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FGCU is named university of the year

By Staff | Dec 16, 2008

Florida Gulf Coast University has taken a leadership role in advancing the State of Florida’s supplier diversity program.

Recently, the Office of Supplier Diversity, a unit of the Florida Division of Management Services, presented FGCU with the University of the Year Award in recognition of its active role in attainment of agency spending objectives, outreach, inclusiveness, expansion of vendor usage, and exemplary leadership.

“We are pleased with the efforts of FGCU and how the announcement of being named University of the Year caused a stirring among those in the audience present at the recent annual Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) Matchmaker event,” said director of Institutional Equity and Compliance at FGCU, Cheryl Seals-Gonzalez. “FGCU certainly received much attention after we leaped above the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and Florida State University to achieve this feat,” noted Seals-Gonzalez who sits on the Florida Advisory Council on Small and Minority Business Development.

FGCU met all the requirements to achieve this honor. The University was an active participant in the Diversity Working Group, increased minority spending in fiscal year 2007-08 by 57 percent, engaged members of FGCU leadership in the process and worked with the OSD to execute the Southwest Florida Regional MatchMaker event in Fort Myers.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the announcement of the award. I would like to acknowledge the University’s staff and faculty for their support of supplier diversity. Without their support and assistance this would not have happened,” said assistant director of Procurement Services Richard Pence.

Maryan Egan, director for Procurement Services added, “I am pleased with the honor that is bestowed upon FGCU. Mr. Pence has taken a leadership role in the endeavor and it shows.”