MEDIA CONTACT: Charles R. Loebbaka at (847) 491-4887 or at c-loebbaka@northwestern.edu

October 28, 2003

Diversity Conference Links Vendors, Buyers

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University will sponsor its eighth annual Supplier Diversity Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The purpose of the conference is to give minority-owned, women-owned and locally owned businesses the opportunity to meet with buyers from the University and to help the University identify new vendors.

This year’s conference, which is expected to attract more than 400 vendors, will be held in the Louis Room of Norris University Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

According to John Marshall, Northwestern’s manager of supplier diversity, the conference has grown every year with more vendors attending and more Northwestern departments represented.

Many other Evanston organizations will also send buyers to the conference, Marshall said, including Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Evanston Township High School District 202, the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago and Illinois Institute of Technology. The conference will also include representatives from the City of Evanston, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Minority Business Development Council, the Women’s Business Development Center, the State of Illinois Central Management Services and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, Marshall said he has asked some of the large construction companies doing work on campus as well as Sodexho and BPI printing to send representatives to the conference since the University urges those companies to use minority-owned, women-owned and locally owned businesses whenever they can.

The conference is usually well attended because it is a great opportunity for both the community and Northwestern, Marshall said.

“It’s great for the vendors because they get to meet a number of actual buyers at the University,” he continued. “And, it is great for our buyers because they get to meet a large number of vendors at one place rather than having to meet with them one at time.”

Also attending the conference will be what Marshall calls “success stories.” “These are vendors who have done well with the University,” said Marshall. “And we’ve asked them to talk to the potential vendors and tell them what worked for them.”

The University established its Supplier Diversity Program eight years ago in an effort to enhance and expand economic opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned and locally owned business enterprises.

Registration for the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., Eugene Sunshine, Northwestern’s senior vice president for business and finance, will welcome the vendors and the buyers. Immediately after that, Marshall will talk about Northwestern’s Supplier Diversity Program. From about 9:30 a.m. to noon, the vendors will be able to go from table to table to talk with buyers from the University and other organizations.

Marshall said he expects about 25 Northwestern departments, including Facilities Management, Information Technology, University Services, the Law School and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences to send representatives.

Anyone interested in more information on the conference or Northwestern’s Supplier Diversity Program should contact Marshall at (847) 491-5321 or at jbmarshall@northwestern.edu.