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Office of Supplier Diversity Kicks Off Mentor-Protégé Program for Small Businesses

Tallahassee, FL – The Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) executed an initial agreement between two certified small business enterprises to launch the Mentor-Protégé Program. This program is designed to help small businesses by pairing up a mentor company with experience in securing government contracts and a protégé company concentrated in a similar industry. United Data Technologies, Inc. (UDT), a certified minority-owned business that specializes in information technology consulting, will serve as the mentor to protégé TriOrb Solutions, LLC, a certified minority- and veteran-owned business.

“Government contracting is a great potential revenue source for a small business,” said Hue Reynolds, Executive Director of OSD. “The Mentor-Protégé Program is a way that we can help foster a working relationship between a company that has experience working with the public sector and a small businesses looking to grow and expand through government contracts. We are thrilled to launch this initiative as it provides an excellent opportunity for small businesses to share best practices with one another.”

“It is a great pleasure to partner with the Office of Supplier Diversity and TriOrb Solutions in the Mentor-Protégé Program,” said Jeffrey J. Engle, Vice President, Government Sector of UDT. “UDT has long been a proponent of supporting other small businesses as they experience the challenges we faced in our early years. The establishment and focused effort put toward this program by OSD demonstrates its continued commitment to finding innovative solutions to assist our diverse businesses in achieving their potential.”

“TriOrb Solutions believes the relationship created by the Office of Supplier Diversity’s mentor program will empower each company to build an alliance, share strategies and unveil new possibilities,” said Joseph Hall II, Founder and CEO of TriOrb Solutions.

The Office of Supplier Diversity is currently accepting certified businesses who are interested in the Mentor-Protégé Program. Interested businesses are appropriately matched by OSD based on their strengths and needs. Once matched, the mentor and protégé work together to gain guidance and feedback, particularly as it relates to government contracting. While the agreement is administered by OSD, the mentor and protégé establish their own goals and work collaboratively to accomplish them. For more information visit the Mentor-Protégé Program website.

The Office of Supplier Diversity certifies and assists Florida-based woman, veteran and minority small business owners in better understanding and securing state government procurement opportunities. For more information about OSD, visit www.dms.myflorida.com/osd.