Penn Celebrates Inclusion With Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo

On Thursday, May 18, the University of Pennsylvania hosted community leaders and more than forty local businesses at the Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo. The event attracted over 350 people.

The Expo and Forum, designed to raise awareness of Penn’s goals and objectives around supplier diversity and share best practices on inclusion, brought together local and diverse suppliers, Penn buyers, local agencies and organizations to celebrate supplier diversity and showcase the resources available to local, diverse and small businesses.

More than 150 people attended the morning forum hosted by Penn's Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli, which featured a panel discussion with business and community leaders working to drive economic development in Philadelphia and the region. Panelists Beth Bayrd, marketing manager, Bon Appetit Management Company; Della Clark, president, The Enterprise Center; Garry Maddox, CEO and majority owner, ​​​​​​​A. Pomerantz & Co.; Gabriel Mandujano, founder and president, Wash Cycle Laundry; and Todd Rose, CEO, Telrose Corporation shared their personal stories as well as perspectives on supplier diversity.

In a video that aired at the event, Penn's Senior Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Joann Mitchell, said Penn's economic impact on the whole is enormous. 

"It is important to us," said Mitchell, "that people of color and women and verterans and people with disabilities and the LGBT community have access to those opportunities to be able to build their capacity."

Following the forum, approximately 350 people took part in the expo held on College Green on Penn’s campus. Those attending had the opportunity to network and learn from the 40 participating LGBTQ-, women- and minority-owned businesses, all local and diverse suppliers, and gather information on supporting resources from Penn and other organizations supporting local and diverse businesses.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Diversity Supplier Forum