In less than six months, CWRU has worked with several new companies owned by minorities and women—an increase of more than $360,000 in business with diverse suppliers.

The expanded outreach, which ranges from industrial work to food service to health care, is a result of the University's Supplier Diversity Initiative Council (SDIC), envisioned by Rhonda Gross, executive vice president and chief operating officer; commissioned at the end of June by James W. Wagner, then interim president; and chaired by Hossein Sadid, vice president for business and controller.

In working with community leadership, the University formed SDIC to help minority and women business enterprises gain greater access to business opportunities at CWRU. The specific objectives of the council are to identify barriers to doing business at the University, review dollar volumes and make suggestions as to how to increase them and identify and act upon ways to outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses.

"Elements of the University's new vision include increasing diversity and creating community partnerships. By building and diversifying our supplier base through this new initiative, we are able to do both," said Jacklyn Chisholm, CWRU's director of community relations and a member of SDIC.

"But this is not just about doing something to improve the University," she added. "We're actually changing people's lives. Diverse business owners are now better able to provide for their families, and their success is inspiring other women and minorities to start companies."

The council already has taken decisive steps to make quick fixes to the University's existing purchasing and contracting practices to eliminate barriers. Since July, the council has been successful in raising the University's bid level, speeding up payment for work and helping women and minority-owned businesses acquire performance bond insurance.

"I am extremely proud of the work SDIC has done thus far," Sadid said. "Shortly after SDIC was formed, the council compiled a list of 21 action items that has formed the foundation for the development of a solid supplier diversity program. The program will guarantee continued success in expanding opportunities for MBEs (minority-owned business enterprises) and FBEs (female-owned business enterprises)."

With all their early success, the council still is just getting started.

"Staffs in the departments of campus planning and facilities and purchasing have worked very hard to carry out the council's action items," Sadid said. "The leadership of these departments held a business opportunity workshop for over 120 MBEs and FBEs in October. The workshop was very successful in helping local suppliers, contractors and service providers to learn how to do business with CWRU."

SDIC is planning a supplier diversity fair during which minority- and women-owned companies can present their services to the University, and possibly to University Circle institutions, in a trade show format. The group also is working on a publication and Web site for all vendors that outlines the process of doing business with CWRU.

"One of the things that impresses me about CWRU is that it is a private university, and they don't have to do this," said Stan Miller, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association and a member of SDIC. "But the University has put together a process where they've opened up their books, looked at what they've done in the past-the successes they've had, the challenges they face-and are forming the foundation for what could become a world-class program."

In addition to members from CWRU, the council consists of representatives from the National Association of Women Business Owners, Hard Hatted Women, the Hispanic Business Association, Northern Ohio Minority Business Council, Black Trades Council and NAACP, among others.

"I've been really proud to serve on the Supplier Diversity Initiative Council and really impressed with the two-prong approach that has accomplished so much-and is now spreading to a three-prong approach," said Connie Atkins, executive director of the Consortium of African-American Organizations. "When I say two-prong, I mean setting long-term policies that remove the bricks in the walls and barriers to doing business with a diverse audience, while simultaneously and immediately doing business with a new, diverse audience.

"The third prong," Atkins continued, "is telling the world about what we're doing and welcoming them to join us."

Supplier Diversity Initiative Council members include: Stanley Miller, Sr. Neighborhood Centers Association Executive Director; Connie E. Atkins, Executive Director, Consortium of African American Organizations; Lonzo (Lonnie) Coleman, Coleman Spohn; Angel A. Guzman, Executive Director, Hispanic Business Association; Stephanie McHenry-Lucky, Executive Director, Northern Ohio Minority Business Council; Kathy Augustine, Executive Director, Hard Hatted Women; Steve Washington, Vice President for Programs and Placement Urban League of Greater Cleveland; George Edwards, Founder/Executive Director, Black Trades Council of Ohio, Inc.; Sandy Heath, Board Member, National Association of Women Business Owners; the Rev. Charles Lucas Chairman, Board of Trustees, The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the NAACP; Charles Burkett, Senior Director, Minority Business Development, Enterprise Development; Hossein Sadid, Chair Vice President for Business and Controller, CWRU; Ken Basch, Vice President, Campus Planning and Operations, CWRU; Jackie Chisholm, Director Community Service, Community Relations, CWRU; Ann Penn, Director ,Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, CWRU; Karen Stephens, Manager, Purchasing, CWRU; Margaret Stevens, Secretary, Executive Aide to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, CWRU; John Lawyer, Director, Material Support, CWRU.