UK Supplier Diversity Hosts Construction Outreach Event

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Supplier Diversity team hosted a Construction Outreach event Tuesday, Nov. 15, inside the Gatton Student Center. The event was designed to introduce contractors, subcontractors and professional service providers to the process of doing business with the university.

Several major construction companies were invited to attend including Churchill McGee, Congleton-Hacker, Dean Builds, Gray Construction, Layton Construction, Marrillia Design and Construction, Messer, Turner Construction, Wehr, Whiting-Turner and Woodford Builders. 

Those in attendance learned about the:

• UK Supplier Diversity Program;
• upcoming construction projects;
• UK construction project managers and staff; and
• UK construction procurement team.

Attendees had the opportunity to network with construction managers, general construction managers, subcontractors and professional services professionals.

“Over the next few years, our campus expansion plan will include over $2 billion dollars in major renovations and new construction projects," said Supplier Diversity Manager Marilyn Clark. "The construction outreach event was about sharing these projects in advance and bringing prime construction companies and diverse subcontractors together to talk about partnering on these projects before they go out to bid."

Ray Daniels, UK Board of Trustees, attended and made remarks about the importance of including diverse suppliers in our projects.  

"We not only want more diverse contractors to participate on our projects- but we also need them to participate if we are to be successful," said UK Chief Procurement Officer Barry Swanson.  "Events such as this are an important way for UK and the community to connect for mutual benefit." 

TriState Minority Supplier Development Council and Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center partnered with UK Supplier Diversity to make this event possible.