Winter 2008 - Virginia State University

6News from University AvenueVirginia State University(VSU) and Owens & Minor,a Virginia-based, FORTUNE500 company and thenation’s leading distributorof name brand medicaland surgical supplies tothe acute-care industry,will work together in aninnovative partnership toprovide business mentoring services to MAC MedicalSupply Company, Inc., a certified, woman-ownedmedical supply manufacturer and distributor. Owens &Minor has enrolled Chicago-based MAC Medical Supplyunder its U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program.Under the three-year agreement, VSU will serve as theDevelopment Assistance Provider to Owens & Minorand MAC Medical Supply, working closely with bothcompanies. For MAC Medical Supply, VSU will identifythe company’s business and market profile and willassist in developing business, marketing and marketpenetration plans. For mentoring company Owens &Minor, VSU will assist in establishing performanceVSU FacilitatesMentor/ProtégéPartnershipbenchmarks for MACMedical Supply and willalso monitor progresstoward these benchmarks.VSU will also help MACMedical with the followingadditional services:developing publications,developing andimplementing a trainingprogram for MAC Medical Supply employees, andcreating a strategic business and marketing plan. Dr. V.K.Mummalaneni, chair of VSU’s department of marketingand management, will serve as project director. VSUProvost Dr. W. Eric Thomas will serve as PrincipalInvestigator.The DoD Mentor-Protégé program was created by theU.S. Department of Defense in 1991 to encourage morewomen- and minority-owned businesses to becomedefense department contractors and vendors. DoDprime vendors, including Owens & Minor, work with theprotégé companies, nurturing them with infrastructureand business development, training, increased salesopportunities and sharing of resources. Ribbon Cut on New Engineering andTechnology BuildingIn late fall, VSU formally opened its new Engineering &Technology Building. The facility will house the mechanical/electrical engineering, computer engineering andmanufacturing engineering programs of the School ofEngineering, Science and Technology. It features fourmultimedia classrooms, 30 engineering laboratories, a 126-seatinstructional auditorium, faculty offices and support spaces.VSU received a $21.7 million GOB bond for design andconstruction of the facility. VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY