This month's featured corporation is North Broward Hospital District .

www.nbhd.org

" We care about your health...Clinical and Economic"

Our featured North Broward Hospital District member is LaRae P. Floyd

What are your duties as Manager of Vendor Development?

•  Ensure accessibility of all "certified" Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) to the District's procurement activities

•  Provide Technical Assistance to M/WBEs (Bid Info, Key Contacts, various others, such as Management/Marketing via our partnerships w/ Resource Agencies)

•  Educate internal staff about the business case for Supplier Diversity and the overall benefits of a diverse supplier chain

•  Educate the minority and women business community about the District Supplier Diversity Initiative via our Outreach efforts

•  Promote and Advocate for "certified" small minority/women-owned businesses

•  Ensure compliance with the District's MBE Enhancements

•  Monitor & Report MBE Procurement to the President/CEO and Board of Commissioners via the MBE Committee

•  Oversight responsibility for the successful achievement of the District's MBE Annual Target

•  Overall management of the District's Supplier Diversity Initiative - as OSD is not a procuring unit of the District, OSD assists in the development of the District's diverse supply chain via its core values: Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration, and Advocacy

How long have you worked with North Broward Hospital District?

I've been with the District for 13 years. However, the District's MBE Initiative was established in 1990.

How can WBEs get noticed by North Broward Hospital District?

The District's selection process is based on competitive pricing, standardized quality and prompt service. All minority or woman-owned business looking to do business with the District, as such, must be registered with the District's vendor relations department and certified by the Office of Supplier Diversity. Now, the company needs to get educated on how to do business w/ the District, first step is to attend one of the District's quarterly vendor orientation sessions. Then, find out how the District procure your company's product or service. Last, set up a meeting with the end-user and/or purchasing/contract department via established protocols and market your product or service accordingly.

How do you become a vendor/supplier to North Broward Hospital District?

Vendors can download the District's Vendor Registration and Broward Interlocal M/WBE Certification Applications at www.browardhealth.org/OSD . If your company is currently M/WBE certified with one of our partners, such as Florida/WBDC, FRMBC or the State of Florida - OSD, you may complete the District's Partnership Certification Application (a short 2 page - demographic and affidavit form). Any questions, please contact our office at 954-831-2795.

What does North Broward Hospital District spend with women-owned businesses? What trends do you see?

Fiscal Year 2005, the District's procurement with M/WBEs was $48,051,581 @ 14.36%.

Trend in the Healthcare Industry - The momentum for Supplier Diversity in the Healthcare Industry is rapidly growing, as National Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), (such as; Premier, Novations, Consorta, Broadlane, etc.) are forming non-competitive alliances for supplier diversity via the Healthcare GPO Supplier Diversity Forum. In addition, such organizations as the National Minority Supplier Development Council is putting more focus on the Healthcare Industry, developing a healthcare industry committee.

WBDC/Florida Affiliate of WBENC wholeheartedly thanks North Broward Hospital District for its many years of support.