SMUD Small Business Outreach Event

SMUD Small Business Outreach Event Has Record Attendance
June 6, 2007

Susan Patterson, President of the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), welcomed a capacity crowd to “Make Your Contracting Connection with SMUD” on June 6, 2007. Patterson quipped, “I think this is the most people I’ve ever seen in our Board Room!” She was right—more than 300 small businesses had registered for this event and many attendees had to be seated in the overflow room where the program was broadcast live. Presented in partnership with The Federal Technology Center (The FTC), the purpose of the gathering was to allow current and potential SMUD suppliers to meet and interact with the SMUD Contracting and Executive Management Teams and learn more about SMUD contracting methods. Jan Schori, SMUD General Manager, emphasized that SMUD is committed to keeping contracts local and giving a preference for small businesses who qualify for their Supplier Education & Economic Development (SEED) program – small businesses who are SMUD ratepayers. It was also emphasized that 93 percent of SMUD’s contracts have been awarded through a competitive bidding or proposal process.

Attendees appreciated the ample time allotted for networking and the availability of SMUD Management and Contracting panel partici-
pants for further discussions. In addition, the SMUD Contracting professionals were on hand to meet vendors. The day was capped off with a step-by-step class entitled, “Doing Business with SMUD”, offered by Bill Teeple, Senior Counselor/Instructor with The FTC.

Don’t miss the next opportunity to meet the SMUD Management and Contracting Teams at the 2nd Annual SMUD Suppliers Networking Conference and Power Player Awards luncheon scheduled for November 28, 2007. For a complete list of our upcoming events, click here.