On February 21, more than 50 members of minority-, women-, and local-owned (MWL) firms joined Columbia University Facilities and Operations (CUFO) for a meet-and-greet on summer construction projects.
The annual event, a key element in Columbia’s commitment to diversity, builds and strengthens the business relationships between University project managers and qualified MWL construction firms. The work Facilities and Operations performs each summer, to complete the construction projects (such as residence hall renovations) that can only take place when there is a smaller population of students on campus, often is performed via partnerships with MWL firms.
At the invitation-only event, representatives from the firms met one-on-one with project managers from Columbia’s Morningside, Manhattanville and Medical Center campuses. The project managers, representing offices including Capital Project Management and the Operations groups for all three major campuses, shared information on the upcoming summer project opportunities at the University.
“I was thrilled that so many firms attended,” said Tanya Pope, AVP for University Supplier Diversity & Business Integration. “In Fiscal Year 2018, we hope to continue the trend of increasing our spend with MWL firms.”
The annual meet-and-greet is especially important because it helps increase Columbia’s partnerships with and spending on MWL firms, Pope said.
In fiscal year 2017, Columbia saw its highest ever utilization of MWL firms, at 37.8%, and Pope said the University hopes to continue that trend.
Vendors who attended the meet-and-greet included:
- ABM Systems
- Alkem Electrical Corp.
- Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC
- Atriade
- Axiom Consulting Group, LLC
- Basu Technology, Inc.
- Black Widow Termite & Pest Control Corp.
- C. James Plumbing
- CENTURY MAINTENANCE & SUPPLY
- CES/BSI
- Clancy-Cullen Moving and Storage Co., Inc.
- Cole Technologies Group
- Coranet Corp
- Deb Romain Consulting LLC
- ESC Cabling
- Facility Value Inc
- FK General Contractors
- Hirani Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C.
- Hudson Moving & Storage Co., Inc.
- Ideal Interiors
- Illumination Arts LLC
- King Rose Construction
- Mamais Construction
- Marin Architects
- Moving Right Along
- Optec Communications, Inc.
- Pizzo Brothers Inc.
- Platinum Electrical Service, Inc.
- Powercom
- Reiner Contract Carpet LTD
- Sandy's Plumbing & Heating co., Ltd.
- Smart-Wiring Electric, Inc.
- SOOHEE LEE ARCHITECT P.C.
- Spacesmith
- TJ Signs & Designs, LLC
- Velez Organization
- Waldners Business Environments
- West Side Stone & Marble Co., Inc.
- New York Concrete Corp.
