About

Event Information

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Poster Sessions: 10:30 – 11:00am Outside of College Hall RM 200

Forum: 11:00am – 12:00pm at College Hall, RM 200, (Doors open at 10:30am)

Expo: 12:00 – 2:00pm on College Green along Locust Walk between 34^th and 36^th Street

Advance registration is strongly encouraged.

The Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo is hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, under the auspices of the Offices of the President, Executive Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, and the Division of Business Services.

This award-winning event will bring together local and diverse suppliers, Penn buyers, and local agencies and organizations to celebrate supplier diversity; showcase the resources available to local, diverse, and small businesses; and provide an excellent opportunity for business networking.

Attendees will meet with local and diverse suppliers and enjoy tasty samples from many Penn caterers.

The Forum & Expo will showcase Penn suppliers and many of the organizations that have alliances with the University, including but not limited to the following:

• African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ and DE
• Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
• The Enterprise Center
• The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Independence Business Alliance
• University City District.

Poster Sessions will be conducted outside of College Hall, Room 200 by several local organizations between 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

The Forum

Leading the agenda will be a Forum featuring remarks from Penn leadership and a panel discussion to include area business leaders. Panelists will share their own stories as well as perspectives on supplier diversity and ‘doing business with Penn.’ Space at this event is limited. Advance registration is required.

The Forum’s host and panel moderator will be Penn’s Executive Vice President, Craig R. Carnaroli. He will facilitate a conversation among local business and community leaders who are regarded as agents of change and are driving community and economic development across Philadelphia neighborhoods. Panelists include:

• Celeste Corrado - Director and Instructor Director, Wharton Small Business Development Center; Instructor, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Harold T. Epps - Director of Commerce, City of Philadelphia
• Lin Thomas - Founding Chairman & CEO of SUPRA Office Solutions, Inc. and Chairman and CEO of EMSCO Scientific Enterprises, Inc.
• Evan Urbania - CEO and Co-Founder, ChatterBlast Media

The Expo

An outdoor expo, located on College Green in front of College Hall along Locust Walk, will immediately follow the Forum, which will bring together over 40 local and diverse suppliers showcasing their services before the Penn buying community. To gain access to and visit with the suppliers and community organizations in the tented area, advance registration is strongly encouraged.

Business Community Support

The Penn Supplier Diversity Forum & Expo is made possible by the generous support of our Sponsors.