Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-17-20

Features
Through Moffitt’s Diversity
Women’s History Month:
Outstanding Women In The Community To Be Recognized
Program Women-Owned
IRIS A. WARREN ...Illustrious Commandress
MS. TAMARA SHAMBURGER ...Education
Each year March is desig- nated as “Women’s History Month” to highlight the con- tributions of women in his- tory and contemporary society.
Harram Court No. 96, Daughters, under the leader- ship of Illustrious Comman-
ARTHENIA JOYNER ...Civil Rights Attorney
REPRESENTATIVE DIANNE HART ...Politics
dress Iris A. Warren, will honor five outstanding African American Women in our community, whose ac- complishments have changed the Tampa Bay Area. The awards will be pre- sented on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the Alba Hotel,
MS. TONYA LEWIS ...Community Service
DR. HAZEL HARVEY ...Leadership
5303 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida at 6:30 p. m. These women represent excellence in education, poli- tics, community service, civil rights and leadership. Har- ram Court No. 96 is a con- stituent court of the Imperial
Court Daughters.
Harram Court’s 74-year
legacy includes the adoption of families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, adoption of a Title I school which included tutor- ing and donation of school supplies, scholarships for young female high school graduates and mentoring young women ages 5-17 years, as well as donations to Juvenile Diabetes, March of Dimes, UNCF, Special Olympics, National Diabetes Foundation, Female veter- ans, and donations of old cell phones to assist female vic- tims of domestic violence.
Harram Court No. 96, Daughters is proud to recog- nize and celebrate these out- standing women and their achievements, and the im- portant role they continue to play in the community dur- ing Women’s History Month.
Last year, leaders at Mof- fitt Cancer Center announced plans for a $400 million ex- pansion, pointing to a rocket- ing increase in the number of people seeking cancer treat- ment.
But isn’t the only thing growing at the hospital.
In the last three years, Moffitt has spent $17.6 mil- lion with women-owned businesses, said Moffitt spokesman Steve Blan- chard.
Desiree Hanson, Mof- fitt’s supplier diversity man- ager, said she couldn’t fathom such a figure when she arrived at the hospital 11 years ago.
But thanks to a laser- focus on roping in more women businesses through events such as supplier fairs, Moffitt now boasts a supplier diversity program where women-owned businesses make up more than 60 per- cent of vendors.
Last year, Moffitt spent $146 million with those ven- dors, Hanson said.
“I have watched this pro- gram grow over time,” she said. “That’s very exciting to me.”
Carolyn Lawson is one of those women vendors.
When her business, Chameleon Customs Solu- tions, came to Tampa in 2007, Moffitt was one of the first companies it signed on. In the 13 years since, the re- lationship with Moffitt has strengthened tremendously,
DESIREE HANSON ...Manager, Moffitt’s Supplier Diversity Program
Lawson said.
The bonus is that Moffitt
is an anchor in the commu- nity and Lawson’s business has been connected to others from working with and by recommendation from the hospital, she said.
“They’re significant to our business,” Lawson said. “Also, they’re a resource. We can go to Desiree and ask her support, if we are prospecting other clients.”
Roda Carter said her business, Carter Disposables, has been on the receiving end of that process. When a big- ger company needed sup- plies, Carter said her business was able to satisfy the request thanks to De- siree’s suggestion.
“It’s one thing to talk about diversity, but if the client doesn’t get access, it’s blowing smoke,” she said. “I am grateful that Moffitt real- izes the value that we bring.”
Businesses Are
Getting A Share
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020