Corporate Member Spotlight

SPALDING UNIVERSITY
(from June 2001 Kaleidoscope Newsletter)

When Spalding University first looked to partner with KMSDC, it was looking to increase minority participation in its evening and weekend course offerings. However, as Frederick Roberson puts it, “they discovered a valuable resource to help them fulfill their mission to become more minority-vendor friendly.” As the University’s Manager of Facilities and Custodial Services and Liaison for Minority Affairs, Roberson is impressed with the resources available through KMSDC. Their involvement with KMSDC has provided them a “foot in the door” with many of the region’s minority vendors. Earlier this year Roberson was looking for a way to build relationships with minority vendors in a variety of fields. He called Bill Stone and KMSDC for help. Bill was able to gather a group of 20–25 vendors in such fields as construction, plumbing, electrical work, janitorial suppliers, painting, and engineers. Meeting at the University, Roberson was able to introduce the upcoming projects and forecasted needs of Spalding to this group of vendors. As a direct result of that meeting, Spalding now has contracts with several minority firms for current projects, and has developed relationships for vendors on other upcoming projects. Spalding continues to expand their outreach efforts in the minority community for their courses and programs. Thanks in part to KMSDC, they now also have a means of expanding their networking opportunities with minority vendors who are looking to do business with the University.