Business Services

West Chester University

201 Carter Drive, Suite 200
West Chester, PA 19383


Supplier Diversity Events

Regional Procurement Fair and Workshops

The Regional Procurement Fair is an opportunity to meet with the procurement staff at West Chester, Millersville, Shippensburg, Kutztown, East Stroudsburg Universities and the PA State System of Higher Education to learn about how to do business with PASSHE and the Universities.  This is an excellent opportunity to develop contacts and create relationships. This is a free event hosted by West Chester University.

The workshops will include the following:

  • Locating PASSHE and University contracting/procurement opportunities. 
  • How to do business with the Commonwealth.
  • Construction Insurance and Bonding 101

Place:  West Chester University’s Graduate Business Center

Date:  October 28, 2010

Time: 
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. - Registration and continental breakfast
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - Welcome and Presentations from Procurement Directors at each University and the Dixon Center
10:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. - Doing Business with the Commonwealth Workshop
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Regional Procurement Fair
12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. - Lunch on your own (Procurement Fair closed)
1:00 p.m. to3:00 p.m. - Continuation of Regional Procurement Fair
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Construction Insurance and Bonds 101

Past Supplier Diversity Events:

Tuesday June 29, 2010
MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED ENTERPRISE SUBCONTRACTING AND SUPPLIER DIVERSITY OUTREACH PARTICIPATION FORUM

West Chester University is pleased to sponsor a Minority and Women Enterprise Subcontracting and Supplier Diversity Outreach Participation Forum. The Forum is open to all MBE and WBE contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, service providers, and professional consultants who are interested in participating in the construction of the Student Recreation Center, at West Chester University. Click for further information.

Diversity Seminar

From: Pennlive.com - by Dan Miller - September 23, 2009

Minority and women-owned firms from midstate Pennsylvania connect with big companies during diversity seminar

Diversity Seminar

From left, Cathy Johnson of Mechanicsburg, in red, and Terence Sloane and Brett McKay of Susquehanna Twp., talk with Marianne Peffall of West Chester University, at far right, and Linda Venneri, of the State System of Higher Education, at far left, during a supplier diversity sympsium held by Harrisburg Regional Chamber.

Brett McKay sees progress in minority and women-owned businesses getting a bigger share of the economic pie in the midstate. McKay, estimator and operations manager for Webb Enterprise Companies, a minority-owned company in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, was among about 200 people Wednesday attending a supplier diversity symposium held by Harrisburg Regional Chamber.

The event at Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center in East Pennsboro Township gave people from these small businesses a chance to network face to face with representatives from large employers and contractors such as Highmark, Wohlsen Construction Co., Giant Food Stores and the State System of Higher Education.

McKay said competition for construction jobs is greater now, as more companies are bidding on projects because of the recession. But he also sees more opportunities for small minority-owned firms like his than before, he said.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Regional Procurement Fair - September 24, 2009

The Regional Procurement Fair is an opportunity to meet with the procurement staff at West Chester, Millersville, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg Universities, as well as the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to learn about how to do business with PASSHE and the Universities. This is an excellent opportunity to develop contacts and create relationships.

Doing Business with the Commonwealth is a free workshop presented by Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities.

The Procurement Fair will include the following:

• Locating PASSHE and University contracting/procurement opportunities.
• Programs to help small and diverse businesses make use of contracting and sub-contracting opportunities.
• How to do business with the Commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Regional Procurement Fair - March 16, 2009

The Regional Procurement Fair is an opportunity to meet with the procurement staff at West Chester, Millersville, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg Universities, as well as the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to learn about how to do business with PASSHE and the Universities. This is an excellent opportunity to develop contacts and create relationships.

Doing Business with the Commonwealth is a free workshop presented by Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities.

The Procurement Fair included the following:
• Locating PASSHE and University contracting/procurement opportunities.
• Programs to help small and diverse businesses make use of contracting and sub-contracting opportunities.
• How to do business with the Commonwealth.

Date: March 16, 2009
Times:
Session I: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – Regional Procurement Fair
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.- Doing Business with the Commonwealth workshop (pre-registration was required)

OR

Session II: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Regional Procurement Fair
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Doing Business with the Commonwealth workshop (pre-registration was required)

Place: West Chester University’s Graduate Business Center

February 6, 2008 – PASSHE Supplier Diversity Summit.

The First Annual PASSHE Supplier Diversity Summit was held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, and was attended by more than one hundred participants representing more than forty diverse suppliers. All 14 PASSHE Universities participated, as well as other higher education institutions, corporate partners, and organizations such as WBENC, the Harrisburg Area Chamber of Commerce, The African American Chamber of Commerce, The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, and many others.

The goal of the summit was to highlight PASSHE’s ongoing efforts to expand its supplier base and remove barriers to entry that historically may have stood in the way of diverse suppliers’ participation. The keynote address was provided by Mr. Peter Speaks, Deputy Secretary of the Department of General Services and Advisor to the Governor on Diversity. Mr. Speaks outlined the opportunities now available as well as the continued work to expand those opportunities for diverse suppliers. Ms. Charmaine Clowney, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, provided opening remarks and hosted the event.

Mr. Fred Clark, President of Clark Resources; Ms. Jennifer Delay, President of JDK Catering; and Mr. Shiraz Sugarwala, President of Penn State Supply Company, each told the story of their success in business and contracting with PASSHE. This panel discussion provided an opportunity for the audience to understand better how and why some vendors are successful. The success stories served as a catalyst for audience participation, questions and discussion.

The event ended with an opportunity for vendors to interact with procurement directors, purchasing agents, and several Vice Presidents from PASSHE Universities. The networking session provided personal contact and a mechanism for vendors to understand the organizations.