SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Business Matchmaking Launches
Expanded Small Business
Procurement Initiative
B
usiness Matchmaking, the na-
tion’s leading public-private small
business procurement initiative, has
announced an expanded 2010 event
schedule designed to encourage more
small businesses to pursue govern-
ment and corporate contracts.
The non-profit program, started
by the Small Business Administration
and HP six years ago, has enabled
over 75,000 free face-to-face meetings 16), New York (May 12), Nashville A new feature at Business Match-
between entrepreneurs and buyers (August 18) and San Antonio (Octo- making events is Teaming USA, or-
representing all government agencies, ber 13), Business Matchmaking will ganized by American Express OPEN,
as well as Fortune 500 corporations. host training workshops designed to linking together small firms to allow
The results have been several billions help start-ups become familiar with them to secure contracts collective-
of dollars in awarded contracts, with a procurement opportunities and how ly that are beyond their individual
growing percentage going to women, to team with other companies in ses- reach.
minority and veteran owned growing sions in Raleigh, Kansas City and “I went to Business Matchmaking
companies. Minneapolis. unaware of what I had to do in order
“We are finding new unexpected Additionally, Business Matchmak- to have a chance to sell to government
entrepreneurs entering the procure- ing has partnered with the California agencies and major corporations,”
ment arena,” said Brian Tippens, HP’s Small Business Development Centers said Don Stoneham, CEO of Agape
director of Supplier Diversity. “They and the Small Business Advocate in Enterprises Consulting Inc. of Dublin,
include a large number of female and the Governor’s Office to host 15 work- California. “At their event, I learned
minority veterans back from the Iraq shops focusing on new opportunities the basic information along with tech-
war unable to find employment and triggered by federal stimulus funding niques needed to conduct business. It
recent graduates in the same boat. for California’s projects. was great training that has provided
Business Matchmaking is provid- Based on its success in small busi- exceptional results for my company.
ing a uniquely effective and efficient ness regional events, Business Match- Every entrepreneur can benefit from
means for reaching out to help them making has again been selected to the business matchmaking experi-
get started and to grow.” produce the procurement portion of ence.”
Dave Sutton, a procurement direc- the national conference hosted by the Hector Barreto, former administra-
tor for the US Department of Justice, Office of Small & Disadvantaged Busi- tor of the SBA when Business Match-
calls the Business Matchmaking events ness Utilization for all federal agencies making began, calls the program “the
“outstanding.” He added “Their ex- on April 21 in Washington, DC. most productive and successful pub-
ceptional ability to organize events, American Express OPEN and lic-private initiative undertaken by
get the right people and produce the American Airlines have joined HP in our agency.”
desired results is well proven.” Peggy sponsoring Business Matchmaking For more information contact
Williams of the US State Department events by providing funding, technol- Margaret Shaw |310-432-6357|
agrees calling Business Matchmaking ogy and volunteers throughout the
margaret@businessmatchmaking.com or
“premier events, well organized and country. Business Matchmaking, a 501 go to
www.businessmatchmaking.com
well attended and their entire opera- (c3) foundation, also manages busi-
tion is world-class.”
nessmatchmaking.com which enables
In addition to regional face-to-face small businesses to secure online Source: Business Matchmaking and
selling events in Los Angeles (March training and leads between events.
DiversityBusiness.com
14 HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE Celebrating 18 Years of Diversity
www.hnmagazine.com
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