Chuck Stefanosky with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and A. Bruce Crawley at the Councilwoman's 2019 MED Week event at The Navy Yard
Chuck Stefanosky, director of strategic sourcing and procurement at Independence Blue Cross (Independence), joined Philadelphia City Councilwoman At-Large Blondell Reynolds Brown and other civic and business leaders for the 2019 MED (Minority Enterprise Development) Week.
Held October 8 at the Navy Yard Philadelphia, Stefanosky shared his thoughts on how to build a strong supplier diversity program and – for the many entrepreneurs in the room – how to grow their businesses.
Six Tips
Stefanosky’s number one tip to attendees was “get to know your customer.” He added, “We want to know you before we need you.”
- Get to Know Your Customer. Meet your customer prior to receiving the RFP.
- Get Organized. Create an environment that allows time and space to complete tasks.
- Be Creative. Look for ways to stand out from your competition. Be open to new approaches to your business.
- Stay Focused. Building a brand takes time. Stay focused on your goals.
- Provide Great Service. Clients will come to you instead of going to your competition.
- Be Consistent. Create positive habits that will help you succeed in the long run.
Joining Stefanosky on the panel were:
- Prema Gupta, senior vice president, Navy Yard
- Spencer Wright, owner, Harness the Sun, LLC
The morning session also included:
- A keynote address from Michelle Snow, president and CEO of the Michelle Snow Company, LLC
- Remarks from Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
- Special salute to former Philadelphia City Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr.
Media contact:
Kathleen Conlon
215-241-4576
kathleen.conlon@ibx.com