Throughout September, members of UPST proudly represented UMass at various prestigious conferences, symposiums, and expos. Catch a glimpse of their experiences below, and be sure to follow UPST on LinkedIn for even more updates!
Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) Expo
On September 19th, a diverse team of category managers, strategic sourcing specialists, and business associates attended MHEC’s highly anticipated annual expo at the DCU Center in Worcester. With this year's "Back to the Future" theme, the event dazzled with exciting installations and provided a fantastic opportunity for the team to connect with both current and potential suppliers. It was an unforgettable experience that fused fun with forward-thinking insights!
Jillian Warren, Executive Assistant, poses in the infamous DeLorean at the MHEC Expo.
HubSpot INBOUND ‘24
Ashley Hunter represented UMass at one of the most buzzworthy events of the year—HubSpot’s INBOUND conference, held in Boston’s vibrant Seaport district. This three-day extravaganza was packed with workshops on cutting-edge topics like AI, content marketing, and evolving office cultures. With star-studded appearances by Serena Williams and Ryan Reynolds, INBOUND ‘24 wasn’t just informative—it was electrifying!
INBOUND sign at the entrance of the BCEC.
Ashley Hunter poses in the neon light instillation at the MHEC Expo.
NEU 3rd Annual Supplier Diversity in Higher Education Symposium
UMass takes pride in ensuring our procurement reflects the communities we serve. On September 24th, category managers and strategic sourcing specialists attended Northeastern University’s 3rd Annual Supplier Diversity in Higher Education Symposium. The team actively engaged with diverse suppliers, sharing the benefits of working with a state institution and discussing upcoming opportunities.
Bill Mannix (Category Manager), Alex Therkelsen (Category Manager), and Evanthia Tully (Strategic Sourcing Specialist) engage with a vendor at the NEU Supplier Diversity in Higher Education Symposium.
A special highlight was our very own Chief Procurement Officer, David Cho, who spoke on an impactful panel about Tier 1 & Tier 2 spending, sharing insights on how we can break down barriers and create more opportunities for diverse businesses.
David Cho, Chief Procurement Officer, poses with Margarita Polanco of DPR Construction (left) and Beyazmin Jiménez of Northeastern University.