Photos: “Meet the Buyers” Business Opportunity Forum

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Thursday, May 13, 2010 from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm, The Regional Alliance for Diversity in Public Purchasing hosted Meet the Buyers:Business Opportunity Forum. The event was held at the Tassell MTEC and the following agencies were on hand to network with potential suppliers: City of Grand Rapids, City of Kentwood, Kent County, Muskegon County, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University
ITP‐The Rapid Transit Authority, Lansing Area Public Purchasing Group, Michigan Public Purchasing Officers Assn, State of Michigan, Van Andel Institute, CEED (Center for Empowerment & Economic Development), MMBEC (MI Minority Business Enterprise Center), MMSDC (MI Minority Supplier Development Council) Partners in Action Inc, PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center), SBA (Small Business Administration), SBTDC (Small Business & Technology Development Center), Women’s Business Enterprise Council‐Great Lakes and others.

In addition to opportunities to meet the buyers, attendees also enjoyed a featured panel discussion focused on sustainability/the triple bottom line, with local experts:

• Bill Stough – Sustainable Research Group, LLC
• Elissa Sangalli Hillary – Local First
• Matt Tueth – Aquinas College, Center for Sustainability

Over (100) suppliers were in attendance and the event was very well received, given the attendees “distinctive” comments.

Results in for “Dump Your Plump”

The Be Healthy Be Fit Employee Wellness Program sponsored Dump Your Plump, an 8 week team based weight loss/exercise program, beginning in February and ending in April.  It was very successful and we wanted to share some facts with you:

• There were 69 participants on 10 teams
• 97% of the participants lost weight
• A total of 444.8 pounds were lost in 8 weeks — this is an average of 55.6 pounds per week
• This represents 75.89 % of the total weight loss goal set

Congratulations to all the participants of Dump Your Plump!

Opportunities to Run, Walk, Roll, or Cheer (5/14-15, 5/21)

The GRCC ESP will again be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Ah-Nab-Awen Park this weekend, May 14-15, 1pm-1pm. If you’d like to make a donation to the cause, you can do it electronically here . Please contact Tracy Payne (3673) at tpayne@grcc.edu if you need any further information.

On May 21, Michigan Blood will host Moonlit Miles for Marrow, a 15K trail run at 7:30 p.m. at Klackle Orchards, 11466 West Carson City Road in Greenville. All the proceeds will go to help pay for tissue-type testing of prospective marrow donors for the Marrow Program at Michigan Blood.
Moonlit Miles for Marrow will also feature a 2-mile family fun run/walk and a post race party featuring live bands, food, and refreshments. Runners can register online and collect donations at www.moonlitformarrow.com. For more information, please contact racedirector@moonlitformarrow.com

Run, Walk, Roll, or Cheer is a wellness program at GRCC that encourages the participation of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and retirees in all aspects of community fitness events, including a) running, rolling, or walking in local events, b) joining local groups that support running, rolling, or walking, c) playing a supportive role in events (e.g., working at an aid station), and/or d) turning out to cheer on GRCC colleagues.

www.grcc.edu/runwalkrollcheer

GRCC Library & Learning Commons Services Rated Highly by Users

Recently, Library users were asked to rate their satisfaction with

• friendliness of staff
• availability of staff
• helpfulness of staff
• knowledge of staff

96.77 percent of survey respondents were very satisfied, satisfied, or neutral on each of these four points.  When asked if they were comfortable asking for assistance, 87 percent answered in the affirmative.  Congratulations and a Raider Salute go to the LLC staff!

Learning Opportunities for Employees: 5/18/10-5/26/10

Learning Opportunities for the next two weeks:

Tuesday, May 18

• Resumes & Cover Letters  9-10:30 a.m.
• Conflict Resolution  2-4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 19

• PeopleSoft – Entries, Budgets and Queries on FSPROD  9:30-11 a.m.
• Telephone Dr. Customer Service Series – From Curt to Courteous  1:30-3:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 20

• Strengths 101  9-11 a.m.
• Is Stress Stressing You Out?  1-2 p.m.

Tuesday, May 25 | Telephone Dr. Customer Service Series – Five Forbidden Phrases  9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 26 | Self Understanding & Its Place in the Workplace  2-4 p.m.

For descriptions or to register for any of these sessions, go to www.grcc.edu/currentlearning

Raider Salute to Jim VanDokkumburg, Cheryl Cole, Nicole Luster, George Waite, Bob Green, Bob Partridge, Faye Davis, Danelle Sedore and Derek DeVries

This Raider Salute came from the Purchasing Department:

“The Purchasing Department salutes Raider extraordinaire Jim VanDokkumburg!! Jim contributed a dynamite GRCC Green Roof presentation to today’s “Meet The Buyers – Business Opportunity Forum” held at the Tassell MTEC. Jim’s presentation was part of a panel discussion focused on sustainability, the triple bottom line. The presentation was very well received and the accolades are still being articulated.

Purchasing also salutes Cheryl Cole, Nicole Luster, George Waite, Bob Green and SDT members Bob Partridge, Faye Davis, Danelle Sedore and Derek DeVries for their support of the event! You all are the very best!”

GRCC in the News: 5/14/10

Longtime Grand Rapids Press sports writer Gary Bond dead at age 55
By Nate Reens | The Grand Rapids Press | May 14, 2010, 1:30AM

GRAND RAPIDS — When Gary Bond dropped by a coach or sports executive’s office to talk about a team, it was understood he was all business. At least until the interview ended. That’s when the longtime Press sports writer would soften his stance, flash a smile and the conversation would flow. […] At various times, he was the beat reporter for Grand Rapids Community College football, the now-defunct Grand Rapids Hoops basketball team and the Grand Rapids Rampage arena football team. He was laid off from his full-time job in February, but continued to work for the paper as a freelance writer.   (More)