The third annual Small and Diverse Business: Supplier Procurement Fair brought together over 200 individuals last week to create opportunities for small businesses and large corporations to do business together. The opening session included remarks from two leaders with Truist, the Fair’s presenting sponsor. Angela Connor, Community Development Manager with Truist, shared with the crowd Truist’s commitment to small business and supplier diversity, and support of the Nashville community. Shanna Cooper-Johnson, Assistant Vice President Financial Inclusion Leader with Truist, spoke about some pitfalls small businesses can run into when dealing with finances, and reinforced the need for your BAIL group – Banker, Accountant, Insurance, and Lawyer.
The Fair included over 30 procurement tables. Procurement tables were diverse across industry and size and included various small business support organizations. Many of the Chamber’s P2030 Investors participated as procurement tables, seizing the opportunity to work with diverse small businesses. Special thank you to Turner Construction, supporting sponsor of the event, for providing a table with engagement opportunities. A list of companies that supported the Fair can be found below. Thank you to Southwestern Family of Companies for hosting the event and thank you to everyone who made the Fair a great success in its second year. Thank you to the additional sponsors of the event, Amazon, Bradley, and Cromwell Media.
2024 Procurement Table Hosts:
| Ascension Saint Thomas/The Resource Group | BELL Construction | Brasfield & Gorrie |
| Brookdale Senior Living | Chef’s Deal Restaurant Equipment | CoreCivic |
| CW Security Group, Inc | DSV Air and Sea | Faith and Family Medical Center |
| Fifth Third Bank | Global Chi Supply Solutions | Highwoods Properties |
| JE Dunn Construction Company | Messer Construction | Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County |
| Mortenson | MP&F Strategic Communications | Nashville Apartment Locators |
| Nashville Electric Service | Nashville International Airport | NNR Global Logistics |
| Pathway Lending | Pinnacle Financial Partners | RG Anderson Company |
| Skanska | State of Tennessee – Department of General Services | Tennessee Board of Regents- The College System of Tennessee |
| Truist Financial Corporation | Turner Construction | U.S. Small Business Association |
| Whiting-Turner Contracting Company | Wilson Bank & Trust | Women’s Business Enterprise Council South |
Pivotal Partners:
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc.
Photographer:
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