Itasca Project



The Minnesota Supplier Showcase and Referral Library

Supplier Nomination Form

Supplier Information Form
The Itasca Project is pleased to announce the pilot of The Minnesota Supplier Showcase and The Minnesota Referral Library.

Background
The Itasca Project is launching pilots of the Supplier Showcase and Referral Library to test new and innovative ways to more efficiently connect our region’s small and growing companies to larger customers, and in so doing, help grow jobs here in Minnesota. This concept of linking local small and growing companies with supply chains of established organizations would distinguish our region as a leading model of this type of collaboration.

The Minnesota Supplier Showcase
The Supplier Showcase will convene suppliers and sourcing departments on a periodic basis to feature notable suppliers who have demonstrated the ability to serve large companies. Each Showcase will focus on a few specific categories and will be an exciting opportunity for our large corporate participants to get exposure to the best small and innovative companies. Our hope is that participating large companies will seek out those local suppliers for their business needs.

The Supplier Referral Library
The Supplier Referral Library will be an ongoing database, much like an “Angie’s List”, where sourcing departments can endorse or note their experience with small/medium regional companies. Much like the Supplier Showcase, the objective of the Referral Library is to expose sourcing departments to capable local companies they may have been unknown to them. More information on the Supplier Referral Library will be available soon.

Project Leadership
The concept for a “business bridge” between our region’s large and small companies was developed by the Itasca Project Job Growth Task Force, led by:
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman, Carlson Companies
Ken Powell, Chairman and CEO, General Mills
Chris O’Connell, Executive Vice President and Group President, Medtronic
Michael Gorman, Managing Director, Split Rock Partners

The development of the Supplier Showcase and Referral Library has been supported by a Supplier Roundtable, including representation from: MEDA, Pentair, City of St. Paul, UnitedHealth Group, General Mills, HealthPartners, City of Minneapolis, and Medtronic.


The Itasca Project cordially invites technology professionals and sourcing executives to join us for:

The Minnesota Supplier Showcase

A forum presenting the most promising and innovative Minnesota enterprises to the purchasing organizations of our region’s established companies. This pilot event will focus on:
  • Computer Services
  • Information Technology Service Delivery
  • Examples include, but are not limited to: mobile device management and app development, cloud computing, software development, network design and support, data storage services, website design, value-added resellers, and security services
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Medtronic CRDM Headquaters
   
Agenda: 2:30 – 3:00 Meet and Greet
3:00 – 5:00 Program
    
     Welcome from Itasca Project leadership
     Itasca and Business Bridge overview
     Supplier Referral Library demonstration
     Pitches from winning companies
     Closing comments

5:00 – 6:00 Supplier booth displays with time to share contact information, Q&A
   
Attendees: Information Technology and Sourcing decision makers from leading Twin Cities companies, Governments and the Twin Cities area Entrepreneurial Ecosystem will hear presentations from a select group of winners chosen from innovative, world-class local suppliers.
 
Benefits:
  • Connect with “the best of the best” local suppliers, recommended by peer organizations
  • Rapid identification of leading edge local companies
  • Exposure to talent and creative potential
  • Tremendous positive impact on the success and growth of entrepreneurial companies, leading to enhanced Job growth in the region
  • Good citizenship – public awareness
Nominations : Nominate high caliber local suppliers for consideration. 

Qualifications for nominated companies:
  • Company is based or has substantial operations in Minnesota or western Wisconsin
  • Company has demonstrated ability to serve a large (>500 employees) client
  • Additional business from MN companies would drive increased employment in MN
  • Company is a small or medium-sized business with <500 employees or <$300 million in annual revenue
  For more information contact: ron.tuch@medtronic.com