In partnership with our entire UBS Team, the USDP mission is to increase the participation of small and minority businesses (S/MBE’s) on our UConn contracts.  Our joint efforts to be most inclusive in our Procurement  processes is the key to our successfully achieving our mission.

To demonstrate UBS’s commitment to leading the way in partnering with the USDP, 33 UBS staff members completed the USDP e-Learning Course now available on SABA.

Nine (9) of the first 10 (aside from the USDP team) to successfully complete the course are pictured here:

Allison Hestick, BJ Pavonka, Cesar Alonzo, Dennis Sienna, Kimberly O’Connor, Laurie Lanka, Luong Chiem, Nancy Patrylak, and Walter Dalia.  Not pictured here is Laurie Field.

As a cardholder, you are considered a “University Leader and Purchasing Decision-Maker”, who has been granted the privilege of transacting business on behalf of the University.  Your intentionality in making purchasing decisions for your respective department contributes to the University’s overall SMBE utilization goals and outcomes, which are established by and reported to the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO).  Aside from the statutory requirements, you are also asked to consider the potential economic impact to our surrounding communities based on the decisions that you make.

May 30 | June 27 | July 31

The objective is to increase the Connecticut certified Small and Minority Business (S/MBE) participation on UConn capital program projects and opportunities.

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The University of Connecticut Supplier Diversity Program (USDP) was recently made "SBA famous", as the following photo and write-up including USDP executive program director Veronica Cook and lead business opportunity specialist Nadine Boone was distributed to SBA offices throughout the United States.  The USDP also had a table at the event, which was held on August 22, 2018.

The University of Connecticut was honored recently by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) with its first “Institution of Higher Learning of the Year” award. The presentation was made at the group’s annual awards luncheon last month in Hartford. Full UConn Today Article

Veronica Cook, Executive Program Director for the UConn Supplier Diversity Program, second from left, with from left, Peter F. Hurst Jr., President & CEO of GNEMSDC; T. Tom Davis, Chairman, GNEMSDC Board of Directors; and Ron Everett, GNEMSDC Board of Directors. (Olivier Kpognon Photo)