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Supplier Diversity

Past Events

Virtual Meet & Greets 2021

December

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce members are invited to attend a Lunch ‘N Learn. Come learn how the university does construction on the Chicago campus. BEP firms who are in the construction space, including but not limited to: construction, bonding and insurance, security guards, and suppliers should attend this FREE event.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hispanic American Construction Industry Association members are invited to attend a Lunch ‘N Learn. Come learn how the university does construction on the Chicago campus. BEP firms who are in the construction space, including but not limited to: construction, bonding and insurance, security guards, and suppliers should attend this FREE event.

Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Higher Education staff is encouraged to attend.

Powers & Sons Construction is a family-owned general contracting and construction management firm with corporate, education, government, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, multi-family residential, nonprofit, retail, and other clients. Established in 1967, Powers & Sons is a collaborative partner who shares your goals for quality, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.

Charles Mann Contracting offers a range of essential services for contractors throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Core competencies include self-performed low voltage electrical work, facilities support services, and strategic sourcing of essential building materials with just-in-time delivery.

CMT, LLC is a full service commercial construction company established in 2012, specializing in hospitals, local, state and federal buildings, schools, and churches. CMT self performs in roofing, demolition and abatement. As a full service commercial contractor, CMT is capable of handling all your needs. 

October

Higher Education staff is encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Talman Consultants is a utility engineering consulting firm that offers a unique, comprehensive approach to the design and construction of complex infrastructure projects. Talman's multi-disciplined team of designers, engineers, and project managers has built tools and processes to optimize and manage your most complex projects from Concept to Construction.

Webb Engineering Services, Inc. was established in 1999 as an electrical engineering firm that expanded to provide mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection services. Over the years, Webb Engineering has developed into a firm possessing the size, experience and versatility to take on projects of a variety of scopes and building types, while at the same time maintaining a hands-on approach and involving the personal oversight of the firm’s principals on each

Tuesday, October 5, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. - Noon

Flowers Communications Group is an award-winning marketing communications firm with 30 years of experience creating connections between some of the world’s most iconic brands, including McDonald’s, Nike, Foot Locker, and Honda, and their landscape of diverse communities. As multifaceted hybrids, the agency strategically blurs the lines between integrated marketing, social media and digital, influencer engagement, traditional PR, creative content, advertising, and experiential marketing. You can leverage FCG’s services by utilizing the IPHEC2142 award.

KFA Inc is an information technology consulting and services firm that specializes in solutions for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry and the facilities management industry. Founded in 1993 in Chicago, KFA serves clients in the public and private sectors, including education, transportation, infrastructure, healthcare, and facilities management. KFA has delivered solutions to help its clients manage over 80 billion dollars of construction projects. The firm's portfolio of successful projects has won 21 awards over the last 20 years, including the 2020 award from the US Department of Commerce for “Minority Innovative Technology Firm of the Year”. You can leverage KFA's services by utilizing the IPHEC2003 award.

Virtual Meet & Greets 2020

September

HOH Architects – Join us on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, for a Meet & Greet with HOH Architects. HOH has 60+ years in architecture, construction management, and professional engineering.

Primes and design firms interested in partnering are welcome to attend! Flyer
 

Federations of Women Contractors – Join us on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. to learn about women business owners and contractors capable of meeting your upcoming construction project needs.

Register: https://go.uillinois.edu/meetandgreet_FWC 

August

Iyka Enterprises – Join us on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Iyka is a leading Big Data solution provider, helping organizations make data-driven insights an integral component of their organizational culture. Come learn about self-service data and a technology platform that provides solutions to your dynamic data. Flyer

Creative Content Development Group – Join us on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CCDG is an eLearning, training and education company that creates and delivers high-quality, engaging, state of the art, custom-training solutions tailored for an organization or institution. These training solutions allow employees or students to access training over the web through computers and mobile devices in one or more languages as needed globally. Capabilities Statement.Flyer

Okta – Join us on Thursday, August 6, 2020 from 12:30 – 1:30 to hear how cloud-based enterprise identity and access management technology can improve and simplify security across a complex landscape and help your institution react faster to urgent new requirements. Hear directly from your peers on why they are modernizing and what they are experiencing. Flyer

July

Bowa Construction – Join us on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, from noon – 1:00 p.m. for a lunch & learn with Bowa Construction. Bowa is a minority-owned firm that has provided general contracting, construction management, and design-build services for over 25 years. Flyer

EKI-Digital – Join us on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, from noon – 1:00 p.m. to learn about EKI-Digital’s IT digital solutions. EKI-Digital has helped some of the largest public and private sector organizations gain measurable efficiency gains leveraging process and technology modernization. Flyer

How to Become a Seller with Amazon Business 

Join us on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. to learn how to become a seller on the Amazon Business Marketplace. If you are interested in learning how to increase your product sales online and reaching more domestic and global clients, this is for you!

Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/616378928795075339

The Benefits of State Certification 

Join us on Thursday, May 14, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. for an interactive session to learn about the State of Illinois certification program. Other topics include: identifying small business resources and contracting opportunities.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

https://go.illinois.edu/CertificationBenefits

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

https://go.illinois.edu/CertificationBenefits2

Presentation Slides

For questions, please contact Vernell Hammons at vernellh@uillinois.edu.

COVID-19 Vendor Guidance & Resources 

Join us on Thursday, April 30, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. for an interactive session to learn what the University of Illinois System is procuring during this time. Other hot topics include: resources, tools, and opportunities that are available for you during the COVID-19 crisis.

Presentation Slides

Q&A

Supplier Diversity Program Outreach Events

2019 Chief Procurement Office & Public Institutions of Higher Education Diverse Business Opportunity Fair

Monday, October 21, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Student Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor, 2251 Richard Wright Dr, Springfield, IL 62703.

This exciting event is part of an initiative to increase diversity among university and college departments and help diverse businesses gain more access to the procurement process. Participating firms that have historically lacked opportunity will have the unique opportunity to connect with you and other businesses to help grow their business.

2019 Diverse Business Opportunity Fair at UIUC

Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at the iHotel Conference Center, 1900 S. First Street, Champaign, IL 61820. The fair will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by a networking reception from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

The Diverse Business Opportunity Fair is part of an initiative organized to increase diversity among university departments and help diverse businesses gain more access in the procurement process.

Partnering With Our Veteran Businesses

This event is intended for veteran-owned small business and service disabled veteran-owned businesses to attend and learn about procurement opportunities with Higher Education Institutions and State Agencies.


Professional Service Symposiums

The Symposium provides a platform for diverse professional services firms and select suppliers to present their capabilities to key internal staff. The intent of this outreach initiative is to build relationships that may lead to procurement opportunities that meet the University of Illinois System's needs. The Professional Services Diversity Symposium will be key to increase spend with diverse firms.

2019 Professional Services Diversity Symposium  

2018 Professional Services Diversity Symposium  

2017 Professional Services Diversity Symposium  

2016 Professional Services Diversity Symposium  

2015 Professional Services Diversity Symposium  

2014 Strengthening Relationships and Expanding Opportunities

2013 Building Relationships and Expanding Opportunities


Construction Summit

The Construction Summit as an initiative to significantly increase diversity among higher education vendors through an event designed to help diverse businesses gain more access on construction projects.

2020 Virtual Construction Summit

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

This virtual event will include panel discussions and opportunities to meet representatives from the University of Illinois, Capital Development Board, and Primes bidding on upcoming projects such as: 

This must-attend event is part of an initiative to increase diversity spend among public institutions of higher education and help diverse businesses learn how to be a successful partner with the University of Illinois.  

A Stronger Foundation for Tomorrow

2019 Building Success Stories

2018 Developing People. Growing Business

2017 Building your Future with the University of Illinois

2016 Using Tools from Your Toolbox

2015 Building Bridges with Higher Education


Higher Education Diverse Business Opportunity Fairs

Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC) consists of the nine (9) state of Illinois universities and 13 campuses that work together as a single buying group to leverage their group purchasing power across a wide range of goods and services. The "Higher Education Diverse Business Opportunity Fair" is part of an initiative organized and sponsored by IPHEC through its Diversity Working Group to significantly increase diversity among higher education vendors through an event designed to help diverse businesses gain more access in the procurement process.

2015 Diverse Business Opportunity Fair at SIU

2015 Diverse Business Opportunity Fair at U of I

2015 Diverse Business Opportunity Fair at GSU

2014 Diverse Business Opportunity Fair at SIUE


Supplier Diversity Program Vendor Workshop

Pre-bid Meeting 

How to Bid Projects with the University of Illinois Capital Programs Division

What diverse contractors need to know to bid on Capital Projects at the University of Illinois System. 

Last Updated: November 11, 2022

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