Although the conference was billed as 2012 Polk Minority Vendor Day, it was much greater than that, according to Cedric Joseph, director of supplier diversity for the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The event took place July 27 in the Lakeland Technology Building at Polk State College.

“What’s transpired is, it’s not just minorities, it’s for everybody,” said Joseph. Having just completed its third year, he said he has seen the event transformed in its brief lifespan. “It’s morphed from how to do business with Polk County to helping people understand how to improve their business practices.”