Lt. Gov. Michael Steele Keynotes Procurement Fair May 12

SALISBURY, MD---Following efforts this year to strengthen Maryland’s small businesses and reform the state’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele speaks on the Ehrlich-Steel administration’s successful campaign for legislation to help ensure small and minority businesses receive more contracts and subcontracting opportunities with the state. Steel’s address is delivered during a government procurement fair hosted by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program of the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) on Wednesday, May 12. Titled “Business Growth Using Government Doors of Opportunity,” the fair is scheduled 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. Steele keynotes the event during a luncheon at noon, discussing executive orders issued, administrative changes initiated and new laws in this year’s legislative session. Taking office in January 2003, Steele is the first African American to hold a statewide office in Maryland and the state’s first African-American Republican lieutenant governor. As chair of the Governor’s Commission on Minority Business Reform, Steele has made the creation of legacy wealth for small and minority-owned businesses one of his top priorities. He has received honors for his leadership as lieutenant governor from the NAACP and Knights of Columbus among others. In addition to his service to his native Maryland, Steele has served on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors under President George W. Bush and as a member of the National Federal Election Reform Commission under presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. He is the author of numerous columns and op-ed pieces published in The Washington Post, The Washington Times and The Baltimore Sun and has appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and BET Tonight. Other speakers at the fair include PTAP Director Greg Prouty and two of MDOT's most tenured procurement officials, Mark Pemberton and Brian McAllister, the chief procurement officer for MDOT and the assistant director for procurement for MDOT, respectively. The event showcases the wide variety of goods and services government agencies procure via contracts both large and small-from construction and creative services to painting and pens-the fair provides information on the procurement process for state and local agencies. “This event presents an outstanding opportunity for area small businesses to learn about the procurement process from Maryland’s best on this topic,” said John Hickman, director of the SBDC Eastern Region. “ In addition, it is a chance to meet the people face-to-face who make the buy decisions in our region for many local and state government agencies.” The cost is $25 per person, including lunch and all materials. Advance registration is required. For more information call Terry Cohen at 410-543-6516 or Jacqueline Jones at 1-888-713-1414, ext. 1180, or e-mail tecohen@salisbury.edu or jjones2@mdot.state.md.us.