MBE/EDGE Committee Meeting
02/01/2011
Minutes
In attendance: Betty Anzaldua, Lawrence Burns, Meaghan Duricek, Shanda Gore, Gary Johnson, Felissa Parker-Green, Jennifer Pastorek, Lorie Sarnes, Debbe Skutch, Anthony Slade (guest), Oona Temple, and Thomas Winston
Mr. Burns welcomed all in attendance and guests: Ms. Felissa Parker-Green, MBDC Manager Mr. Anthony Slade, sales intern for Ms. Temple’s company, Cosine Technical Group.
Mr. Burns asked Dr. Gore to review the minutes from the January 11 meeting.
Dr. Gore stated that a meeting of the oversight committee for the MBE/EDGE Participation Policy had been set for February 23.
Mr. Johnson stated that, as a result of the last meetings’ discussion, he and Mr. Urrutia were planning on hiring interns and had begun to fill out the necessary paperwork.
Dr. Gore updated the Committee on the Minority Business Development Center. She provided the members with a list and description of the MBDC affiliates. She added that she had received queries about the MBDC from a company in Maryland.
Mr. Burns asked Ms. Parker-Green which of the affiliates occupied their MBDC offices most frequently. Ms. Parker-Green stated that the companies who frequented the MBDC most often were KPGL, Cosine, Continental Defense, Peak Electric and Bebley Enterprises. She added that the chambers were there less frequently, but on a regular basis.
Dr. Gore asked Ms. Parker-Green to update the council on the report she had written to comply with the Edison Grant. She stated that the MBDC had done extremely well financially in the second half of 2010. Combined, the MBDC affiliates generated $2.2 million in sales and created 44 jobs. She added that Mr. Bebley had recently been awarded a $1 million contract.
Mr. Johnson stated that the Hispanic Chamber would be holding one of its monthly meetings at the MBDC.
Dr. Gore stated that work was being done to outfit a room that could accommodate up to 45 people, and that tables and chairs had recently been moved in. This space will be available for workshops.
Ms. Skutch asked if there were any plans to publicize the success of the MBDC. Mr. Burns said that he thought press releases would be appropriate.
Ms. Pastorek updated the committee on the MBE/EDGE purchasing numbers for goods and services. She listed several categories excluded from the MBE/EDGE percentage (based on a lack of minority suppliers in the areas). Eligible MBE/EDGE spending was 3.05% of total goods and services spending. (Please see attachment.)
Ms. Pastorek stated that the next major step in implementing the new MBE/EDGE Purchasing Policy was to educate those with spending power on the importance of purchasing from minorities. She added that she had begun to schedule various meetings in order to educate them on the updated procurement policy. She estimated that 60-70 points of contact would need to be made to complete this task and that it would take her 3-4 months to complete.
Ms. Temple asked Ms. Pastorek how the University went about staffing positions. Ms. Pastorek stated that Human Resources handled staffing, and that she would send Ms. Temple the contact information for HR.
Action Item: Ms. Pastorek will send Ms. Temple a contact within University Human Resources.
Action Item: Mr. Burns will send an agenda for the Oversight Committee’s February 23 meeting to those members involved with it.
Mr. Burns reviewed the Committee Goals and Objectives. He stated that he believed the MBE/EDGE Subcommittee had succeeded in changing the culture, communicating with the University/MBE/EDGE Community, and had created appropriate measurement tools to gauge where UT lacked good minority participation. He added that, the fourth goal, “Creating a cash-flow cycle – bonding and how to accommodate those small companies that need payment earlier than 90 day cycles” had been met through the committee’s partnering with the Toledo Port Authority to create the Diversified Contractors Accelerator Program (DCAP).
Mr. Burns asked the committee to brainstorm goals for 2011. He began by saying that he thought the first three goals from 2010 should be rolled over to 2011. Mr. Johnson suggested that the UT MBE/EDGE committee begin to work with suppliers and encourage more minority participation at the supplier level. Ms. Temple suggested creating a program to explain to businesses why it makes sense to hire diverse workers. Ms. Skutch stated that the College of Business was discussing the possibility of creating a workshop for minority businesses, and that Ms. Temple’s idea would be a great topic.
Action Item: Members of the Committee interested in organizing such an event will arrange a meeting
Ms. Parker-Green suggested tracking how good MBE/EDGE companies are at purchasing from other MBE/EDGE companies and continuing the deal flow.
Dr. Gore asked the committee if they remembered the “Black Pages” and if they knew what had happened to it. Ms. Parker-Green stated that it had been printed by an individual in Cleveland and that the African Bureau is involved in trying to re-publish it. Ms. Skutch added that the goal of communicating with the community outside of UT would be beneficial.
Action Item: If the committee members have any other ideas for goals, they should email them to . All suggestions will be compiled and discussed at next month’s meeting.
Ms. Skutch stated that her office will be webcasting a miniforum on healthcare reform and what it means for businesses on February 8th. She stated that it can be located from their webpage and questions can be asked. She added that 42 people would be onsite, and many more would be viewing it online. She added that an Economic Forum meeting is scheduled for March 15 at the Toledo Club. She added that this forum would be taped and posted online.
Mr. Slade asked the committee if they required assistance locating interns to please contact him at .
Mr. Burns thanked everyone for attending.
The next meeting will be held on March 15, at 12:00 p.m. in the Scott Park VIP Room.
Please mark your calendars with the following 2011 MBE/EDGE Committee meeting dates. All meetings will be held at 12:00 noon in the Scott Park VIP Room.
April 12
May 10
June 14
July 12
3