City employees establish connections at minority vendor conference
September 21, 2025
(Talladega, AL) City of Talladega employees Nicole McClurkin, Andrea Garrett and Tameka Ashley attended the Alabama Minority Vendor Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, September 19 - 20, 2025.
The event assisted the city in establishing relationships with local contractors, increasing awareness of Talladega’s bidding process and expanding the number of businesses placing bids for city contracts and services. Guest speakers included television personality Dr. Egypt Sherrod and actor Larenz Tate.
McClurkin, who serves as executive administrative assistant to City Manager Derrick Swanson, said, “Attending the annual minority vendor conference plays an important role in increasing the number of bids the city receives. These events expand our outreach by connecting us with a broader network of qualified vendors who may not have been previously engaged. By fostering these connections, the city not only encourages greater competition but also promotes diversity, innovation, and value in the bidding process, all of which strengthen the services we provide to our community.”
The conference also provides access to executive workshops on grants, strategy development, and marketing, and connects buyers and partners through exchanges and masterclasses on scaling, team building, and finances.