New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council Holds Second Annual Healthcare Symposium "Healthcare: A Now Frontier for Multicultural Businesses" on September 5

NEW YORK, NY, August 30, 2012 (Press-News.org) The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council (The Council) will explore minority business opportunities in the healthcare industry at its Second Annual Healthcare Symposium, "Healthcare: A Now Frontier for Multicultural Businesses," held on Wednesday, September 5 at the News Corporation, located at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, from 9:00am - 3:00pm. The program is free.

Healthcare is the second-largest industry in the United States. In 2003, annual healthcare expenditures were estimated at $1.5 trillion, according to the National Health Statistics Group and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Today, healthcare organizations are spending a significant portion of their revenue acquiring the supplies and services needed to support their operations.

"Healthcare: A Now Frontier for Multicultural Businesses" is designed to assist minority business owners in locating and establishing relationships with healthcare corporations. The symposium includes leading procurement executives in the healthcare industry. They will discuss issues concerning: identifying appropriate diverse suppliers, hospital purchasing departments, hospital and healthcare systems executives, government agencies and committed Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs).

The keynote speakers examining the opportunities for minority business owners in the healthcare industry are Dr. Jaime R. Torres, DPM, MS, New York Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Jorge Silva-Puras, Esq., Region II Administrator, United States Small Business Administration. Dr, Torres helps coordinate the implementation of Health & Human Services departamental policies and initiatives in Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven Tribal nations. He will play a vital role in HHS' effort to effectively implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Silva-Puras, Esq. is responsible for SBA's programs and services in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with approximately 2.7 million small businesses, and a portfolio of SBA guaranteed loans of over $6.1billion.

The panelists include: Rodney Brown, director of supply chain - community extension at Barnabas Health; Kevin J. Price, supplier diversity & performance manager at Novant Health; J. Kent Walker, global director of advanced sourcing & innovation medical devices & diagnostics at Johnson & Johnson and Angela T. Wilkes, director of supplier diversity & sustainability at Owens & Minor. The Moderator is Jonah Cooper, Jr., president of Worldwide Virtual Academy, Inc.

"Healthcare is not only a necessity of life, it is an industry with business growth opportunities for minority entrepreneurs," said Lynda Ireland, president & CEO, The Council. "The keynote speakers Dr. Jaime R. Torres and Jorge Silva-Puras are major healthcare and minority business advocates. The panelists are Council corporate members, who are on the frontline in healthcare business procurement. At the symposium, they will be providing valuable insights into current procurement needs and future trends in the healthcare industry."

For more information on registering for the symposium on "Healthcare: A Now Frontier for Multicultural Businesses," please contact The Council at 212-502-5663 or http://www.nynjmsdc.org.

About The Council
The Council, an award-winning affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, certifies Asian-American, African American, Hispanic-American and Native-American-owned businesses to be eligible to compete for major corporate contracts. The Council has over 200 corporate members, encompasses Fortune 500 corporations, educational institutions and government agencies including New York State, New York City and the State of New Jersey. The Council's jurisdiction spans from New York State to Trenton, New Jersey. Currently, there are approximately 1,300 New York and New Jersey minority-owned businesses with annual revenues from $100,000 to $2 billion that are certified by The Council. For more information, contact The Council at 212-502-5663 or http://www.nynjmsdc.org.