Administration

Supplier Diversity Trade Fair scheduled for Nov. 3

Shoppers discovered new partnerships with small businesses, woman-, minority-, veteran-, and LGBQT+-owned businesses at the 2018 Supplier Diversity Trade Fair. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Office of Central Procurement will hold a Supplier Diversity Trade Fair from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC). The fair will showcase small businesses and woman-, minority-, veteran-, and LGBQT+-owned businesses.

“Positive supplier relationships are critical to our success, and supplier diversity ensures all suppliers have a fair and equitable opportunity to receive and compete for business across the University,” says Chief Procurement Officer Duane Elmore. “This fair will help connect the Penn State community with diverse suppliers, strengthening our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while promoting innovation through the introduction of new products, solutions, and services.”

The event is open to the public and Penn State community. Over 100 suppliers were invited to represent the following categories:

  • advertising
  • cleaning and janitorial
  • consulting
  • custom precision machining
  • design and engineering
  • dining/food service
  • fabrication and stamping
  • furniture
  • general contracting
  • HVAC
  • interior design 
  • IT/software
  • manufacturing and testing services
  • novelties
  • office supplies
  • packaging services
  • photography and videography
  • security systems
  • scientific ​supplies and services
  • staffing

Penn State will host booths from General Stores and the four primary and delegated procurement areas: Office of Central Procurement, Housing and Foods Purchasing, Applied Research Lab Purchasing, and Office of Physical Plant's Design and Construction. 

Concessions will be open for visitors to purchase. The campus shuttle will be available throughout the fair for visitors at the Intramural Building stop via College Avenue and the Shields Building stop via Beaver Avenue.

For more information, contact Duane Bullock, manager of supplier diversity and environmentally responsible purchasing, at dmb5@psu.edu or 814-865-5417.

Last Updated October 7, 2022