- Wisconsin met the MBE diverse spend goal for the second year in a row.
- The diverse spend was a record 6.34%.
- A record $192M was spend with diverse MBE and DVB suppliers.
- Wisconsin met the MBE spend goal for only the sixth time in the 39-year history of the program.
I am overjoyed and extremely grateful for this shared success! Thank you to Governor Tony Evers for his vision of a diverse Wisconsin as outlined in his Executive Order #59. Governor Evers' direction for the Supplier Diversity Program to assess and improve procurement processes and develop new relationships has greatly aided our success. Thank you to DOA Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld and staff, and Divsion of Enterprise Operations Administrator Jana Steinmetz for your tremendous support and creative ideas to enhance SDP's success.
Cheryl Edgington, the State Bureau of Procurement staff, and State Agency and UW Campus purchasing staff are amazing resources to Supplier Diversity, helping us gather data and educate diverse suppliers on the state's procurement process. Thank you for helping us meet our goals! Thank you to the State Agencies and UW campuses who supported our diverse suppliers - a couple even had diverse spends over 50%.
The Supplier Diversity Program staff - Libby, Evetta, and Ellena - have worked hard to certify suppliers and gather diverse spend data. Your commitment to Supplier Diversity does not go unnoticed! Thank you to the diverse suppliers who tirelessly do the challenging work of networking and bidding on projects to get contracts with the state. Finally, a big thank you to all our partners and collaborators who have helped us stretch our limited resources to meet the needs of our suppliers and achieve the goals of this program.
Although we exceeded the diverse spend goal in FY21, we won't take our foot off the gas. We will continue to turn over every rock and stone, look in unchartered places and spaces, think outside the box, reimagine the program, and follow the north star of diversity, equity, and inclusion to achieve increasing economic success for our diverse suppliers, communities, Wisconsin, and the nation.
It is my honor and pleasure to serve such a great community!
Please view the FY21 Supplier Diversity Annual Report and Data Visualizations
here.
~Tondra