Corporate Advisory Board
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The California DVBE Alliance Corporate Advisory Board (CAB) was formed in 2003 as the result of a strategic partnership between California's regulated public utilities which are overseen by the State Public Utilities Commission and the California DVBE Alliance. 
Presently, the CAB consists of members from the industries of health care, aerospace, staffing, IT and banking.
The CAB provides the California DVBE Alliance Board of Directors and the Alliance membership with strong support for DVBE participation in corporate diversity plans. CAB members have adopted the mission of increasing the exposure of a highly qualified pool of DVBE firms, and promoting collaboration and communication between CAB member corporations and DVBEs.
The Corporate Advisory Board Chair is Dennis J. Thurston of Southern California Edison Company. Vice Chair is Bonnie Wells of Blue Shield of California. Robert Brown, the DVBE Alliance President, is the Alliance liaison to the Corporate Advisory Board.
The Corporate Advisory Board meets throughout the year at various locations, or by teleconference, to discuss ideas that foster an improved business climate and a spirit of cooperation between disabled veteran-owned businesses and member corporations.
CAB support enabled the California DVBE Alliance to professionalize its business structure. The Alliance is chartered under federal law as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and outreach organization. The CAB funded the establishment of a permanent DVBE Alliance office in Sacramento and its first paid executive director in 2003.
CAB member companies helped to underwrite development of the DVBE Alliance Internet site. The Alliance Internet site provides a vital information exchange to Alliance members who are seeking business opportunities and identifies Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises that can meet diversity and supplier goals for your corporate programs..
The Corporate Advisory Board also supports the education and outreach programs of the California DVBE Alliance. The best known of these public events is the annual Keeping the Promise Trade Show and Exposition, or KTP as it is popularly known. The KTP had been held in Sacramento, but in 2006 moved to Anaheim, California. Thanks to the participation and support of Corporate Advisory Board members KTP has grown from a luncheon meeting attended by a few dozen local members to a national event for veterans and service disabled veteran business people. The 2007 event was again held at the Anaheim Hilton on 13 and 14 June. At this symposium, all disabled veteran businesses attended free as a result of the generous support of the CAB members. Over 1100 matchmaking sessions were completed to allow corporate and governement procurement professionals to meet the disabled veteran businesses in attendance.
