HCWA hosts Fall Supplier Conference for prospective vendors
The HCWA hosted its Fall Supplier Conference on Oct. 24, welcoming potential vendors who want to do business with the utility. Those attendees received valuable information from Authority staff and invited speakers.
Rodney Stroud, HCWA Procurement Compliance Specialist, emceed the event, with welcoming remarks coming from HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell, who emphasized that the Authority has a welcoming culture and need for the expertise local companies can provide on projects.
The supplier conference program agenda began with helpful information from Terri Denison of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Joseph B. Henning, President of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, Scott Sage, HCWA Division Manager of Engineering, provided attendees with an overview of upcoming capital projects that will feature open bids for work. Sage and Jeff Allen, HCWA Purchasing and Inventory Manager, also highlighted the Authority’s Annual Labor Contract, which is another avenue for potential work for those in attendance.
The HCWA utilizes BidNet Direct for its public bidding process. In addition, the Authority Board of Directors has implemented several policies within the last few years to encourage participation in open bids by female-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned local businesses. In addition, the Local Sheltered Market Program (LSMP) is a preference program for the benefit of all local small businesses.
“We try to organize topics for each of our supplier conferences around the feedback we receive from attendees,” says Rodney Stroud, HCWA Procurement Compliance Specialist.
“So, this fall conference focused on small businesses by providing them with professional resources here in the community, which they may find valuable when seeking to do business with us. But what our guest speakers offered will be helpful to any local individual or business, whether they are bidding on Authority projects or just trying to grow their business in general,” says Stroud.
For more information on how to do business with the HCWA and its procurement process, potential vendors can visit our website procurement page here.
Caption for photo:
Terri Denison, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Atlanta, speaks to those attending the recent HCWA Fall Supplier Conference.
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Media Contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681
E: chris@jwapr.com or john.wood@gcsu.edu