Case Study: CHOP Partners with EMSDC to Host Successful Matchmaker Event for Supplier Diversity

Overview:

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) partnered with the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) to organize a matchmaker event to promote supplier diversity and expand opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the construction and building trades industry. The event was held on August 25, 2022, and was a success with over 130 attendees, including minority-owned businesses, general contractors, sub-contractors, and the CHOP procurement team.

Challenge:

The construction and building trades industry has been known for its lack of supplier diversity and limited opportunities for minority-owned businesses. CHOP recognized the importance of increasing supplier diversity and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities in the industry. As a result, they partnered with EMSDC to create a platform for minority-owned businesses to showcase their capabilities and connect with potential partners.

Solution:

CHOP and EMSDC organized a matchmaker event to bring together minority-owned businesses and potential partners in the construction and building trades industry. The event provided a platform for minority-owned businesses to showcase their capabilities and connect with the CHOP procurement team and general contractor potential partners. The event aimed to create more opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the industry and improve supplier diversity.

Results:

The matchmaker event was well-attended, with over 130 attendees, and the feedback from the survey data was overwhelmingly positive. Out of the 130 attendees, 98% reported that the event was valuable and beneficial to their business. 95% of attendees also reported that the event provided an opportunity to connect with potential partners and build relationships.

The event was successful in creating new business relationships and opportunities. 65% of the survey respondents reported making new business connections during the event. The success of the event has led to plans for CHOP and EMSDC to continue their partnership and host more events in the future to promote supplier diversity and expand opportunities for minority-owned businesses in other industries, such as Information Technology.

Conclusion:

The matchmaker event hosted by CHOP and EMSDC was a positive step towards increasing supplier diversity and expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the construction and building trades. The event provided a platform for minority-owned businesses to showcase their capabilities and connect with potential partners, leading to new business relationships and opportunities. The survey data demonstrated that the attendees found the event valuable and beneficial for their businesses. The event’s success has led to plans for CHOP and EMSDC to continue their partnership and host more events to promote supplier diversity in various industries. The partnership between CHOP and EMSDC is an example of how organizations can work together to create more opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Contact Tricina Cash at tcash@emsdc.org to arrange your company’s matchmaker and other supplier diversity-related programming and learn more about how EMSDC partners with corporations to support their supplier diversity initiatives.