UMDNJ Outreach Information, Goals and Initiatives

For Supplier Diversity

During this reporting period the Office of Supplier Diversity and Vendor Development (OSD-VD) continued to focus not just on increasing business with Small Businesses, but also on developing long-term affiliations with our Small Business vendor base in order to seek the best values for the University.

Our broader goal is to promote the growth and development of small businesses (which includes minority, women-owned and veteran-owned firms) throughout the State. UMDNJ is committed to having a diversified vendor base; therefore, we have made special efforts to participate in small business vendor outreach activities all over the State of New Jersey, as well as the tri-state area. We realize that quality is not solely available through majority firms. We feel that small and diverse firms have demonstrated the ability to be flexible; to provide added value; to be cost effective; and to provide the best values to UMDNJ for quality goods and services. We are looking for small businesses that are committed to excellence, customer service, growth and expansion through hard work and good service.

UMDNJ has led New Jersey in providing business opportunities to diversified firms for over twenty (20) years through professional development workshops, outreach programs, joint ventures, and innovative business initiatives. Additionally, we were pleased to conduct our own 13^th Annual Procurement Event and Luncheon on October 22, 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Details of this event are below in the list of our accomplishments during this reporting period.

FISCAL YEAR 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

l    Networking- UMDNJ broadened its activity around the tri-state area to recruit small businesses for its procurement needs, advocate for diverse supplier opportunities, and promote inclusion on all levels.

l    Supplier Cultivation- Throughout the year, individual meetings were held with suppliers to work through issues, i.e., payment, invoices and concerns; in addition, introductions were made to specific buyers and/or end users.

l    Provided assistance to vendors in obtaining State Certifications.

l    Provided referrals for assistance in business development for small business through the State Office of Economic Growth, New Jersey Commerce Department, etc.

l    Maintained and distributed small business vendor information as opportunities presented themselves.

l    Assisted internal departments; schools, administration with vendor recommendations to help achieve unit spending goals.

l    Collaborated with partner agencies in the Tri-State Area and beyond such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Women’s President Education Organization, New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, etc.

l    Maintained positive visibility in the community and equal visibility with sister organizations on the County and State level through Essex County Office of Small Business Development and Economic Opportunity, New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, etc.

l    Made noteworthy impact across the State to enhance the University’s public image by strategically placed advertisements, distribution of promotional items, staff participation in small business outreach events, radio broadcast of public interest information and community based programs.

l    Assisted in the development of key small business initiatives to achieve cost effective pricing and timely produce delivery University-wide.

l    Partnered with the following UMDNJ Divisions, Public and Private Agencies to better provide vendor opportunities:

1.    New Jersey Commerce, Nina Moseley

2.    Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce –Christopher Phelan

3.    New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) - Paula Gould

4.    New York/New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council -Linda Ireland

5.    Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE - Darlene L. Jenkins

6.    UMDNJ- Treasury Office, Lillian Parson

7.    UMDNJ- Facilities Planning & Construction, Terry Pollin/David Schulz.

8.    UMDNJ- Physical Plant, Paul Crawford

l    Provided on going grant contract support and continued to support multiple grant reporting requirements.

We are pleased to report that the 13th Anniversary Annual UMDNJ Procurement Event and Luncheon was a huge success. The event was held at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin, New Jersey. In attendance were over four hundred and fifty (450) small and diversity business owners and representatives from many UMDNJ departments, schools and divisions.

The diversity firms in attendance commented that this was one of UMDNJ’s best procurement event ever due to the in depth information that was made available to them about the university’s internal processes. Also, they were pleased with the over view presentation featuring our new supply chain structure. Additionally, the representatives from UMDNJ departments, schools and divisions expressed favorable comments about the detailed explanations they received concerning the BANNER Finance System and other internal procedures involved with making a proper procurement transaction under the newly revised guidelines. The consensus opinion of those in attendance was that the information they received was clear, informative and useful.

Those present participated in the following six (6) workshops:

WORKSHOP # 1 “UMDNJ Supply Chain Process”

Presenter: Thomas Kenyon (Standing Room Only, room expanded to accommodate additional attendees, lively Q&A))

WORKSHOP #2 –“Construction and MRO Contracts”

Presenters: David Schulz, John Belkewitch, Nicholas Fabroni, Phyliss Deal (Filled to Capacity, ran beyond schedule and reassembled in the outer area and continued for another thirty (30) minutes. This workshop could have been two (2) hours.)

WORKSHOP # 3 – IT/Telecommunications, Professional Services, Medical Supplies & Equipment”

Presenters: Mark Michaelson, Carolyn Ricks, Khadisha Olumbe, David Fenkel,Craig Maracek, Denise Council (Over flowed capacity, had to be moved to a larger room)

WORKSHOP # 4 – “RFP Processes” (Over flow capacity, had to add 30 additional chairs)

Presenter: Denise Council

WORKSHOP #5 Contract Management”

Presenter: Daniel Young (Lively exchange focused on “Contract Management”, a newly formed unit.)

WORKSHOP # 6 “Payment Challenges at UMDNJ”

Presenter: Gary Kucsan (Lively exchange)

The luncheon was attended by approximately three hundred (300) guests who heard our feature speaker Trustee Milton Hollar-Gregory, Esq. elaborate on UMDNJ’s commitment to having a diversified supplier base. Trustee Hollar-Gregory’s message was well received.

A survey of attendees was conducted that reflected a high degree of satisfaction from our vendor community with reference to the business objectives, educational and informational content of the event.