Towson University vendor fair provides opportunity for local, small, minority-, women-owned businesses to connect with university community

Certified vendors are invited to register now for June 12 event

By TOWSON UNIVERSITY on April 16, 2024

Aerial view of Towson University and uptown Towson
Vendors in the Towson community are invited to register for the June 12 event. (Caleb Smith | Towson University)

Towson University will hold its first vendor fair on June 12, from 1–4:30 p.m., in the University Union. The Towson University Vendor Fair is an opportunity for campus and other local affiliate program managers and procurement representatives to explore products and services, with a focus on local, small and minority- and women-owned businesses. Participating vendors have the benefit of learning about upcoming contracting opportunities.

“As an anchor institution, we understand our vital role in the economic growth and development of the community around us,” says Chanel Franze, manager of business diversity and supplier inclusion in the Office of Procurement. “By hosting this vendor fair, local, small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses can connect with those making purchasing decisions at TU and in the community to build relationships and hopefully secure some contracts.”

The event allows vendors to get their products and services in front of representatives from TU, University System of Maryland universities and local government agencies.

Businesses who have at least one certification (SBR, VSBE and/or MBE) should register before April 30. 

For businesses that do not have a certification and would like to apply for one, TU is offering a lunch and panel discussion to provide strategies to apply for those certifications and work with state agencies and anchor institutions, like Towson University. Registration is required. 

“We hope the vendors in our community will join us at the vendor fair to build their networks and encourage our TU community to connect with and consider these vendors the next time they make a purchase,” says Ardys Russakis, director of business engagement and operations in the office of Strategic Partnerships & Applied Research at TU. “Opportunities like these help us connect with community organizations and diversify overall procurement activities.”

For more information about the vendor fair and business diversity and supplier inclusion, click here or email .

For media inquiries, email Jamie Abell at .

About Towson University
Towson University is Maryland’s university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, TU is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, TU’s momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast’s cultural and economic epicenters, TU is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. TU meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.