Supplier Information

Qivliq, a NANA Corporation, Exhibits at the Reservation Economic Summit

Cisco Attends the National Association Center of American Indian Enterprise Development Program, Reservation Economic Summit (RES) 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Continuing with our supplier diversity outreach programs, Cisco participated in the Reservation Economic Summit (RES 2009) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in March. RES is the premier American Indian economic and business development conference in the nation. Attendees include American Indian and indigenous entrepreneurs, tribal economic and business development decision makers, tribal leaders, government and corporate executives, and buyers seeking Indian suppliers and contractors. The event was held over a three-day period, and many successful educational workshops, networking opportunities, and gatherings were part of the program. 

As a corporate sponsor, Cisco donated our booth space to Qivliq, a NANA Corporation. Qivliq works with Cisco Gold Partners in the telecommunications and data center space and is part of our Cisco Refurbishment Resale Program for minority-owned businesses that are channel partners.

Over 300 corporations participated in this event. Cisco's Global Supplier Diversity Business Development also participated in the matchmaking meetings held in the Procurement Pavilion. We had a full day of prescheduled meetings booked to meet American Indian-owned businesses, match them with current sourcing opportunities, and engage them in registering with Cisco's CVM portal located on our website. Several of the companies we met onsite have been contacted and will be participating in follow-up meetings directly with sourcing managers at Cisco in San Jose.

The conference was structured with two days of business information and training delivered through 16 90-minute sessions geared specifically for native entrepreneurs, tribal enterprises, and organizations wanting to do business with the American Indian Business Trade Fair. The trade fair provides opportunities for American Indian suppliers to meet corporate and government buyers to market their organizations and companies, network, and negotiate potential contracts.

There were approximately 3500 attendees, and the American Indian Marketplace was an exhibit not to be missed. Several tribes participated in the marketplace displaying and selling their unique cultural items.