ARTICLE _______________________________________________ Back To Main Page
We would like to thank our corporate sponsors for their continued support. This month we highlight Memorial Healthcare System as our featured Corporate Sponsor of the Month.
www.mhs.net
Our featured Memorial Healthcare System representative is Dana Hightower. Dana Hightower is Director,
Document Services & Vendor Relations at Memorial Healthcare System.
What are you responsible for?
Dana is responsible for managing the Vendor Relations program for MHS; Responsible for 70,000 sq ft. distribution center and 4 departments therein; facilities coordinator for DC; responsible for the in-house printshop, staff of 4 FTEs, oversee the forms distribution process; troubleshoot end user challenges with forms ordering & distribution; manage logistics of forms distribution; part of the Business Recovery team (disaster/hurricane) |
| |
What’s the best thing about your job?
The diversity of it. It’s like a potholder you made as a kid with the loops -- there are some common threads that integrate across the key responsibilities. Each day offers something different and it’s always challenging.
|
How long have you worked with Memorial Healthcare System?
I started working on December 6th 2000 and will have completed 7 years this December 2007.
|
How can WBEs get noticed by Memorial Healthcare System?
Memorial’s SBE program is inclusive of all vendors – but there is a special focus on diverse vendors. The tough part is finding that opportunity and ensuring that the vendor is capable of handling MHS – from a financial, perspective a.w.a. with the services and products they represent. Unfortunately not every vendor that submits an application or makes an inquiry call becomes a vendor to MHS. It’s preferable to develop a relationship long term vs. a one hit wonder. I’ve recently been involved with sourcing the screening process and database management tasks to an outside WBE – A C.O.A.R. Company. This was a much needed resource to assist sorting through the 30+ applications received per month.
|
How do you become a vendor/supplier to Memorial Healthcare System?
First complete the online vendor application and submit it. From there it’s a waiting game. As MHS has been incorporated since 1953, we have a cache of approved vendors. To date we have about 4000 vendors that we make payments to during a fiscal year. Some overlap, so working with A C.O.A.R. Company will provide support that can target key vendors that we may have a need for.
|
What is the spend for Memorial Healthcare System with women-owned businesses?
We just presented our FY07 annual report to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Certified WBE spend in FY07 was in excess of $8,422,000.
|
What trends do you see?
Women-owned companies are branching out into stereotyped male dominated industries i.e. Construction and IT to a degree. A lot of these businesses are very strong financially, and have a solid infrastructure. It’s reassuring to see viable, strong, women-owned firms who need little mentoring, if any.
|
|
