SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Building partnerships, strategic alliances, joint ventures and networking are common buzzwords in business today. Industry is riding the wave of Internet technology and peaking the digital revolution. We have more ways to communicate via cellular phones, pagers, voice mail, e-mail, fax and of course regular mail, reports Perry Marketing Group, Inc. But how does a business stay on the cutting edge of technology yet cater to customers and meet new prospects or create new business opportunities? By being in the right place, at the right time, with the right marketing image and staying "up close and personal" with key contacts. Minorities especially must nurture relationships to bridge gaps that affirmative action laws can't patch up. The Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) is hosting its 18th Annual Procurement Conference and Trade Fair, May 24-26 at Cobo Hall & Exhibition Center. Speakers include syndicated columnist Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D., and Tavis Smiley of Black Entertainment Television (BET) on Tuesday, May 25. The purpose of this event is to provide an avenue for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) to connect and do business with majority firms. The Conference theme is "Profit from Diversity." The Conference chair is Dr. Renaldo Jenson, Director of Minority Supplier Development, Ford Motor Company. Perry Marketing Group, Inc. (PMG), who also does work for Ford, will be executing its "high-touch" marketing expertise by working with ten different corporations at the trade fair. By designing, building, setting up, coaching and managing exhibits, PMG has carved a niche in the automotive industry as one of the premier minority firms in the country that does this type of work. Besides just setting up a booth, companies are now interested in a total promotional campaign. Companies such as The Bing Group have allowed PMG to create an entire corporate image down to the brochures and premiums given to visitors who marvel at the creative design of the exhibit. "Before, we used to go to trade shows and be one of many other companies that had no real identity. Now we have a solid strategy and we're working to integrate all of our marketing materials including a website. PMG has also given us pointers on how to manage leads we collect from the trade show," said Kirk Lewis, president of The Bing Group, Detroit. Perry Marketing Group (www.perrymarketing.com) also has contracts for trade show management for: DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, The Diez Group, Johnson Controls, Wintor-Swan LLC, Exemplar Manufacturing, MPS Industrial Engineering Group, DBM Technology, MichCon, and Gilreath Manufacturing. PMG has either designed, built, shipped and set up or created total marketing packages for these companies. All of the minority companies PMG works with are represented in the Black Enterprise 100, which is the listing of the top African American owned firms in the U.S. "Networking is the key to trade show success but the foundation is image," said Marc Perry, president, Perry Marketing Group. "Our firm is eight years old and we find that most of our business comes from building relationships and building a reputation of integrity. We really care about our clients." PMG is very committed to seeing minority-owned entrepreneurs succeed. The firm is the exclusive distribution organization for "SuccessGuide 2000," which is a coffee-table quality, business-to-business directory listing of 800 top metropolitan Detroit African American professionals, business owners and community leaders. The Guide, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, will be published in February 2000 by SuccessSource (www.frasernet.com). "We feel so strongly about this project that we're spending our own time identifying individuals who share the vision of networking, caring, sharing, mentoring and role-modeling. The Guide will be a secret weapon for making contacts, building relationships, marketing products/services and developing new business opportunities," said Pamela Perry, vice president, Public Relations, Perry Marketing Group. "Everything that we need to get done is done through people. In this high-tech world, people need to personally talk and touch one another. Building a network of good people is paramount to business success, especially for African Americans," said Perry, who is also the founder of Blacks in Advertising, Radio and Television (BART). SuccessGuide 2000 will be nearly 600 pages and weigh 3.5 lbs. There is no charge for the listing if the "listee" meets the SuccessSource "networking code of conduct" set by founder George Fraser, author of "Success Runs in Our Race." All listees will receive a free guide. The deadline for entries is Friday, June 11. Those interested in participating in the Guide can contact Perry Marketing Group via E-mail to: pperry@perrymarketing.com or fax 248-945-1999 any time. "Besides inputting the listings and coordinating editorial, PMG will also use the data in key marketing and promotional campaigns for clients. The Gallup Organization will also publish an exclusive study in SuccessGuide 2000 on the importance of networking in the African American community and evaluating effective networking strategies and tactics. Successful strategic alliances and joint ventures can become more popular as more of us meet and greet one another face to face," concluded Perry. Ron Hall, previous MMBDC executive director and president of Bridgewater Interiors knows the importance of networking and strategic alliances. Last year he left MMBDC to start Bridgewater in a strategic alliance with Johnson Controls. The company has secured a $900 million contract for five years from Cadillac. More than 2,000 participants are expected at the MMBDC Procurement Conference & Trade Fair, which is recognized as the largest and most prestigious minority business forum in the state. "Perry Marketing Group will be on-hand to make sure that the right people make the right connections at the right time," said Marc Perry. Perry Marketing Group, Inc., is a MMBDC certified minority-owned marketing communications agency specializing in automotive and automotive supplier marketing, trade show management and public relations. The firm is eight years old and located in Southfield, Michigan. For more information on the Conference (www.MMBDC.org) or The SuccessGuide 2000 call 248-945-1400, ext. 10.  