Purchasing Roundtable was established December 18, 2008 after Dayton Region CEOs committed to learn about supplier inclusion and establish best practices in their organizations.  These Dayton Region buying organizations have participated monthly in the Purchasing Roundtable meetings to:

• Develop a network of purchasing officers and procurement professionals committed to supplier inclusion
• Increase awareness and understanding of supplier inclusion
• Receive support in developing supplier inclusion best practices
• Increase access to minority suppliers
• Increase awareness and involvement in Dayton area resources for supplier inclusion (SCOMSDC, MCBAP, PTAC)

What we are asking of you 

Ownership of Supplier Diversity as a component of the Dayton Region strategy for growth and a pledge to apply four best practices to your organization:

Commit as a Leader

Real progress in supplier diversity requires a strong public commitment from you as a leader of your organization.  Like any other important business initiative, supplier diversity must be internalized as a corporate value and reinforced under strong leadership to help employees understand how and why the effort is important to the enterprise.

Plan and Develop Strategy for Implementation

A successful supplier diversity program begins with a sound plan and a strategy for implementation.  When the process is embedded in procedures it becomes a vital, integral part of a job well done.  To help make the practice of supplier diversity standard operating procedure in your organization, MEDC and resource partners offer assistance.

Assign an internal champion

In addition to the commitment from the very top, a successful supplier diversity initiative requires senior executive ownership and accountability for the effort.  Building on today's momentum we ask that you encourage your senior procurement officer and appropriate facility/contract officers to participate in the December 18 Purchasing Round table Kickoff.  Chaired by a local supplier inclusion practitioner, this forum will provide supplier diversity training and resources.

Benchmark, set goals, measure and track

"What gets measured gets done."  Establishing a baseline and setting a goal are mission critical elements of a productive supplier diversity program.  Report your baseline spending with minority-owned businesses along with your established goal in confidence to the Dayton Foundation/MEDC.  Aggregate progress toward goals and our collective advances will be celebrate year after year.