University receives annual award from MMBDC for 4th consecutive year, 8th time overall

Wayne State University has earned special recognition from the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, the nation's largest minority business development organization, for the fourth consecutive year for its active support and encouragement of minority vendors. The university received the Corporation of the Year Award - Education and Government category at MMBDC's annual awards ceremony in Detroit. It is the eighth time overall that WSU has been so honored by the council.

To qualify for the award, an institution must have an official supplier diversity policy. MMBDC also encourages large organizations to establish joint ventures or strategic alliances with minority businesses. Award nominations are made by minority-owned businesses.

"We are very proud to have received the Corporation of the Year Award in the Education Sector four times in succession," says Wayne State President Jay Noren. "This is not only a significant honor, but also an affirmation of the university's ongoing commitment to ensuring that minority suppliers have an equal opportunity to do business with the university. We take this commitment very seriously. In fact, we have been a cooperating member of the MMBDC for over 25 years."

John Davis, WSU vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer, points out that it is policy at Wayne State for all units across the university to make an effort to promote and expand relationships with minority-owned businesses as well as physically challenged individuals. "One example," he notes, "is our annual minority procurement conference, which offers tips to vendors on how to bid on Wayne State contracts and how to work with the university most effectively."

In addition to the annual procurement conference, which is coordinated by the purchasing department, the university assists in mentoring of minority business partners and actively seeks out minority firms, offering them opportunities to bid on contracts. Wayne State also supports MMBDC-sponsored events aimed at informing potential vendors about bid opportunities and recognizing companies and organizations that have exemplary minority supplier programs.

Besides the Corporation of the Year Award, WSU has received MMBDC's Corporate ONE Award for the past five years. The award recognizes organizations that are active in MMBDC's Project ONE program for mentoring minority partners.

Among several minority business owners who have benefited over the years from counseling provided through WSU's Purchasing Department are Jackie Tennille, founder and former co-owner of Mirus Printing in Madison Heights, and Clarence Carpenter, president and CEO of EKS Services Inc., an environmental consulting company in Detroit. Both say business counseling provided by Wayne State as part of the MMBDC's Project ONE program was instrumental in the success and growth of their respective start-up companies. Both have also won contracts from the university through a competitive bidding process.

"Wayne State University has consistently gone above and beyond the call as a mentor," says Tennille. She has participated in the mentoring program for about seven years and has sold her successful printing business to accept a new opportunity as business development manager with Wrightway Group, a fledgling marketing and graphics solutions firm in Troy. "I am grateful to, and have tremendous respect for, the professionalism and assistance provided by Joan Gossman (director of purchasing at WSU), Tennille adds. "I've learned so much from Joan and have applied that knowledge as a small business owner. She is a proactive mentor who not only has provided valuable advice but has referred many potential clients."

Carpenter, who formed his company eight years ago, also praises Wayne State and its Purchasing Department for a strong and continuing commitment to small business mentoring. "The advice and encouragement provided by the university has played an important part in growing our company to 20 employees," he points out.

He notes that it can be a real challenge for a newly formed, relatively unproven small company to win business contracts. "The university's Facilities Planning and Management Division was willing to take a chance on us a few years back," he explains. "They selected us to conduct an environmental assessment on an old office building scheduled for demolition to make way for new development. I've always been grateful for the opportunity. Through its mentoring and support of small but growing businesses like mine, "he adds, "I feel that Wayne State is also contributing to the economic resurgence of Detroit and Southeast Michigan."

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.