Supplier Diversity Workshop Held for Transformation

On Tuesday, July 17, we hosted approximately 70 potential diverse supplier representatives at a “How to Do Business with MetroHealth” event. The event was designed to raise awareness of Metrohealth’s goals and objectives around supplier diversity and to increase opportunities for our diverse business enterprises to quote or bid on goods, supplies, equipment and services solicited by MetroHealth’s Supply Chain and Construction Planning/Campus Transformation departments.

Supplier Diversity Specialist, Darrell Johnson, facilitated the event, which featured a discussion with business owners working to drive contracting opportunities at MetroHealth. Speakers included Paul Martucci, Director - Supply Chain Management, Walter Jones, SVP - Center for Campus Transformation, Kevin Ortner, Director - Center for Campus Transformation and Alan Nevel, SVP - Chief Diversity & HR Officer. Each shared their perspectives on supplier diversity and how to begin the procurement process with MetroHealth. Elisia Lugo, Systems Analyst - Supply Chain lead a discussion and a step by step demonstration of the supplier portal registration process.

In the discussion, Paul Martucci said MetroHealth’s economic impact in the local community as a whole is significant. "It is important to us," said Martucci, "that minorities, women, veterans and the LGBT community have access to those opportunities in order to build their capacity."

A Q&A session on how to do business with MetroHealth followed the discussion. Those attending had the opportunity to network in the Rammelkamp Atrium with members of the contracting and supplier diversity team. In all, there were more than 45 participating LGBTQ, women, minority small and local business enterprises.