Symposium for Minority, Women, and Veteran Business Owners to Be Held at College

May 19, 2016 (Notre Dame, IN) —Saint Mary’s College is proud to be the site of the 5th annual North Central Indiana Business Conference. The State of Indiana Division of Supplier Diversity, in partnership with the College’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) and the City of South Bend, host the event. The business-networking symposium will be held on Wednesday, June 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center. (Click for a campus map.) This year’s event is titled “A Season to Grow” and is designed to assist minority, women, and veteran business enterprises (MWVBE’s) in Indiana. There is no cost to attend, but participants must register by June 1.

“Minority, women and veteran businesses play a significant role in creating jobs in Indiana,” said Terrie Daniel, deputy commissioner, Division of Supplier Diversity, Indiana Department of Administration. “The North Central Indiana Business Conference is more important than ever before as diverse businesses are seen as a valuable asset and significant source of economic growth for the state.”

The conference will feature concurrent workshops and plenary sessions to provide educational resources and tools for success to business owners. Participants will have the opportunity to network and meet procurement officials from local government agencies and area universities.

Workshop topics include:

  • Strategies for accessing capital
  • Supplier relations
  • Starting a business in Indiana
  • Strategic certification

There will also be a keynote presentation by The Entrepreneurship Alliance of Michiana (T.E.A.M.), of which Saint Mary’s WEI is a part and a “Doing Business With” workshop featuring the State of Indiana, the University of Notre Dame, and the South Bend International Airport.

Anyone with questions about the event may call Martha Smith with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at msmith@saintmarys.edu or (574) 284-5262.

About the Division of Supplier Diversity: The Division of Supplier Diversity acts on behalf of the State of Indiana to actively promote, monitor and enforce the standards for certification of minority, women and veteran business enterprises. The division works to provide an equal opportunity to minority, women and veteran business enterprises that seek to participate in the state’s procurement and contracting process. Additionally, the division provides business development and educational resources to position minority, women and veteran business enterprises for growth and to add value to Indiana’s economy. 

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews.

Contact for News Media: Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations, Saint Mary’s College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579.

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