NYPA Will Sponsor White Plains Event for Minority-, Women-Owned Firms

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Connie Cullen
914-390-8196
connie.cullen@nypa.gov

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June 14, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will sponsor its 14th annual supplier diversity purchasing exchange for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) on Thursday, June 17 from noon to 4 pm at NYPA’s offices at 123 Main St. in downtown White Plains.  Eugene W. Zeltmann, president and chief executive officer of NYPA, will give keynote remarks to kick off the event.

“The Power Authority philosophy toward supplier diversity is that it’s good business to do business with minority- and women-owned companies because we all benefit when more of us succeed,” said Zeltmann.  “As part of Governor George E. Pataki’s efforts to promote economic development, supplier diversity helps New York’s economy prosper and become more vital by giving everyone the opportunity to contribute to economic growth.”

The purchasing exchange enables qualified M/WBEs to explore business opportunities with purchasing representatives from NYPA, other public agencies and private corporations.  Those planning to participate this year include:  Bank of New York, Colgate-Palmolive, KeySpan, the New York State Dormitory Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Hertz Corporation, Con Edison, IBM, Battery Park City Authority and New Jersey Transit, among many others.

M/WBEs attending the purchasing exchange should specialize in supplying professional services, construction-related goods or services or high technology goods or services.  Interested M/WBEs can respond by using the on-line Purchasing Exchange Confirmation Form available at the link on the NYPA homepage, www.nypa.gov.  For more information, call 914-681-6976 or 6453.  It is not necessary for M/WBEs to be certified by New York State to attend this purchasing exchange, though representatives will be available to assist those interested in the certification process.

The Power Authority operates a multi-million dollar supplier diversity program, under the direction of Debra White, supplier diversity program manager, to ensure that M/WBEs actively and successfully participate in NYPA’s procurement process.

NYPA has held annual purchasing exchanges in New York City or Westchester County for the past 13 years and, in 2002, conducted its first upstate purchasing exchange in Utica.  It held a second upstate exchange last year in Buffalo.  The exchanges have resulted in numerous contract opportunities for M/WBEs, and expanded vendor pools for participating private corporations and public agencies.  These efforts, along with NYPA’s overall supplier diversity program, have resulted in more than $380 million in NYPA business, and other significant business opportunities, for M/WBEs.

The Power Authority has established many professional affiliations with minority and women’s organizations, trade associations and purchasing councils.  NYPA’s advocacy of supplier diversity has been recognized with numerous awards.