In January 2010, Governor Patrick signed Executive Order 519, which formally created the Office of Access and Opportunity (OAO) as an office within the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.

The purpose of the Office of Access and Opportunity is to promote non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all aspects of state government, including but not limited to, employment, procurement, and policy relative to state programs, services, and activities.

In partial fulfillment of this purpose, the Office of Access and Opportunity organized the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Summit, which was held Friday, June 25, 2010 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. This day-long event was designed to connect minority and women businesses to a range of information that would facilitate their access to contract opportunities, access to capital, and access to technical assistance / business development services and more.

I would like to thank the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation for their sponsorship of the Summit.

Ronald G. Marlow
Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity