University of California Small & Diverse Business Advisory Council launched

On Tuesday, April 18th, UC Procurement held the first meeting of the newly formed Small & Diverse Business Advisory Council in Oakland, CA. Chaired by UC Chief Procurement Officer, Bill Cooper, this council of diverse business advocates and leaders aims to support UC procurement across the state.

The formation of this group was first announced by President Napolitano in July of 2016 during a meeting held at the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles, CA. There, she also announced that Gil Vasquez, Chairman of the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, would be the first charter member of this council.

In a show of support, President Napolitano attended the kickoff of this first council meeting to welcome the new council members and offer her thanks for their participation. The half-day event focused on setting the stage for council members on UC policy, practices and culture. The session also heavily focused on brainstorming and understanding the goals of each council member.

Council members showed great enthusiasm during this first meeting, so much so that all agreed future meetings should be held in-person to accommodate more active participation. The major output from this first meeting was a set of recommendations on quick-wins and a framework for a strategic or master plan for the group’s future development. This group will continue to meet on a quarterly basis and report regularly to the President’s office, UC Procurement Leadership Council and through other key University channels.

Current members include:

  • Gil Vasquez, Managing Partner, Vasquez & Company, Chairman of LA Latino Chamber of Commerce
  • Tong Qin, Deputy District Director, San Francisco Office, Small Business Administration
  • Maxie Juzang, President  & CEO, Healthcare Staffing Professionals
  • Aubry Stone, President & CEO, CA Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Jasmine Ali, President & CEO, Bay Systems Inc.
  • Hanh Kent, Director of Client Services, Bay Systems Inc.
  • Danetta Jackson, Program Manager, State of CA, Department of General Services
  • Carl Hackney, Managing Director, Hackney & Company

Have questions about the UC Small & Diverse Business Advisory Council? Contact Stephanie Lopez (Stephanie.lopez@ucop.edu).