The Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council

What The Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council does

The Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (PSWMSDC) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1993 that serves as the exclusive Arizona and San Diego County Regional Affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Its core function is delivering the only nationally recognized Ethnic Minority Business Certification in the region for businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by U.S. citizens of designated ethnic minorities (Asian Indian, Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American). Through this credential, PSWMSDC connects certified MBEs with corporate purchasing decision-makers seeking to diversify their supply chains.

PSWMSDC operates a two-sided platform: on the buyer side, it sells annual corporate memberships across five tiers ranging from $1,500 to $9,300, granting access to certified suppliers, sourcing events, matchmaking, and inclusion in the NMSDC national network (1,450 corporate members and 12,000+ certified MBEs). On the supplier side, it provides MBE certification, development workshops (CEO Leadership Academy, MBE On-Boarding, Educational Series, Cultivate & Pitch, Road to Capital webinars), and networking via monthly Coffee & Conversation roundtables with the President. Revenue is generated from four streams: corporate membership dues, event sponsorships, event registration fees, and MBE certification services.

The organization is governed by President & CEO Patricia Crenshaw, supported by a lean visible team of two named members (including MBE/Corporate Service Manager David Alvarez), and operates regional offices in Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California. Distribution is event-driven and direct, with signature annual events — Procurement Conference + Business Opportunity Fair, Supplier Diversity Excellence Awards, Business Diversity Leadership Summit, and regional Golf Tournaments — serving as primary engagement touchpoints alongside the PSWMSDC website and direct email outreach.

Name

The Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council

Legal name

Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Diversity Council

Website

https://pswmsdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PSWMSDC is a 1993-founded nonprofit and exclusive NMSDC Regional Affiliate certifying minority-owned businesses in Arizona and San Diego County, connecting certified MBEs with corporate members through tiered memberships, sourcing events, and development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supplier Diversity Certification Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Minority supplier certification
• Supplier diversity programs
• MBE certification services
• Corporate membership programs
• Business development workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from corporate members seeking to engage with certified minority suppliers. Five pricing tiers are offered ranging from $1,500 to $9,300, suggesting different levels of membership benefits and corporate involvement.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated through annual sponsorships and individual signature event sponsorships. Corporate sponsors receive benefits at signature events throughout the year including Procurement Conference, MBE CEO Leadership Academy, Supplier Diversity Business Summit, and Annual Golf Tournaments.
3. Event Registration Fees: Fees collected from MBE participants attending development programs, workshops, and signature events. Some events offer free or discounted registrations for certified MBEs as part of membership benefits.
4. MBE Certification Services: The organization offers MBE certification services for minority-owned businesses in Arizona and San Diego County. This is described as the only nationally recognized ethnic minority business certification in the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PSWMSDC is a nonprofit membership organization that certifies minority-owned businesses under the nationally recognized NMSDC Ethnic Minority Business Certification standard in Arizona and San Diego County. It connects these certified MBEs with corporate members through annual corporate memberships, signature events, sourcing and matchmaking sessions, development workshops, and sponsorship programs. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered corporate membership dues ($1,500 to $9,300 annually), event sponsorships, and certification-related services.

Product overview

PSWMSDC is a non-profit organization serving as the Arizona and San Diego County affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The organization operates a platform of interconnected programs and services including: (1) MBE Certification — the core certification service that validates minority-owned businesses under NMSDC standards; (2) Corporate Membership — providing access to certified minority suppliers and sourcing events; (3) Signature Events and Programs — including CEO Leadership Academy, Cultivate & Pitch, MBE On-Boarding, Educational Series, Coffee & Conversation roundtables, and Road to Capital webinars; (4) Sponsorship Programs — offering annual and per-event sponsorship tiers for corporate partners. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive ecosystem connecting minority business entrepreneurs with corporate procurement opportunities, facilitating supplier diversity development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBE Certification (Minority Business Enterprise) Certification service for minority-owned businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by U.S. citizens belonging to designated ethnic minorities (Asian Indian, Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic, Native American). The only nationally recognized Ethnic Minority Business Certification in the Arizona and San Diego County Region, administered in partnership with NMSDC.
• Corporate Membership Corporate membership program providing corporations, universities, hospitals, and other buying institutions with access to a network of qualified minority suppliers, sourcing events, matchmaking opportunities, awards recognition, and inclusion in the $1.6 trillion ethnic minority economy. Offered across five tiers at $1,500, $3,500, $5,000, $6,400, and $9,300 annually.
• Regional Corporate Sponsorship Program Annual or per-event sponsorship program offering multiple levels for corporations to support PSWMSDC signature events and gain visibility with certified minority business enterprises.
• MBE CEO Leadership Academy Bi-weekly leadership academy specifically tailored for MBE CEOs, offering business development and growth opportunities through structured sessions.
• Cultivate & Pitch Business pitch presentation opportunity for MBEs to present their companies to corporations, building relationships and creating contracting opportunities.
• MBE On-Boarding Workshop Workshop for newly-certified MBEs to the organization, providing orientation and initial development resources.
• Educational Series Educational program presenting industry-best practices by industry experts, focusing on professional development for MBEs and corporate members.
• Coffee & Conversation Monthly round table discussion with the President, providing networking and advisory opportunities for members.
• Road to Capital Webinar Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to $1.6 trillion ethnic minority economy
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993PSWMSDC is one of 23 Regional Affiliates of NMSDC, founded in 1993. The relationship provides PSWMSDC with the authority to certify minority-owned businesses under the nationally recognized NMSDC certification standard. PSWMSDC provides local touchpoints for expanding the interests of corporate members and certified minority businesses within the Arizona and San Diego County region. The NMSDC network includes 1,450 corporate members and certifies more than 12,000 minority-owned businesses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): National certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses with a similar regional affiliate model, corporate membership tiers, and supplier diversity mission. Relevant as an adjacent supplier-diversity certification organization addressing a different minority category.
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): Largest national certifier of women-owned businesses, operating a regional council network analogous to NMSDC. Comparable in operating a multi-tiered certification and corporate membership model, but focused on gender rather than ethnicity-based supplier diversity.
• Disability:IN: National nonprofit certifying disability-owned businesses and connecting them with corporate supply chains. Comparable supplier-diversity certification-and-membership model with a different minority constituency.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): National umbrella organization and certifying body for the MBE standard that PSWMSDC administers locally. Operates the nationwide network (1,450 corporate members, 12,000+ certified MBEs) and sets certification rules; structurally comparable as the parent network.

Direct peers

• Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC regional affiliate serving Georgia. Directly analogous model — MBE certification, corporate membership tiers, signature events, and capacity-building programs supporting minority-owned businesses.
• Pacific Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council: Sister regional affiliate of NMSDC covering Washington and Oregon. Directly comparable as a regional council providing MBE certification, corporate membership, and signature events in a defined Pacific-region footprint.
• Houston Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC regional affiliate serving the Houston/Harris County area. Closely comparable business model: MBE certification under NMSDC standards, corporate memberships, signature events, and economic development focus.
• Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC regional affiliate covering Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Comparable regional affiliate structure delivering certification, corporate membership, and supplier diversity programming across a multi-state Western footprint.
• Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council: One of the largest NMSDC regional affiliates serving Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Comparable in mission, tiered corporate membership structure, and event-driven GTM motion centered on certification, matchmaking, and supplier diversity programming.
• Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC regional affiliate serving North and South Carolina. Comparable mission, certification authority, tiered corporate dues, and event-focused engagement strategy aimed at connecting MBEs with corporate supply chains.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-southwest-msdc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council