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HR Inclusion in Practice:

Supplier Diversity at the U

Wing Witthuhn

Business Development Manager and Interim Director, Office for Supplier Diversity

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OHR EDI Pillars

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Systemic Barrier Mitigation

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  1. Continual assessment of HR policies and practices that may have unintentionally created marginalization
  2. Increased education on the impact of institutionalized racism
  3. Equity analysis (compensation, performance management, and employee relations)
  4. Incorporation of calibration processes

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Who You Are and Your Story

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  • Quyen “Wing” Witthuhn
  • 1st generation immigrant from Vietnam
  • BA in Anthropology, MA in International Development
  • Retail Entrepreneur 14+ years
  • Small Business Consultant 2+ years
  • University of Minnesota
    • U of M Alumni Association
    • Office for Supplier Diversity

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What is Supplier Diversity?

Supplier Diversity is a business strategy that provides historically underutilized businesses equal access to purchasing opportunities.

It is a best practice that creates:

  • Competition
  • Innovation
  • Cost Savings
  • Economic Growth
  • Business Capacity

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Office for Supplier Diversity

Formerly The Office for Business & Community Economic Development

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The Office for Supplier Diversity (OSD) works with businesses owned by women, BIPOC, and disabled individuals (“Targeted Businesses”), and with other underserved businesses, to facilitate their integration into the University supply chain.

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Our objectives are to:

  • Enhance best value for University contracts
  • Drive wealth and capacity-building in the communities we serve
  • Ensure compliance with supplier diversity contract requirements

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FY23 Snapshot

  • $676 million eligible spend
  • Overall Targeted Business spend: 11.8%
  • Construction: 50.5 million or 34% | 13% goal
  • Goods & Services: 29.1 million or 5.5% | 6% goal
  • 613 Targeted Businesses

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Targeted Group Business (TGB) Program

  • Established by Board of Regents Policy in 1996
    • What is a Targeted Business?
      • At least 51% owned and controlled by women, BIPOC ‘minority’ [sic}, or disabled individuals
    • Certified with our of our partner agencies:
      • State of MN Department of Administration
      • Minnesota Unified Certification Program
            • Central Certification Program (CERT)
      • National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
      • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
      • Disability: IN
  • Targeted Business inclusion plans are evaluated on all construction projects over $100,000 and goods and services contracts and purchases over $50,000

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OSD Resources for U Staff

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OSD Resources for U Staff, cont.

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UMarket

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Targeted Business Directory

  • Search the U of M’s Targeted Business Directory before making a purchase under $50K
  • Opt-in: The Targeted Business Directory only includes targeted businesses that want to do business with the University
  • 700+ businesses of all kinds
  • Coming soon: search by campuses served
  • Ask OSD for help with initiating a broader search for targeted businesses in niche markets

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Screenshot: Targeted Business Directory

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Amplify the reach of your RFP

in diverse communities

  • OSD can find targeted businesses for you to invite to bid on your RFPs
  • OSD can help facilitate targeted business attendance at pre-proposal meetings, to support prime or sub opportunities and relationship-building
  • Use OSD’s tips for writing an RFP that encourages small and diverse business participation

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Technical Assistance for Targeted Businesses

Do you know a business that wants to participate in the Targeted Business Program? Send them to us!

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We can help them to:

  • Understand how to obtain a diverse business certification
  • Determine which certification is right for their business
  • Navigate the University’s purchasing processes
  • Understand how to leverage their diverse business certification at the University
  • Connect them to local and regional resources and networks

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Recap: How can OSD help you and your staff?

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  • Search the Targeted Business Directory before making a purchase
  • Use the filter feature in U Market to easily find products from Targeted Businesses
  • Engage with OSD for help with:
    • Initiating a broader search for Targeted Businesses in niche markets
    • Writing an inclusive RFP to encourage Targeted Business participation
    • Hosting an event with Targeted Businesses in your area
    • Answering all your questions about the Targeted Business Program
    • Adding new Targeted Businesses to EFS and Tririga

Don’t hesitate to reach out - we’re a resource for you

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How You Can Help Advance Supplier Diversity at the U

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  • Encourage staff with purchasing duties to:
    • tell us about upcoming projects as early as possible; we’re happy to help find vendors
    • consult with OSD when writing an RFP
    • share their “categories of interest” for the next fiscal year
    • use the Targeted Business Directory when making purchases under $50K
    • attend the 2024 Supplier Diversity Expo and walk the floor (Oct. 8, 2024) - or host a booth!
  • Invite us to table at your events, vendor fairs, etc.

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Sign up for our newsletter

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Click Join our Mailing List to complete our MailChimp form to receive future newsletters.

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Office for Supplier Diversity

osd@umn.edu | 612-624-0530

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Diego Cisneros, Supplier Diversity Manager, Goods & Services | diegocis@umn.edu

Jorrie Johnson, Supplier Diversity Manager, Construction

Nigel Simmons, Program Specialist | nsimmons@umn.edu

Wing Witthuhn, Interim Director | wingwitt@umn.edu

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Q & A

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Thank you for coming!

Please fill out the event survey.

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If you are interested in presenting, please send an email to ediohr319@umn.edu

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