Programs
Visit the Do Business at USC page for more information on our supplier opportunities and programs.
Opportunities
We facilitate equitable opportunities to compete for contracts across our Schools and Divisions: Business Services, Facilities Management, Construction, and USC Keck Hospitals. We encourage you to apply using the USC Supplier Interest Form. Upon completion, you will be notified of future opportunities and programs.
Local Support
Through our Trojan Shop Local initiative, USC cultivates and nurtures a growing network of local and small businesses. By leveraging the support of the Trojan community, we meaningfully honor our commitment to equity and economic opportunity for all.
Education
The USC Bridges to Business Success program. provides business leaders with technical resources and training. This educational partnership program offers access to both USC and community networks, along with current information on emerging trends to further amplify one’s success.
Sustainability
Buying Green is a USC priority and one of the ways we exercise our commitment to sustainability. We encourage our business partners to “go green,” as well, by taking advantage of educational programs on sustainable business practices and accessing information from Business Services and the USC Office of Sustainability about sustainable goods and services.
Consortium
Partners
The OBO Consortium is comprised of key community and economic inclusion leaders who provide insights and opportunity partnerships.
LEADERSHIP
Dr. Michèle G. Turner, Associate Vice President
The USC Office of Business Opportunity is led by Dr. Michèle G. Turner, an accomplished higher education administrator, with extensive entrepreneurial and corporate expertise.
Dr. Turner brings a unique set of abilities and perspectives to her role. Her former corporate experience includes business management consulting in tech innovation at IBM. As a founder/owner and general manager in the healthcare industry sector for over 25 years, she is able to deeply understand and connect with the aspirations, opportunities, and challenges of businesses ownership, growth and excellence. Dr. Turner employs best-practice thinking and creativity to achieve success honed from long-termed resiliency as a business and community leader, as well as from foundational skillsets in business process re-engineering, demand-focused supply chain management, and mass-customization principles. Through her academic leadership and research (and lived experience), Dr. Turner also brings an informed lens regarding inclusion and diversity theory, practice and impact.
Dr. Turner received a B.S. in Entrepreneurship Studies and Finance from the USC Marshall School of Business, an MBA from the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management, and an Ed.D. from the USC Rossier School of Education, studying abroad in Qatar, UAE, and Hong Kong, at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She has been married to fellow Trojan Dr. Alan Turner for 41 years, is a proud mother of Trojan sons, and is a new grandmother of future Trojans. She has mentored countless students and business founders, and also enjoys gardening in her free time. You can reach Dr. Turner at mmturner@usc.edu
Gary D. Brown, Program Specialist
The Trojan Shop Local program is managed by Gary D. Brown
As a USC administrator for over six years, Mr. Brown brings a wealth of experience in diversity program support and management. He is a Los Angeles native and former business owner who has experienced the challenges — and successes – of a minority small business owner in our surrounding communities. Mr. Brown has been integral in establishing practices supporting diverse vendors at USC and he continues to steward long-term USC business relationships. He is enthusiastic about helping develop and manage new supplier development programs that positively impact opportunities and pathways for MWVBE suppliers.
Mr. Brown received his B.S. degree from the USC Marshall School of Business in Management and Organization and a master’s degree from USC Bovard College in Hospitality & Tourism. Mr. Brown can reached at garyb@usc.edu.
The USC Office of Business Opportunity is an initiative managed by the USC University Relations Department.