The event welcomes businesses from across the Tampa Bay region as part of USF’s enhanced supplier diversity initiative.
TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2017) – Approximately 100 Tampa Bay area businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans are expected to participate in a large Supplier Diversity Day event on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa on Friday, Oct. 6.
Held in the Marshall Student Center, the all-day program will bring together the region’s business community with key purchasers from the USF System, aiming to build new relationships, provide better insights into the university’s procurement process and offer tips for how to successfully compete for business opportunities at USF.
The event is part of the USF System’s recently expanded efforts to enhance supplier diversity. In April, USF hired an experienced leader in the field, assistant vice president Terrie Daniel, to oversee the Supplier Diversity Program. Since her arrival, a new website was launched to provide business owners with an easy-to-use resource to learn about opportunities within the USF System, participate in upcoming events and connect directly with the program’s leadership. In addition, Daniel has implemented training programs for university employees to further educate them on best practices for involving minority, woman and veteran-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and supplies, construction, professional services and other contracts.
Full agenda for the Oct. 6 event:
8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Vendor check-in & exhibit set up
9:30 – 9:40 a.m. Welcome from USF leadership team
9:45 – 11:30 a.m. Information sessions & panel discussion
- Session 1- USF Supplier Diversity Program
- Session 2 – How to do business with USF
- Session 3 – Meet the decision makers
11:30 – noon Lunch & networking
Noon – 12:15 p.m. Ribbon-cutting
Noon – 3:00 p.m. Vendor showcase
More information on the Supplier Diversity Day event can be found here.
Diversity and inclusion are core values for the USF System, and the university has earned national recognition for its commitment to these areas. Earlier this year USF was honored by the U.S. Education Trust as the top school in Florida and sixth best school nationally for closing the achievement gap between black and white students. USF has also closed the achievement gap between Hispanic and white students. In addition, Military Times magazine ranks USF as the top school in the United States for veterans.
About the University of South Florida System
The University of South Florida System is a high-impact, global research system dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three institutions: USF Tampa; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The institutions are separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All institutions have distinct missions and their own detailed strategic plans. Serving over 50,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.