Meet Some of Penn's Local and Diversity Suppliers

EMSCO Scientific Enterprises Inc ("EMSCO") - is among the longest operating local Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) serving the University of Pennsylvania.  Founded in 1980 by Evalind Minor, an African-American woman, EMSCO began doing business with Penn in the early 1980’s.   The company is located in the West Parkside section of West Philadelphia with 18,000 square feet of showroom and warehouse space.  Over the decades of doing business with Penn, EMSCO has been a valued supplier of laboratory research supplies, protective clothing, laboratory equipment and other related products.  The prominence of the Penn relationship has aided directly and indirectly to the growth of EMSCO over the years as it continues to expand nationally.  Penn’s business has helped EMSCO acquire numerous reputable accounts, including leading pharmaceutical companies and universities.  In addition to these customer relationships, the Penn relationship has facilitated meaningful business relationships and partnerships with major industry suppliers and leaders.  EMSCO has recently restructured ownership, maintaining its local presence in West Philadelphia as well as its certified African-American owned status.  The successful restructuring has resulted in seamless continuity of business, and has helped secure and increase local quality jobs and opportunities for years to come.

Evolve Advisors, founded by a Wharton MBA, is a certified minority and woman-owned management consulting firm which provides comprehensive, innovative business solutions in the areas of strategic planning, business development, project management, and organizational design. Evolve works in partnership with its clients to assess baseline needs, and design custom business processes so that technology and human capital are leveraged in the most efficient and effective manner. Evolve aids its clients every step of the way to achieve their strategic objectives. Since 2014, Evolve has been engaged in a number of projects at Penn. Most notably, Evolve is providing project management services on a large, multi-year project focused on modernizing systems that manage student data in order to deliver efficient, user-friendly services.

Since 2009, FASUR Technologies has been providing comprehensive on-site and remote IT services to Penn's Information Systems and Computing (ISC) Division. FASUR'S services and expertise span a variety of areas namely Enterprise Applications, Database Management, QA Testing, and Performance Testing. FASUR's renowned services and innovations have secured a diverse and prestigious clientele across a variety of industries that include higher education, finance and banking, E-Commerce, the U.S. federal government, software, and social media.

Mia & Me Catering - is a local, African American-owned caterer that has been providing services to the University of Pennsylvania since 2012. Mia & Me Catering was largely discovered by Penn through the Enterprise Center and the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises.  Owner and chef, Will Johnson, brings an insurmountable level of passion and creativity to every event. The ultimate goal of Mia & Me Catering is to provide every client with an event to remember.  For this reason, each client is provided with exclusive attention to detail from start to finish.  Mia & Me’s staff brings a wealth of knowledge from years of working in the food industry and enjoys providing exceptional service to all of its clients and guests.

PPT Consulting is a regional, woman-owned IT and management consulting firm specializing in the enablement of IT and business initiatives from planning through execution.  PPT stands for People, Process, and Technology because the firm believes that these three elements are present in every successful initiative and its ability to enable clients' success is achieved by addressing each through a holistic methodology.  Having our roots in the Big 5 consulting industry, PPT has provided high-quality professional service to some of the largest and most discriminating clients in the world.  The PPT Consulting model is comprised of the best of both big firm quality and real world industry experience and it has been providing services at the University of Pennsylvania since 2014.  All of its engagements include senior level oversight and it operates with an attitude that "nothing less than excellence" is acceptable.  PPT’s core services include:  Project & Program Management, Process Improvement & Optimization, Strategy & Transformation, Change Enablement, Business Continuity Management, Software & Technology Selection

Visual Sound Inc. - Visual Sound is a woman-owned business headquartered in Broomall, PA.  Founded in 1967 by Wharton School graduate, John Bogosian, Visual Sound is a leading audiovisual solutions provider specializing in product sales, systems integration, audiovisual rental, staging, and event production. Visual Sound has fully staffed offices in Harrisburg, PA, Baltimore, MD, and on-campus at the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine Auditorium. Visual Sound supports over 300 product lines, including audiovisual technology in classrooms, auditoriums, lecture halls, boardrooms, gymnasiums, huddle spaces, and much more.

Wash Cycle Laundry, Inc. – Founded by Wharton graduate Gabriel Mandujano, Wash Cycle Laundry began doing business with Penn in 2011.  WCL is a triple bottom line company specializing in green laundry services, notably performing laundry pickup and delivery by bicycle.  Penn recognized that this is not only green, but a tremendously innovative way to serve urban laundry needs.  Further, through its approach to hiring and people, WCL helps make a positive impact to those entering the work force from vulnerable circumstances -- over half of its employees were previously chronically unemployed, and over one-quarter have histories of incarceration.  While its contributions to the community and the planet are compelling alone, its overall business value to the University has earned WCL preferred contract supplier status at Penn.  Since its startup in Philadelphia in 2010, WCL has expanded its business significantly, now serving the metropolitan areas of Washington D.C. and Austin, Texas, and anticipates opening  other markets opening soon.