Northern Illinois University wants to make the list of companies that it contracts with more inclusive. This year, its Diversity Vendor Networking Fair will focus on small businesses, as well as firms owned by women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Director of Procurement Antoinette Bridges explains: "The whole purpose of the fair is to bring together these types of vendors so that our team of buyers and our prime vendors that we're currently doing business with can have access to some of these underrepresented vendors and create, hopefully, strategic partnerships."
Bridges added: "Our goal is to enhance our overall women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities and small businesses." She says NIU is aiming to have at least 20% of its vendors come from these underrepresented categories.
She says the fair, which takes place October 16th, is a chance for faculty and staff to see how the University reaches out for potential contracts.