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Mission & Vision

The mission of the University of Illinois Minority and Female Business Enterprise Program (MAFBE) is to provide access to procurement opportunities by creating an equitable and competitive business environment while stimulating the growth and development of businesses owned by minorities, females and persons with disabilities.

The vision of the University of Illinois MAFBE Program is to become the leader in higher education through the implementation of initiatives that optimize the participation of minority, female and persons with disabilities businesses in the procurement process.

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Why Should I Attend?

The University of Illinois procures a variety of goods and services, and it is our goal to increase the pool of minority, female and persons with disabilities owned businesses with which we partner. We realize the importance of supplier diversity in our purchasing process and we want to help you understand how to do business with us.

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Who Should Attend?

Owners of minority, female, and persons with disabilities owned businesses including but not limited to architectural, engineering, construction, advertising, IT, accounting, legal, healthcare, office supplies, medical supplies, manufacture/ retail, and all professional and artistic services.

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Travel Directions

The UIC Forum is located at the Halsted/Roosevelt Road intersection.

From north: Take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Taylor Street-Roosevelt Road exit. Take Roosevelt Road west to Halsted Street.

From south: Take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) and exit at Roosevelt Road. Turn west on Roosevelt Road to Halsted Street.

From east: Take Roosevelt Road west to Halsted Street.

From west: Take the (I-290) Eisenhower Expressway east to the Racine Avenue exit. Turn south on Racine Avenue to Roosevelt Road. Turn east on Roosevelt Road to Halsted Street.

By train: Take the CTA Blue Line to the UICHalsted station. Take the Halsted Street bus southbound to Roosevelt Road.

Parking

Please park in Lot C-located at the intersection of Roosevelt and Morgan.

Parking tickets will be validated at the registration booth at the end of the conference.

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Program Schedule

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting

Welcome

Michael J. Hogan
President
University of Illinois

Paula Allen-Meares
Vice President and Chancellor
University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois Board of Trustees

Vendor Recognition

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Networking Fair

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch Served

Keynote Address

Gery Chico
Senior Partner, Chico & Nunes, P.C.

1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Workshops (Session I)

  • Accessing Financial Resources
  • Understanding Purchasing at the University of Illinois
  • Doing Business with the Office of Capital Programs and Facilities Management
  • Proposed University of Illinois Supplier Diversity Initiatives - Bronner Group

3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Workshops (Session II)

  • Accessing Financial Resources
  • Understanding Purchasing at the University of Illinois
  • Doing Business with the Office of Capital Programs and Facilities Management
  • Proposed University of Illinois Supplier Diversity Initiatives - Bronner Group

 

 
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Workshop & Panel Discussion

The Conference will feature the following workshops:

Accessing Financial Resources

This session will provide detailed information to help minority and female businesses identify financial resources available to sustain their business.  Information provided in this workshop will assist vendors in preparing and submitting the required documents when applying for financial assistance for their business.  Attending this workshop will provide you an opportunity to ask the experts how to identify and connect with capital resources for all your financing needs.

Understanding Purchasing at the University of Illinois

This session will enhance your understanding of the University of Illinois purchasing process. Topics to be covered include: Illinois Higher Education Procurement Bulletin, Regulatory Requirements, RFP and Sealed Bid Process, Evaluation Process, Performance and Impact of Senate Bill 51 on purchasing. The workshop will be facilitated by the Purchasing Offices of the University of Illinois Chicago, Urbana and Springfield campuses.

Doing Business with the Office of Capital Programs and Facilities Management

This session will discuss the different roles of Facilities Management and Capital Programs. This will include their organizational structure, areas of shared responsibility, how and where vendors are utilized, and vendor qualifications for each program. Information will be provided on revised policies for Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) in Capital Programs at the University, vendor registration, MAFBE QBS criteria in selections, MAFBE certification requirements, and an overview of recent state laws affecting MAFBE participation and goals in construction.

Proposed University of Illinois Supplier Diversity Initiatives - Bronner Group

The University has hired the Bronner Group to make recommendations that would lead to increased minority firm participation in purchasing, including capital projects. The Bronner Group will utilize this session to share potential strategies and University organizational structures and staffing levels with participating vendors and to ask for input on what the most effective strategies and structures may be. This session will be highly interactive and provide vendors with an opportunity to discuss what the most important barriers to participation are and what must be done to eliminate these barriers.

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Networking Fair

The networking fair provides vendors with the opportunity to engage in face to face marketing with representatives from the University of Illinois, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Cook County, and other public and private universities. Each exhibitor will provide information on the goods or services they purchase. Attending the Networking Fair will provide an opportunity for all attendees to network and build lasting relationships.

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Contact Information

Please contact Demetrious Woods at (312) 413-8640 or via e-mail at obfsmafbe1@uillinois.edu with any questions.

Please Save the Date
University of Illinois
MAFBE “Making the Connection” Conference
Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The University of Illinois MAFBE Conference will take place on June 15, 2011, at the UIC Forum. This year’s Making the Connection 2011 is focused on connecting the University’s buying departments with qualified minority, female and persons with disabilities owned businesses. The goal of the conference is to build relationships with MAFBE firms in order to enhance our supplier diversity initiatives.

The conference Networking Fair will feature exhibitors from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Urbana, and Springfield campuses. Also participating in the Networking Fair will be representatives from other public and private universities, including local government entities. The Networking Fair will provide an opportunity for business owners to connect and market their products and/or services to the buying departments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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