Executive Speeches

Remarks of Eugene W. Zeltmann, president & chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority, at the Power Authority Purchasing Fair for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, White Plains, New York

June 13, 2002

It’s a pleasure to join all of you for this extraordinary event that brings together the representatives of some truly outstanding businesses and those who can benefit from their products and services.

This marks the 12th year that the Power Authority has played host to this purchasing fair for minority- and women-owned businesses in conjunction with the National Minority Business Council.  As always, our thanks go to the council and its president, John Robinson.  John is a long-time friend of the Authority and a valued adviser in our continuing efforts to build on our successful record of doing business with minority- and women-owned firms.

I’m delighted that more than 20 other businesses and government agencies are represented here today, along with more than 150 minority- and women-owned vendors.  Those numbers provide enormous potential for establishing the personal contacts that can pave the way to concrete business relationships.

We’ve seen that happen repeatedly at our past purchasing fairs.  There’s just no substitute for face-to-face contact and conversation.  And they’ll be plenty of opportunity for that today.

These purchasing fairs are a visible—and vital—part of the Power Authority’s efforts to reach out to minority- and women-owned businesses in line with our Supplier Diversity Program.  But those efforts take many other forms—day in and day out throughout the year.

We, of course, advertise our proposed contracts in the New York State Contract Reporter—and I assume most of you look at that.  In awarding our contracts, we rely on lists of New York State-certified minority- and women-owned companies.  We promote our Supplier Diversity Program in minority business publications and at trade shows, seminars and conferences for minority- and women-owned businesses.  And we work closely with minority and women business associations and purchasing councils—including, of course, John’s fine organization.

Each year, the Power Authority sets very firm goals for purchases from minority- and women-owned firms.  In most years, we exceed them—sometimes with plenty to spare.  Over the last 12 years or so, we’ve done more than $330 million worth of business with minority- and women-owned businesses in areas ranging from our energy-efficiency projects to printing and office supplies, computer services and airline charters.

This clearly helps the companies—and the economy.  But we’ve found that it brings tremendous benefits to the Power Authority as well.  By broadening the competitive arena, it gives us a better chance to obtain the best goods and services—at the best price.  And that ultimately benefits our customers—the people and businesses of New York State.

We’re proud of our record in working with highly qualified minority- and women-owned companies to our mutual advantage.  But we want to do even better.  It really gets down to a question of providing opportunities—of giving people a chance to show what they can do and allowing them to capitalize on that chance—of giving everyone a chance to participate in the American dream.

As we’ve seen in the past, this purchasing fair can be a big help in advancing those hopes and objectives.  I hope you’ll take full advantage of it—and that you’ll have a successful and enjoyable day.

Thanks for being with us.

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