Jamayca Smith serves as the Business Development Manager for the St. Louis Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center.
In 2008, Jamayca began her professional journey with the NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council) network as the Certification Coordinator and Office Administrator for the St. Louis Minority Business Council. Jamayca has worked closely with more than 55 major corporations in the St. Louis and Southern Illinois region. Her primary focus has been to provide the Minority Business Enterprises and Corporate Members with exceptional service and support.
In September 2013, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s MBDA announced $7.3 million in grants, designed and awarded to organizations to boost job creation and the global competitiveness of MBEs nationwide.
The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council was one of several grant recipients, and as a result, an MBDA Business Center was established in St. Louis in partnership with the St. Louis Minority Business Council.
The St. Louis MBDA Business Center needed an Administrative Assistant who was knowledgeable of the organization, its mission and the St. Louis minority business community. It was a logical decision to bring Jamayca on board to fill that position. Consequently, in November 2013, Jamayca was hired for that role, while still maintaining the role of Administrative Assistant II to the St. Louis Minority Business Council. Due to the restructuring of the St. Louis Minority Council’s operation, Jamayca’s time with SLMBC came to an end, and her current responsibilities are solely with the St. Louis MBDA Business Center.
In Jamayca’s current role as the Business Development Manager, she continues to provide support services in the areas of access to capital, procurement and partnership opportunities to minority owned businesses. She also serves on the St. Louis Business Diversity Connect planning committee as well as the newly formed Mid Points CMSDC/MBDA Committee.