Governor Pat Quinn joined state officials to promote equal economic opportunity programs available for businesses and to encourage diversity in state government contracting. More than 500 people attended the Illinois Department of Central Management Services’ (CMS) Business Diversity Summit, where Acting Director Malcolm Weems and experts from state government highlighted vendor certification processes and support services offered by CMS and other state and federal agencies. Officials discussed programs for small businesses, and businesses owned by minorities, women and persons with disabilities, and underscored procurement rules regarding veterans’ preference in contracting and hiring at the state.