DETROIT—The General Retirement System of the City of Detroit and the Police and Fire Retirement System of the city of Detroit (Detroit Retirement Systems), announced that they, along with other existing investors including the gaming affiliates of Rivers Casino Chairman Neil Bluhm and Walton Street Capital, have participated in a successful recapitalization of the Rivers Casino located in Pittsburgh.

For 33 years, the Western Pennsylvania Minority Supplier Development Council, formerly the Pittsburgh Regional Purchasing Council has sponsored the Business Opportunity Fair. This year the 34th annual confab was predicted to be one of the best Opportunity Fair events hosted by the WPMSDC.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN—Affiliates of the Western Pennsylvania Minority Supplier Development Council cut the ribbon to start the Business Opportunity Fair at the entrance of the Monroeville Convention Center.

Emphasizing the focal point of the organization and conference, Gary L. Evans, chairman of the WPMSDC board, pointed out that the purpose of the day was for participants to make new contacts and connections.

“Today is about building business relationships between minority-owned businesses, major corporations and public agencies,” he explained.

Government procurement

JUNE 9—The Small Business Development Center of Saint Vincent College will host “Grow Your Business Through Government Procurement” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe. This free half-day seminar will give participants the opportunity to hear from government agencies and prime contractors on how to do business with their organizations. For more information, call 724-537-4572 or e-mail abdc@st­vin­cent.edu.

Joset B. Wright, a former procurement executive, has been named president of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Wright will succeed Harriet R. Michel, who will retire June 30 after 22 years at the helm of the corporate membership organization.

JOSET B. WRIGHT

“We are pleased to have a leader of Wright’s caliber as the next president of NMSDC,” said Richard A. Hughes, chairman of the NMSDC executive committee, who led the national search committee. “Her executive experience, knowledge of procurement and strong understanding of the value of minority supplier development will be instrumental in NMSDC’s expansion.”