MBE/EDGE Subcommittee Meeting
11/03/09
Minutes
In attendance: Betty Anzaldua, Hussein Awada (guest), Calvin Brown, Lawrence Burns, Shanda
Gore, Olivia Holden, Gary Johnson, Greg Jones, Ilex Kyser (guest), Kara Mominee, Shaun
Murray, Karl Parker, Jennifer Pastorek, Megan Reichert-Kral, Ryan Reiter (guest), Lorie Sarnes,
Debbe Skutch, Mark Urrutia
Mr. Burns welcomed subcommittee guests to the group. Ms. Kyser was introduced as Ms.
Holden’s intern at ASSETS Toledo. Mr. Hussein Awada was introduced as the finance intern for
the MBE Incubator.
Mr. Reiter, an economic development contact from the City of Toledo, opened up the meeting
with an invitation to the Economic Development Seminar on Tuesday, November 10 from 9:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Toledo Downtown Library’s McMaster Auditorium. At this seminar
presenters will highlight various incentives and resources available to businesses interested in
investing in Toledo. Mr. Reiter stated that diversity is going to be a big objective for this
meeting.
Update: Mr. Reiter has postponed the seminar.
Dr. Gore and Ms. Reichert-Kral explained the different data packages that were developed for
the incubator clients. Both explained the three different tiers and their price points ranging from
$100 to $250. If subcommittee members would like a copy of the data packages please email Ms.
Mominee at Kara.Mominee@utoledo.edu.
Ms. Reichert-Kral stated that she had not heard anything more regarding parking for the
incubator clients. Mr. Burns offered to assist in getting in touch with the correct contact.
Action Item: Ms. Reichert-Kral and Mr. Burns will work on getting parking assigned for MBE
incubator clients for next meeting.
Update: Mr. Burns reports that parking arrangements have been made for incubator clients.
Mr. Urrutia questioned if UT will work on tracking MBE numbers for the university. Ms.
Pastorek stated that purchasing tracks them because they are required. Ms. Sarnes stated that
construction is not required therefore they do not. Mr. Burns stated that this is very important and
that we would find a way to track these numbers whether we are required to or not.
Action Item: Ms. Sarnes stated she will investigate this further. Mr. Burns will contact Mr.
Chuck Lehnert to get an update on this as well.
As a follow up request from Dr. Jenkins, Mr. Burns stated that he and Dr. Gore are now slated
for January to present the MBE/EDGE Subcommittee’s efforts and Incubator information to the
UT Faculty Senate. Mr. Brown asked to engage the UT Faculty Senate on how we can find ways
to enhance and enrich technology (waiting on Mr. Brown) companies. Mr. Burns stated that this
was a great idea and that he would ask the UT Faculty Senate.
Ms. Skutch invited the committee to an event called The Art of Engagement which is the Center
for Family & Privately-Held Business’s annual recognition event. This event will be held on
Tuesday, December 1 in the new Savage & Associates Complex for Business and Learning
Engagement. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a reception and light supper. The program will begin at
6:30 p.m. The invitation is attached.
Ms. Skutch also invited committee members to the 2009 Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence
Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 12th at the Franciscan Theatre of Lourdes College with a
reception at 5:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free to members.
Please contact Ms. Skutch at Debbe.skutch@utoledo.edu if you are interested in attending. The
invitation is attached as well.
Mr. Burns then presented the goals and objectives the subcommittee came up with at the first
meeting in April.
Ms. Pastorek described what Purchasing had improved upon over the past year.
-1- Measurement tools
-2- Communicating internally (decentralized)
-3- Tracking # of MBE/EDGE supplier RFP
Mr. Brown questioned if Purchasing offers a site that lists potential goods and services needed.
Ms. Pastorek stated not at this time but that this could be created for each upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Brown also suggested that the Purchasing staff list what commodity they are working for on
the Purchasing website.
The first goal was to change the culture at UT; engaging UT staff and communicating within UT
and its suppliers. Mr. Burns stated that we have done so by bringing Ms. Sarnes from UT
Construction and Ms. Pastorek from Purchasing into the group. The group concluded that this
has definitely been successful and would like to continue improving the culture at UT, which
became a new goal.
The subcommittee created the following goals for this year:
1. Continue culture change (Mr. Burns will lead)
2. Communication with MBE/EDGE/UT (Mr. Burns will lead)
3. Measurement tools – Identify where are UT lacks good minority participation (Dr. Gore
will lead)
4. Create a “Cash-flow” cycle – Bonding and how to accommodate those small companies
that need payment earlier than 90 day cycles. (Dr. Gore will lead)
Mr. Burns suggested to the group that if you can think of other areas/people that would benefit
from attending the meetings then please let him know.
Ms. Skutch asked if we could create some kind of events/conferences on diversity. Mr. Burns
stated that the university is considering working with Diversity Consultant, Mr. Eric Ellis who
works with Plante & Moran to diversify their company. Mr. Burns stated that UT already has a
diversity student recruitment plan in place through the Blue and Gold Scholar program and new
Scholarly Savings Program.
Ms. Anzaldua asked about diversity plans for each college stating that she created a diversity
plan years ago that was taken to a certain point and then dropped. Dr. Gore stated that the Office
of Equity and Diversity has begun recruiting diversity ambassadors from each college at the
University. She also explained that a diversity template has been created for each college to work
from.
Mr. Jones suggested that UT needs to go out into areas (preferably Detroit) to market themselves
otherwise potential students will know nothing about UT or its programs. Mr. Burns stated that
with the new Scholarly Savings program, the admissions department is currently traveling to the
Detroit area to discuss this great new program.
Mr. Johnson stated that he would like to see some admissions workers on non-profit committees
especially the Partners in Education committee which could potentially bring more students to
UT.
The meeting concluded. Next meeting will be 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., December 15, 2009 in the
Scott Park VIP Room. There will be a small reception to follow in the Minority Business
Incubator conference room.
Please mark your calendars with the following
2009-2010 MBE/EDGE Subcommittee meeting dates:
December 15 at 3:30
January 12 at noon
February 9 at noon
March 9 at noon
April 13 at noon
May 11 at noon
June 8 at noon
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