Minority Business Forum Focuses on How to Do Business with UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — To encourage more partnerships with minority contractors and vendors, The University of Alabama Unity Affairs and Financial Affairs Offices have teamed up to host the third Minority Business Forum on Tuesday, May 6, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The forum will focus on “How to Do Business with The University of Alabama,” offering minority owned and operated businesses lessons and tactics for getting more general business, construction and vending contracts, managing risks, and improving networking and communication with the University.

Invitations and a brochure have been mailed to prospective participants.

“Response has been great and we expect another large crowd,” said forum coordinator Christopher H. Spencer, associate director for community development at the UA Center for Community-Based Partnerships.

Dr. Lynda Gilbert, UA vice president for financial affairs, and Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, UA vice president for community affairs, will welcome attendees and introduce the program.

There will be two panel discussions, one on finance led by local bankers, and the main event, “How to Do Business with the University,” featuring UA officials who work directly with contractors. They are Tim Leopard, assistant vice president for construction; Trip Farmer, director of contract administration; Judy Voss, associate director of purchasing; Vicki Santani, contract administrator; Lane Cox, associate purchasing manager for facilities; Jeanine Brooks, Action Card director; and Robin Coleman, Action Card specialist.

Among the main speakers will be Bob Pugh, UA director of risk management, and Teresa Wilson, public information officer with the Small Business Administration district office in Birmingham.

At the luncheon, local minority businessmen will talk about their experiences doing business with the University. They are Robert Thomas of Thomas Cleaners, Mehul Vashi of Quiznos and Willie Darden of Darden Contracting and Remodeling.

“Attendees will learn, among other things, how to work through red tape that at first can be discouraging.” said Spencer. But, the value of the forums goes beyond the technical information attendees will receive, said Spencer. “From evaluations of the first two forums, we learned that networking with others in your same situation and breakout sessions about specific types of contracts were also well received.

“It’s not difficult to do business with the University, but you do need to understand the process, and that’s why we are offering these forums,” said Spencer.

According to Spencer, since the first two forums held in March and October 2007, minority businesses have won bids to build sidewalks and other structures related to new dormitory construction and other goods and services.

Maurice Muhammad of Warren Asphalt Construction in Tuscaloosa attended the early forums and said that dealing with large institutions can be overwhelming to small-scale contractors. After attending the forum, Muhammad said he had a better understanding of how to place winning bids. A byproduct of the forum, he said, is that he picked up some tips for marketing his business better.

“These forums began turning the theoretical ideas into the actual process,” Muhammad said. Warren Asphalt Construction has won several bids with the University related to parking lots, parking decks, hauling and trucking services.

George Watkins of Epes Brick in Sumter County, a company operated by minorities, attended the forum looking to sell the custom bricks his company produces. Until the forum, Watkins did not know about the opportunities available through the University.

The result of these forums can already be seen around the UA campus, said Spencer. “This is just the beginning of the minority contractors’ involvement at the University.”

A total of 109 minority business men and women attended the first two forums. Partners included the City of Tuscaloosa, UA’s CCBP, South Regions Minority Business Council, TALA Professional Services and the UA Division of Financial Affairs.