John Lovejoy knows how difficult it can be for a small business like his to become a supplier to the state’s largest companies. The sales manager for FreshAir Filter Services of Hurricane said it can be challenging to figure out who to contact and an even bigger hurdle securing an appointment.
That’s why Lovejoy decided to attend the Dec. 11 Vandalia Health Supply Chain Expo in Charleston. Presented by the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) and Advantage Valley, the event was the latest in a series of ongoing expos to connect West Virginia small business suppliers to contracting opportunities with major companies.
During the event, small business representatives from 13 West Virginia counties participated in nearly 60 one-on-one meetings with various departments within Vandalia Health to pitch their goods and services directly to decision-makers. Participants also heard directly from Steve Perry, Vandalia’s Vice President for Supply Chain Management, about the process for becoming a vendor of the large health care system, which includes CAMC Health System, Mon Health System, Davis Health and several other state hospitals.
“I thought this expo was the most effective business-to-business event I’ve attended,” Lovejoy said. “The work that was done for this event took away the challenge (of getting your foot in the door). Having a scheduled time for an actual one-on-one meeting allowed for everyone involved to make the best use of their time. I wish every expo was done in this format. It was truly a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Past expos organized by MAMC and Advantage Valley have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in new contracts for Mountain State small businesses while enabling large companies to find vendors closer to home – and often secure goods and services at better prices.
“These supply chain expos yield results,” said MAMC Director Derek Scarbro. “By serving as the matchmaker between small businesses and major industries, we help facilitate new business relations that lead to more procurement dollars staying in West Virginia.”
Perry praised organizers for working with Vandalia to offer the expo.
“Thank you to Advantage Valley, Marshall Advanced Manufacturing and Charleston Area Alliance for hosting and [thanks to] the attendees,” he said. “It was our pleasure and privilege to connect with our local businesses. Looking forward to the next event and developing some new relationships.”
Dec. 16, 2024
