November 4, 2022

Five Companies Complete Participation in Inaugural Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals DEI Supplier Accelerator Program

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Tora Vinci | 216.339.4277

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Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals joined forces to boost the economic health of Northeast Ohio’s diverse business communities.

The health systems recently completed the Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Supplier Accelerator, a business development mentorship program. The program was designed to expand the knowledge and impact of local businesses owned by traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs including members of the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, veterans and women.

To support participants in growing their companies, and being competitive in the market, the participants completed the six-month training program. The program offered:

  • Business development coaching and learning the sourcing process of large corporations
  • Direct access to leaders from Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals and other subject matter experts
  • Networking opportunities with decision makers at both health systems, key suppliers and community organizations
  • Comprehensive business review to provide feedback for developing and growing the business
  • $10,000 cash prize upon completion of the program

Companies that completed the program in the inaugural cohort include:

 
CarTeCor Management, LLC (Shaker Heights)Co-Founders: Tommy and Sandra Farmer Created in 2009, CarTeCor Management, LLC is a minority-owned construction contractor that works with architects, developers and homeowners to bring their remodeling projects to life. Led by a husband-wife duo and their sons, the business specializes in designing and building kitchens, bathrooms, custom walk-in closets, roofing and siding.
 
 
 
 
Halle’s Design & Engineering (Akron)Owner and President: Halle Jones Capers Established in 2020, Halle’s Design & Engineering is the first woman – and minority-owned civil engineering firm in Akron. The company – which services clients in the public and private sector – focuses on designing local roads, highways, tunnels, water treatment plants and site infrastructure for buildings and public spaces such as parking lots, utilities and other amenities.
 
 
 
 
HR Construction Services (Cleveland)Owner and President: Heather R. Baines Since it began in 2015, HR Construction Services has strived to make an impact in Northeast Ohio’s construction industry by creating more jobs for women and people of color. This woman– and minority-owned company is a signatory contractor that employs laborers from local building trade unions to install reinforcing steel bars for concrete companies, perform concrete placement and other general contracting services.
 
 
 
 
Nightsweats & T-cells (Cleveland)Owner: Gil Kudrin Founded in 1990, Nightsweats & T-cells is an LGBTQ+-owned commercial screen-printing shop that uses its merchandise – ranging from backpacks to T-shirts – to deliver powerful messages about HIV/AIDS. The socially conscious company is staffed entirely by long-term AIDS survivors and HIV-positive workers who design custom products for AIDS service organizations, special events and mainstream businesses.
 
 
 
 
WTD Mechanical (Cleveland)President and CEO: Fatima Ware Launched in 2016, WTD Mechanical is a woman– and minority-owned company which specializes in installing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for commercial and residential clients. The company is committed to creating opportunities for women of color to advance in the male-dominated sheet metal industry. The DEI Supplier Accelerator program runs through November 2022.

Media Contacts

Cleveland Clinic:
University Hospitals:
Tora Vinci 216.339.4277
George Stamatis 216.346.9323

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

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