Contact:

Chris D. Fernandez, (505) 277-1736 Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821

July 10, 2001

UNM, RIO GRANDE MINORITY PURCHASING COUNCIL WORK TO STREGNTHEN ORGANIZATION

The University of New Mexico and the Rio Grande Minority Purchasing Council (RGMPC) are working together to help strengthen the 25-year-old organization through reorganization and revitalization efforts.

This mission of the RGMPCouncil is to support minority, women-owned businesses through increased corporate/government purchasing and to provide corporate/government entities sources to Minority Business Enterprises/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE) for their procurement needs. RGMPC has more than 350 corporate, associate and M/WBE’s as members of the Council.

Chris D. Fernandez of the UNM Purchasing Department, and acting chairman of the board, is spearheading the reorganization efforts for the RGMPC. Fernandez has been involved with the organization since its inception 25 years ago and has been involved with the support of all New Mexico minority and women-owned businesses.

“We want to review the fundamental way of doing business,” Fernandez said. “We discovered ways we could reorganize when we started looking at the organization following several resignations. We took a hard look at the financial situation and felt we would be in a better position with a stronger organization if we reorganized. We want to determine what we can do for our business plan to become a stronger organization to better serve minorities.”

Professor Emeritus Roger Lattanza, of the UNM Anderson Schools of Management, has helped revise the business plan for the council. In addition to Fernandez and Lattanza, other UNM employees assisting with the reorganization efforts include KUNM general manager Richard Towne, purchasing director Bruce Cherrin, purchasing manager Bobbi Norton and purchasing administrative assistant Melissa Cordero.

“The University has taken a lead role and is involved with several subcommittees within the council,” said Fernandez. “UNM also plays an active role with minority and corporate businesses to help them meet the criteria of the council. The University recognizes it’s a good organization to be associated with and has increased its level of involvement during this period of reorganization. The council is the only one in the state that caters exclusively to minorities, small business and women’s business.”

The immediate goals of the organization include expanding its membership and leadership group and ways to generate more revenue for the organization’s coffers. Besides annual dues paid by its members, the RGMPC also has an annual trade fair, which will be held on July 31, an annual awards banquet and Med Week, a five-day event held annually in October.

Additionally, the RGMPC has a monthly matchmaker breakfast that features speakers from corporate, M/WBE and associate groups. July’s corporate speaker will be Reinaldo A.Z. Garcia, dean of Instruction at UNM Valencia Campus. These efforts and functions are designed to bring members together for networking purposes.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981