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About Us

The Utah Supplier Development Council (USDC) welcomes you as a participant in the effort to fairly include Small, Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business concerns in the economic activities of this community.

The USDC was organized in 1981 with Deseret Medical (now Becton-Dickinson), Thiokol, Hercules (now Alliant Tech) and Western Electric (now part of the U.S. West companies) and the University of Utah as founders and incorporators. This group quickly grew to 13 Charter Member companies.

Originally established to fully develop Small Disadvantaged, Hub-Zone, Veteran and Woman-owned Business Enterprises as suppliers to large businesses, the USDC now promotes it's current mission utilizing specific activities:

  • Developing company policies that are widely and visibly supported by top management.
  • Sponsoring Trade Fairs
  • Continual identification of Utah's Small, Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, and Veteran-Owned Businesses
  • Maintaining a listing of these organizations
  • Supporting Trade Fairs
  • Making Site visits to small firms
  • Making training available to increase management skills in small firms
  • Training buyers and other large business personnel
  • Sensitizing the community to the worth of Utah's Small, Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, Hubzone, and Veteran-Owned Businesses
  • Encouraging maximum participation by Large firms in Small Business Programs
  • Informing Small Business of the requirements and needs of Large firms and Government entities
  • Interface between Councils, Chambers of Commerce, ISM, community and political leaders, etc.

Mission Statement

"The mission of the Utah Suppliers Development Council (USDC) is to increase purchases of goods and services by large companies and government entities from minority and women-owned businesses. "

Overview Of The Organization

The council is the only purchasing group in the state dedicated to providing large companies and Government entities the maximum practical exposure and opportunity for the purchase of goods and services from Utah's Small, Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, and Service Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses.

The council is funded by dues and donations in-kind from its members. There are several types of membership available in USDC. Large companies, state and local Government entities are Members of USDC, paying the largest dues, donating in- kind and having voting privileges on the council. Federal Government agencies are prevented by law from being dues paying members of this type of organization, but can be Affiliated Members of USDC. Small business concerns are encouraged to join as Associate Members for a nominal membership fee.

The Council is a volunteer organization with no paid staff or central office location. Officers and Directors are elected by the Membership and effect the day-to-day operations of the corporation as well as all other corporation activities. This is done with the generous and able representation of small firms to the council through the Associate In-Put Committee.

USDC business is accomplished through regular monthly business meetings held by the Board. The Associate Member meeting is a luncheon meeting held 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, usually on the third Thursday of every month. Check the USDC Calendar for current times, dates and locations for these meetings. Each Large business member company is encouraged to actively participate on the committees, as officers and/or as board members in order to accomplish the required tasks. Since USDC has no paid staff, participation is necessary to keep the council in place and active.

Organization Chart, USDC

  • Chairman of the Board of Directors
  • Board of Directors
  • President
  • Vice Presidents
  • Treasurer
  • Recorder
  • Committees

Chairman, elected by the Board.

Directors, elected by the Membership, companies are elected to
the board.

Officers, elected by the Board, individuals are elected as
officers.

Committees, formed by volunteers from the Membership/Associates.
Associate In-Put Committee Chairs (one from the Minority and one
from the Woman business communities) elected by the Board,
have one vote on the Board between them.

Job Descriptions

All officers are encouraged to enlist other Officers, USDC Members and Members of the Board to work with them to complete their responsibilities.

President

  • Oversees functioning of USDC in general; sets direction for the organization.
  • Presides at monthly meetings of major members or joint membership meetings of USDC.
  • Arranges for annual audit of USDC financial records by a professional accountant, and review of annual audit by the Board of Directors.
  • Reviews financial records with the treasurer on a quarterly basis.
  • Coordinates and delegates assignments for planning and staffing USDC Conferences.
  • Delegates assignments to other officers.
  • Other duties as deemed necessary by the Board.

Chair

  • Presides at meetings of the Board of Directors of USDC.
  • Arranges USDC Board meeting times and locations; prepares and distributes agendas for Board meetings with input from other USDC Board members.
  • Supports the Associate Input Committee (AIC) by attending monthly meetings and completing tasks as requested.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Vice-Presidents

  • First Vice-President (VP) performs the functions of President whenever the President is unable to do so.
  • First VP assists the Meetings & Special Events Committee Leader to carry out responsibilities.
  • Second VP assists the Marketing & Outreach Committee and the Membership Committee Leaders to carry out responsibilities.
  • Assists with responsibilities of other USDC officers as requested.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Treasurer

  • Has custody of USDC funds and maintains financial records. Deposits funds, performs accounts payable and accounts receivable functions for the organization. Reconciles bank statements and checks on a monthly basis.
  • Reports financial information regularly to the membership, such as amount of available funds and recent expenditures.
  • Other duties usually pertaining to his/her office or as assigned.

Recorder

  • Keeps USDC Charter, Bylaws and Official Documents, including annual audits of USDC finances.
  • Issues notices of meetings, on the website, through e-mail and other methods.
  • Prepares minutes of USDC Board of Directors meetings and distributes to Board members.
  • Tallies votes on motions made at Board meetings.
  • Distributes ballots and tallies votes in the election of Board Members and Officers.
  • Other duties usually pertaining to his/her office or as assigned.
  • Works closely with the data base supervisor (the University of Utah) to update, record, website information.
  • Meetings & Special Events Committee Leader
  • Coordinates Annual Retreat of USDC Board with the Chair.
  • Arranges meeting locations for monthly meetings and coordinates special events.
  • Assisted with responsibilities by the First VP.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Associate Input Committee Co-Chairs

  • Attend USDC Board meetings and report input from small firms to the Board.
  • Conduct monthly meetings of Associate Membership of USDC.
  • Conduct meetings of the AIC.
  • Plan programs for monthly meetings.
  • Recruit associate members to be part of the AIC. Direct subcommittees: Calling Committee, Treasurer, Meeting and Planning Committee, Membership Committee, others as needed.
  • Encourage Associate members to keep their listing current on the USDC website.
  • Assisted with responsibilities by the Chair.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Special Consultant to AIC

  • Offers experience & expertise in organizational structure and functioning to AIC Co-Chairs and other officers of USDC.
  • May choose to assit with other duties upon request.
  • Marketing & Outreach Committee Leader
  • Coordinates presentations to government agencies and community groups to educate and inform about USDC.
  • Coordinates USDC co-sponsorship of events organized by other entities to benefit minority and women's business development.
  • Assisted with responsibilities by the Second VP.
  • Other Duties as assigned.

Membership Committee Leader

  • Coordinates presentations to large companies and special events to recruit members.
  • Coordinates efforts by USDC Board to increase participation of member companies.
  • Encourages members to keep their listing current on the USDC website.
  • Assisted with responsibilities by the Second VP.
  • Other duties as assigned.

PDF The Bylaws of the Utah Supplier Development Council