Five local diverse businesses have completed the annual six-month mentorship program called the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Supplier Accelerator. This program, a collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, aims to expand the knowledge and impact of local businesses headquartered in Northeast Ohio and owned by traditionally under-represented entrepreneurs, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, veterans and women.
The training program designed to support participants in growing their companies, and being competitive in the market, offered:
- Business development coaching and navigation of the large corporate sourcing process.
- One-on-one access to leaders and subject matter experts from Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.
- Networking opportunities with Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals decision makers and suppliers.
- Multidisciplinary business review process that provides actionable feedback to develop and grow their business.
- A $10,000 cash prize upon successful completion of the program.
Businesses that completed the 2023 program are listed below.
BridgePort Group, LLC (Cleveland)
Andre Bryan, Managing Partner
A logistics, supply chain management and warehouse management firm, BridgePort Group, LLC, specializes in vendor-managed inventory, management consulting and technical certification training.
Critical Ops, LLC (Westlake)
Chelsea Treboniak, Owner
Guiding companies through a business modernization process that targets the core of operations, Critical Ops, LLC, looks beyond operational efficiencies, to a modern system that helps clients gain a competitive advantage.
EduCare Medical Staffing (Woodmere)
Naushay Adams, CEO
EduCare Medical Staffing is a staffing agency that provides highly skilled medical professionals to assist customers with their needs. In addition to medical staffing, it provides CPR training and is a certified WebCheck fingerprint scanning location.
Hunter International Recruiting (Avon)
Gabrielle Christman, President & CEO
A STEM-focused workforce solutions partner, Hunter International Recruiting delivers talent for mid-size companies to large, Fortune 500 organizations, and government entities across the country.
R.L. Cole Enterprise (Warrensville Heights)
Rhoni Thompson, President
R.L. Cole Enterprise is a second-generation woman-owned trucking company that supplies and delivers limestone, gravel, mulch, sand and salt in Cuyahoga and the surrounding counties. The business also operates a Clean Fill Site in Cleveland.