal. On October 20, 2017, in partnership with Newark Fire Department, Newark Police Department, Hawkins Street School, and St Aloysius Church, and The Rock Church. The event was called “Love Where You Live, Live Where You Love”. The goal was to improve self-esteem and self-love through artistic expression which included a Poster Contest. This event gave back to our community. The students also received sponsored tickets from the NJ Devil's and Newark Cityplex12.
How was it created?
Chozin Designs was created through self determination which led me to create my own financial freedom. It’s about self determination and believing in oneself. Chozin Designs is about Confidence and self awareness. I also had a chance to teach at Summer plus Enrichment rogram as a Specialist in Jewelry Making and Newark 350 year celebration at the Passaic River teaching a jewelry class.
Chozin Designs - www.instagram.com/chozindesigns
A business developed as a budding entrepreneur that creates custom made jewelry and t-shirts. Her customers range from youth to adults. I am also a recent graduate from Rising Tide Capital in January and I was selected to be part of the “Newark Shops” through the Newark Economic Development Corporation. I had the honor to cut the ribbon and present a speech for our grand opening.
During that week a tragedy took place at John W. Hyatt Court, which is next to Hawkins Street School, which shook our community. We came together and hosted a community talk where we strategized ideas to help keep our youth focused in a positive direction and allowed our neighborhood to heal. On October 20, 2017, in partnership with Newark Fire Department, Newark Police Department, Hawkins Street School, and St Aloysius Church, and The Rock Church. The event was called “Love Where You Live, Live Where You Love”. The goal was to improve self-esteem and self-love through artistic expression which included a Poster Contest. This event gave back to our community. The students also received sponsored tickets from the NJ Devil's and Newark Cityplex12.
How was it created?
Chozin Designs was created through self determination which led me to create my own financial freedom. It’s about self determination and believing in oneself. Chozin Designs is about Confidence and self awareness. I also had a chance to teach at Summer plus Enrichment rogram as a Specialist in Jewelry Making and Newark 350 year celebration at the Passaic River teaching a jewelry class.
Chozin Designs - www.instagram.com/chozindesigns
Just Remember
