NYS CIO Continues Program to Meet 2010 Supplier Diversity Goal and Improve use of MWBEs in State Technology Procurements

MWBE Champions Forum Highlights MWBE Successes With NYS Government

On May 18, 2010, the New York State Chief Information Officer/Office For Technology (CIO/OFT), hosted the Technology Sector Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Champions Forum where major IT vendors of New York State and state agency CIOs shared successes, strategies, and challenges to meet MWBE participation goals for the technology sector.

As one of the largest buyers of IT products and services in New York State government, CIO/OFT has been working with the corporate technology sector and other state agencies to increase the participation level of MWBEs in technology procurements. CIO/OFT has set an aggressive goal of 20% MWBE participation rates by the end of 2010, starting from less than 1% in 2007.

“In these difficult economic times, we must focus on programs to stimulate economic development for New York,” said Governor David A. Paterson. “I commend Dr. Mayberry-Stewart and the Tech Sector MWBE Champions for their active and committed supplier diversity programs. A strong supplier diversity program helps to strengthen our communities and ultimately improves the economic health of the citizens we serve.”

During the event, Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office for Technology, recognized eleven global IT Corporate MWBE Champions who are on track to achieve our IT supplier diversity goals for 2010 in New York State technology procurements. These eleven companies voluntarily pledged to expand their use of MWBEs to 20% by 2010 and include: CMA, Dell, EMC2, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Microsoft, nFrastructure Technologies, Oracle, Tandberg, Unisys, and Xerox.

“I applaud these eleven MWBE Champions who are being recognized for fulfilling their commitment to promote supplier diversity and raise the level of MWBE participation across New York State” said Dr. Mayberry-Stewart. “CIO/OFT is committed to partnering with these firms for the growth and success of New York’s small, minority and women-owned businesses to bring about more diversity in our supplier chains and will result in more jobs and greater economic development.”

The Tech Sector MWBE Champions Forum featured a number of special guest speakers who are champions throughout the State to build the strengths of our small, minority and women-owned businesses. Senator Eric Adams, 20th Senate District; Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, 141st District; and Kevin Younis, Acting First Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Department of Economic Development offered greetings to the MWBE firms and global IT MWBE Champions in attendance.

Senator Eric Adams said, “I thank Dr. Mayberry-Stewart and the IT Champions for their work around the MWBE process. It is important to have the right partnerships in place to identify opportunities and barriers for successful MWBE participation. It is our small, minority and women-owned businesses that create the jobs and spur innovation in our Empire State.”

Assemblywomen Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, “It is an honor to be in a room of MWBE Champions and to celebrate your successes with you today. It is our successful minority and women-owned businesses that generate wealth and employment within our communities. When our women and minority businesses succeed, we all succeed.”

Kevin Younis said, “I applaud our IT MWBE Champions for their aggressive supplier diversity programs and encourage them to continue these programs outside of state procurements. This is where we will see results that have incredible economic and social benefits to New York State.”

During the Forum, Michael Jones-Bey, Executive Director of the New York State Division of Minority and Women Business Development highlighted MWBE progress, under Governor Paterson’s leadership, including the reduced processing time for obtaining a state MWBE certification from two years to 90 days and a bond access pilot program for the construction agency creating $30 million worth of additional bonding capacity. Also, he shared that more than $200 million has been given to MWBE firms.

“The success of this initiative has been made possible through great public/private partnerships. As a result of our efforts, we are seeing New York’s largest private technology vendors create increased opportunities for MWBEs through joint ventures, reseller agreements, distributorships, and sub-contract opportunities. On the public side, we have had the benefit of Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart’s extraordinary leadership in using technology to improve services and reducing costs throughout the State, while working with us to increase opportunities for MWBEs. This is a model we will replicate in other industry sectors throughout the State,” said Michael Jones-Bey

Attendees also heard success stories from state agency CIOs, Global IT companies and their respective MWBE firms who partnered on State IT procurements. In addition, a panel discussion was led by NYS agency CIO’s, focused on strategies to address barriers to meet MWBE goals. They shared recommendations on actions they are taking to increase MWBE participation levels.

One major highlight of the event was a special presentation from Dennis Acevedo,
NYC Director of Internships for the Year Up Program. Year Up is a one-year, intensive training program that provides urban young adults, ages 18-24, with a unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an educational stipend, and corporate apprenticeship to prepare them for an IT career.

Mr. Acevedo highlighted the benefits of hiring interns from the Year Up program stating, “Year up is working with corporate and government partners to close the opportunity divide that exists. There are tremendous benefits for our partners when hiring interns from our Year Up program, including cost-effective internships. The overall demographics of Year Up students are minority and 40% of the Year Up population is women. Year up gets young disadvantaged minorities and women interested in IT careers and teaches them critical skills necessary to become future leaders.”

CIO/OFT is focused on raising the level of women and minority owned business involvement in state technology purchases to 20% by 2010. As part of its aggressive supplier diversity program, CIO/OFT is taking proactive measures to open doors for New York’s small, minority and women-owned IT firms.