Marvin Woods and Viola Pancratz, co-owners of Project Controls Group, Inc. in St. Louis, were encouraged by the contacts they made at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Higher Education Diverse Business Fair on Wednesday, March 13.
Woods and Pancratz were among the more than 60 vendors from Missouri and Illinois who attended the third annual Diverse Business Fair, “Making Connections,” hosted by SIUE in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom. Thirteen Illinois universities and three community colleges took part in the event.
The fair featured information on how to do business with colleges, SIUE, and other State of Illinois public universities, also known as the 13-member Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative 
(IPHEC), according to SIUE Procurement Officer Starla Nixon. The free business opportunity afforded small, minority-, women-, persons with disabilities- and veteran-owned businesses access to higher education and community college buyers in one, convenient location.
“It’s good to have a lot of businesses in one location for us to hit all at one time,” said Woods. Project Controls Groups offers comprehensive and specialized project, program and construction management services. “We made some good connections.”
“It was also helpful for us to see which ones would best utilize our services,” added Pancratz. “We are looking for medium- to large-sized schools.”
“It could be seen like speed dating. Vendors come to present what services they can provide,” offered Nixon. “We all have one goal, and that is to help diverse members make connections with other universities, community colleges and other IPHEC awardees.”
“We all have goals as it relates to diversity,” said Nixon, regarding the IPHEC. “If a few of us increase our business with diverse vendors, we all benefit.”
“We’ve met quite a few people in just our two-hour shift who could be a contractor or subcontractor with the University,” said Teresa Shipton, procurement officer in the Department of Purchasing.
Photos:
James Metcalfe, of South Coast Paper, talks with Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker during the SIUE Higher Education Diverse Business Fair.
Viola Pancratz (left) and Marvin Woods, co-owners of Project Controls Group, provide brief information about their professional services.
Cindy Showers, of Global Enterprise Services and Showers Mediation Services, spells out her company’s functions and benefits.