For Desiree Quinney — who holds two positions with Michigan State University Purchasing — her duties go hand in hand. As a purchasing agent for the department, Quinney gets to help decide where MSU’s money is spent, and as supplier diversity coordinator, she also gets to help out smaller, local businesses.
Working mainly on the purchasing end of construction equipment, Quinney gets to look for smaller businesses in the surrounding communities. Purchasing from local businesses is not only beneficial to MSU but also good for those smaller companies and the local economy.
As the supplier diversity coordinator at MSU Purchasing, Quinney leads the supplier diversity program, which works to encourage business opportunities for minority, woman-owned, small and other disadvantaged businesses.
“That’s important not just for MSU, but for our economy, the outside community, small businesses and for the students and employees on campus,” she said. “We go out, do outreach, and open the doors to what MSU can offer some of the small businesses out there.”
One of the biggest challenges she faces is introducing smaller companies to the practices of a large established university. To Quinney though, the challenge is well worth the rewards of being able to help support the local economy.
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