TSMSDC is a regional chapter of the National Supplier Development Council which provides a link between corporations and minority-owned businesses nationwide.
The Keystone Award was one of three honors for UofL and its staff. The award recognized that UofL
- had an increased spending with minority owned businesses of 258 percent in 2007
- developed mandatory supplier diversity training for all university Purchasing Department staff
- designed an easy-to-read information card with instructions on how to do business with the university
- hosted its first Making It Happen Session for minority business owners and TSMSDC registered majority owned businesses to provide information on what UofL purchases and the university’s spending trends.
Terry Atwell, senior buyer in the Purchasing Department, received the organization’s Chairman’s Challenge Award at the same time. This award goes to an individual for his or her exemplary contributions to the Tri-State council.
UofL also was among 22 membership corporations recognized for having spent at least $1 million with minority-owned firms during the past year.
I am proud of the university’s recent accomplishments but recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done in this area, said Mitchell Payne, associate vice president for business affairs. Payne leads UofL’s efforts in minority procurement.
Locally, TSMSDC serves more than 100 major corporations and about 300 minority businesses in Southern Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.