The University of Minnesota Office for Business & Community Economic Development recently held its Development Matchmaker and Awards Luncheon.
The Business Development Matchmaker was designed to provide networking opportunities to strengthen collaborations between the University of Minnesota, corporations and women, minorities and disabled business enterprises, also known as WMDBEs. Minority suppliers are the country’s fastest growing business sector. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2020, the minority population will represent 34.4 percent of the total U.S. population.
Local and state government officials, corporate partners and WMDBEs supported the Business Development Matchmaker in large numbers. Additionally, national and international corporations who supply the university participated in the training and workshops. The Coca-Cola Company’s Terrez Thompson, vice president of global supplier diversity participated in the event and also interviewed several WMBEs for possible supplier opportunities. Additionally, Aramark also participated and interviewed WMBEs.
“The university and our corporate partners benefited from participating in the matchmaker because it expanded relationships to the rapidly growing minority marketplace and we gained greater access to qualified suppliers to source, which increases competition, reduces cost and improves quality,” said Darryl Peal, executive director of the Office for Business and Community Economic Development at the University of Minnesota. “As a result, this fosters a transactional relationship with key demographics which can lead to a stronger local economy.”
Several business were recognized for their supplier diversity milestones and accomplishments. Graham Construction received the Stellar Award for General Contractor of the Year recognizing its commitment to supplier diversity through their dedication to compliance, participation in the Unifer Program testing and its continued support and commitment to WMBE firms.
Ideal Commercial Interiors (certified MBE) received the Stellar Award for Supplier of the Year recognizing their mentorship of WMBE’s and its contributions to the National Association of Minority Contractors.
McGough Construction received the Corporate Star Award for its outstanding leadership and commitment to supplier diversity through participation in the Unifier Program and partnering relationship with Tarraf Construction as well as its commitment to community outreach including support of over 20 local organizations.
The Richard H. Pfutzenreuter Award of Excellence was awarded to Kevin Sullivan, recognizing his commitment to growing Supplier Diversity and commitment to compliance at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Fred McKinney served as the keynote speaker at the awards luncheon. McKinney is the managing director for MBE programs at Dartmouth University, Tuck School of Business. Dartmouth’s MBE program is the largest in the country.
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
