Queens College among honorees at minority- and women-owned businesses conference

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Queens College was one of two CUNY schools recognized for achieving the “Chairman’s MWBE Challenge” at the second annual Doing Business With NYC Public Education Conference. Photo courtesy of Yuan Kong/CUNY..

Queens College was one of two CUNY schools recognized for achieving the “Chairman’s MWBE Challenge” at the second annual Doing Business With NYC Public Education Conference. Photo courtesy of Yuan Kong/CUNY..

By Jonathan Sperling

Queens College was recognized on Wednesday for its part in an effort by CUNY to double the university system’s spending with New York state-certified minority- and women-owned businesses.

Both Queens College, located in Kew Gardens Hills, and Manhattan’s City College, were recognized for achieving the “Chairman’s MWBE Challenge” during Fiscal Year 2019 at the second annual Doing Business With NYC Public Education Conference, hosted at the CUNY Graduate Center.

“CUNY continues to break down barriers to do business with the University. Today’s event is part of CUNY’s strategic investment into its Supplier Diversity’s program to create an inclusive local economy by creating real opportunities for MWBE to support CUNY’s operations,” said CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor Matthew Sapienza in a statement.

“The City College of New York and Queens College are great examples of our continued efforts, and I’m happy to recognize their hard work and dedication to CUNY’s supplier diversity goals," he added.

The half-day event, which was co-hosted by the New York City Department of Education, attracted over 750 registered attendees. They heard from CUNY Trustee Lorraine Cortez-Vasquez and DOE General Counsel Howard Friedman and had the opportunity to network with exhibitors from other government agencies and business development resource organizations.

There was also a leadership discussion for MWBEs to engage and win new contracts that was moderated by Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sapienza, with numerous CUNY and DOE officials serving as the panelists.

“Expanding opportunities for businesses owned by minorities and women in the competition for contracts with New York's public education institutions goes to the heart of CUNY's mission,” said CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita Rabinowitz. “Our commitment to maximizing MWBE participation in the University’s procurement programs is a recognition of its important economic and social benefits to the city as well as to CUNY and its students and graduates.