How to attract minority contractors
May 20, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Executives interested in learning how to attract qualified minority contractors are invited to a Supplier Diversity Forum Wednesday, May 28, at Western Michigan University.
WMU is a sponsor and will play host to the forum, a program of the Michigan Minority Business Development Council and its Southwest Michigan Executive Business Roundtable. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. in WMU's Fetzer Center. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Valencia R. Johnson at (616) 776-1724 or <vrjohnson@mmbdc.com> before 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 27.
The featured speaker at the event will be Tee "Hudson" William, supplier diversity manager with Toyota, who will address "What Supplier Diversity Means to Toyota." MMBDC officials also will discuss the services their organization offers to Michigan businesses, the advantages of having a diverse supplier base, how to find qualified minority vendors and how to establish a supplier diversity program.
The MMBDC is a non-profit corporate service and minority business development organization. For more than 25 years, the group has been working to increase procurement and business opportunities for minority business enterprises, known as MBEs, and to maximize procurement opportunities for those firms with corporations and public-sector buyers. The MMBDC provides services and coordinates programs and activities for more than 700 corporations and 1,700 MBEs in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, education, food service, government, health care, insurance, manufacturing, retail and technology.
For more information about the Supplier Diversity Forum or the MMBDC, contact James B. Franklin III, MMBDC regional director, at (810) 235-4542 or Valencia R. Johnson, coordinator of West Michigan operations for MMBDC, at (616) 776-1724.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu