The University of Illinois System’s Diverse Supplier Development Program celebrated the graduation of 29 companies in its second cohort on April 26. The program helps business owners from diverse backgrounds grow their companies and increase options for serving as public-sector vendors.
“This is a win-win partnership,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said at the graduation ceremony. “It’s great for our students, great for our faculty and great for these small businesses. DSDP is one of the best examples I know of the University of Illinois System fulfilling its mission to work on behalf of the public good.”
The 29 companies from across Illinois touched a variety of sectors such as construction, healthcare, information technology, agriculture, transportation, robotics, consulting, retail and marketing. More than 90% of the participating firms are Black- or Hispanic-owned businesses, while 48% of the firms are majority-owned, managed and controlled by women.
Killeen was joined by numerous economic leaders from across the state in celebrating the program graduates: retired Illinois State Sen. James F. Clayborne Jr., U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Geri Sanchez Aglipay and District Director Willette LeGrant, Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Larry Ivory, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Jaime di Paulo, Chase for Business Vice President and Senior Business Consultant for the Minority Entrepreneur Initiative Pamela Randle and CBRE Vice President Global Head of Supplier Diversity Rona Fourté.
DSDP paired business owners with U of I student consulting teams to solve business challenges and build their talent pipelines. These company leaders also had access to educational workshops during the nine-month program.
The program is supported by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Springfield; the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce; the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the Illinois Small Business Development Center; Champaign County Economic Development Corporation; the Federation of Women Contractors; the Illinois APEX Accelerator, formerly known as the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center; the Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative; Bank of America; CBRE; and Chase for Business.
Participating companies:
All in One Laundry & Services Inc.
Pamela Frazier
Atkins Coordination Inc. (AtkCo)
Shayna Atkins
Canary HR Consulting LLC
Tania White
Cash Revenue LLC
Russell Campbell
Ceare Agency LLC
Chanel Rose
CertAlert
Douglass Bevel
ExtrityServices LLC
David Coleman
Halo Security Group LLC
D’Andrea Anderson
HEL-GIE LLC
Dwayne Harris
Kamflex LLC
Herb Stokes
Kandu Medical Supplies Inc.
Denise Nelson
Kingston Plastics Company
Gabriel Hostalet
La Humita Inc.
Nestor Correra
Lady Di’s Bakery
Diane Devroe
Lockhaven Solutions LLC
Jack Dever
Maids Around Chicago LLC
Rosa Salgado
Moscoso Express Inc.
Elizabeth Moscoso
Ntegribox Solutions LLC
Frantrice McMillan-Riley
Polar Group LLC
Johnnie Chandler
Pouches By Alahta
Athalia Monae
Rivera & Associates LLC
Michael Rivera
Scrub Depot
Miguel Torres
Soul Brew LLC
Samantha Ford
Specialty Consulting Inc.
Arturo Saenz
Spence Consulting Inc.
William Spence
Sweet Comb Chicago LLC
Martin Lopez
Sykesmore LLC
J. Lake Lattimore
Trio Chiropractic and Wellness Center S.C.
Dr. Petrina Jackson
VR Diverse Inc.
Ronalyn Stephen
