LSU Athletics Hosts Second Virtual Vendor Fair

Athletics’ Supplier Diversity Committee hosted another successful vendor fair on April 14th, 2021 opening up opportunities to collaborate with minority and diverse businesses looking to engage with LSU Athletics. Hosted by the Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council (SRMSDC), the fair drew in close to 50 businesses within a regional four state range who were eager to learn about the areas of opportunity that LSU Athletics has available. LSU Athletics’ Chief Financial Officer Matt LaBorde was able to field specific questions regarding the process of registering as a vendor within the state system, discussed the efforts that Athletics has incorporated into its daily practices to increase the dollars spent on local minority businesses, and helped encourage companies to reach out to the Office of Procurement to establish the working relationships needed to create opportunity.

“We have been able to move the needle a bit towards our goal, but more work needs to be done,” says LaBorde. “The more businesses we have in our system bidding on opportunities, the greater chance we have to impact our overall spending goals.” Working with organizations like SRMSDC provides LSU Athletics a connection with businesses that might not normally engage in state contracts or may be overwhelmed by the process or details. SRMSDCs mission is to connect ethnic minority-owned and controlled businesses with corporate members representing many of America’s largest public and privately-owned companies and agencies like Louisiana State University. LaBorde said that, “having the assistance of SRMSDC and similar organizations can dramatically open up opportunities because they have existing relationships with so many minority business enterprises (MBEs).”