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Businesses are after the perfect match
By SHARON BOND © St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- Benjamin D. Ellis Sr. is looking for a direct link to Ceridian Benefits Services. Lorian Williams is targeting new buyers. Sulaman Hemani wants a chance at business from local governments. The three are owners of minority businesses who will participate in a so-called matchmaker with buyers from Tampa Bay corporations and governments. The Sept. 13 event at Ceridian is the first of its kind to spotlight Pinellas businesses during Minority Enterprise Development Week, according to organizer Alvina Miller, business assistance specialist with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. "We wanted to focus on St. Petersburg," Miller said. A similar program is one of the events in Tampa during MED week, which runs Sept. 11-15. Miller said the idea for the first matchmaker in Pinellas came from Theresa Jones of the Business Development Center of the city of St. Petersburg. The center and the chamber are sponsoring the event. "I would not term it a reception," said Jones. "It's a minority business matchmaker," which she says is different from a trade fair. "We asked buyers to come with open bids," Jones said. Minority business owners should have qualification statements, references and samples, she said. About 15 companies from Tampa Bay are signed up for the event. Miller would like 25-30 corporations on hand to hear what the 40 minority businesses have to sell. Ellis has an information technology company, Ellis & Ellis, which has been in operation since March 1993 and has a staff of 13. Its headquarters are in St. Petersburg, but much of the staff is based elsewhere. Ellis said he thought that since Ceridian Benefits is hosting the matchmaker, he would use the opportunity to pitch his company's software directly to Ceridian. Ellis designs and sells software that can protect a company's private information. Ceridian, which is participating in the matchmaker as well as hosting it, administers employee benefit programs for numerous companies. "It's an excellent opportunity to get inside Ceridian," Ellis said. "More knowledge is good knowledge. That's the reason I signed up for it. There might be an opportunity to fit into our skills." Williams sells promotional products and assists companies in promoting themselves. Her company, Chaslo Merchandise & Printing Corp. in St. Petersburg, has been in business for six years. "It's an opportunity to meet buyers," Williams said, adding that it also is a chance to renew acquaintances with companies she knows currently don't have work for her. "In cases where I know there is not an opportunity, I still have something to say, to keep my name out there." Hemani, president and chief executive officer of AA Construction Co., is a general contractor and would like to get more work from city and county governments. "I hope I will find a match on the spot and be able to get some contracts," Hemani said. His company, which has on average about a dozen employees, just moved to Tarpon Springs after seven years in St. Petersburg. Hemani will take a list of his projects, plus a letter from his bonding company that shows the financial strength of AA Construction. He says he is ready, "if they are willing to give me a chance to work." Several governmental agencies are among the corporations that will be on hand. A representative of one, Lu Banks, director of purchasing for the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners, has never been to a matchmaker before. "We are always looking for opportunities for expand our vendor list. If you have more businesses to compete for services and products, you hope prices are going to be lower," she said. Banks said the county is looking for sellers of everything from toilet paper and paper clips to building bridges and buildings. She also can redirect companies whose services she doesn't need. "It doesn't make any sense for me to attempt to do business with a bedding company. I don't have a need for bedding, but the sheriff might, the health department might," Banks said. Diane Hofmann is the procurement administrator for Concurrent Technologies, a national not-for-profit company that has a branch in Largo. The company does services for businesses and looks for companies selling items for facsimile machines, printers and the like. "Anything you would have in an office environment, we are interested in looking at from a minority company," Hofmann said. Concurrent Technologies would not be signing anyone on the spot, however. "I couldn't do anything then and there," Hofmann said. "I have to make sure their prices are competitive. We are looking for different companies we could use."
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