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Purchasing Office Vendor Fairs Attended By Over Two Thousand - Raffle Winners Announced

May 15, 2006

Approximately 2,200 faculty and staff from a schools and departments across the University met more than 70 preferred University-wide suppliers at the sixth annual Purchasing Office Vendor Fairs, held at the Morningside campus on March 22 and the CUMC on April 5.

"We heard from many of those who joined us that this was the most successful vendor fair to date," said Deborah Bryant, fair organizer and Executive Assistant in the University Purchasing Office.

The fairs provide departmental representatives with first-hand information on the latest products and services offered by preferred suppliers representing a variety of industries and services, including answering service companies, medical and lab suppliers, hotels, and travel agencies. The fairs also afforded the opportunity to meet suppliers in person, share ideas and concerns with them, and give them feedback to ensure the highest level of customer service and quality.

Attendees were invited to register for giveaways, which were provided by participating suppliers and included Dell Ditty MP3 players, digital cameras, an iLife software package, an iPOD, and a Treo Smartphone. The winners, who were selected randomly after both fairs had taken place, were:

• Maria Mosca, Dell Ditty
• Hope Johnson, Dell Ditty
• Nancy Burroughs-Evans, Digital Camera
• Diana Hernandez, Digital Camera
• Richele Jordan, iLife
• Brenda Simonds, iPOD
• Melanie Sola, Treo

Congratulations to these winners, and thanks to all those who joined us! Planning for next year's Vendor Fairs, to be held Spring 2007, will begin in the fall. For more information on vendor fairs and Preferred University-wide Purchasing Agreement vendors, go to www.columbia.edu/purchasing for Purchasing Office staff and vendor contact information.