Hartford Business Journal

9 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 Supplier Development Council and local chambers to identify additional local and diverse goods and services suppliers. Trinity Health of New England — parent company of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Waterbury's St. Mary's Hospital and Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs — has set a goal to have at least 10% of its annual spend be with diverse suppliers, according to Carlos Brown, Trinity Health's regional vice president and chief diversity officer. Bridging the gap Peter Hurst is the president and CEO of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), which promotes minority business development and economic inclusion by certifying minority businesses and connecting them with corporate partners. He said supplier diversity efforts have many benefits. For example, they help reduce the racial wealth gap, create and maintain jobs (oftentimes in underserved communities), and generate tax revenue. He noted that many minority-owned companies are located in the same cities where hospitals are based. GNEMSDC's members include some of the state's largest healthcare providers like Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health and the Community Health Network of Connecticut. The group connects hospitals and other corporate members with a database of minority-owned businesses to fill their goods-and- services supply chain. It also hosts webinars and other networking opportunities to make connections. Hurst said hospitals have stepped up supplier-diversity efforts, but more could and should be done. It will also take more than just care providers to make a difference. All corporations should be taking part in the effort to diversify their supply chain to close the racial wealth gap and strengthen communities, he said. New opportunities Hartford HealthCare's diversity summit was a half-day event that allowed business owners to network with company leaders and get a better understanding of potential contract opportunities. Hartford HealthCare's Mercado, who helped organize the event, said the hospital was looking to contract with various supply and service vendors across the state, not just in Hartford. Many who attended were in the service industry, she said, and others came with new ideas and technologies. Alisa Bowens- Mercado, CEO of New Haven-based Rhythm Brewing and Roasting Co., attended the summit with the hopes of supplying the hospital with coffee pods. Her contract is currently under review, the hospital said. "As a woman and a woman of color, I'm looking forward to partnering with Hartford HealthCare," said Bowens-Mercado. A Newington landscaping company, The Ground Guys, was awarded a contract the day of the summit, and several other businesses have since signed on as suppliers to the hospital system. Businesses awarded contracts include Bethany-based B&W Painting and Remodeling, Soul de Cuba Cafe of New Haven and Onyx Elite, a West Hartford-based hospitality-consulting firm. Today, the hospital spends more than $66 million with more than 250 diverse suppliers across the country, said Dr. Ajay Kumar, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Hartford HealthCare. And it's not stopping there. The hospital system plans to hold diversity summits on a regular basis at various locations around the state. The next summit will be held in Bridgeport in early 2022. Alisa Bowens-Mercado Dr. Ajay Kumar BY THE NUMBERS Diversity Supplier Efforts 77% The percentage of organizations planning to increase spend with black-owned businesses, according to The Hackett Group, which early this year surveyed over 100 large global and U.S.-based companies regarding their supplier diversity programs and strategies. 83% The percentage of organizations that already have or plan to dedicate funds for supplier development activities, The Hackett Group survey found. 69% Percentage of organizations that have a global supplier diversity program, or are planning to expand globally by 2023, the survey found. No.1 Women-owned businesses are the top diverse supplier category in all regions, the survey found.

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