ITASCA, IL /diversitybusiness.com/ On Thursday, April 18, Boise Office Solutions was recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Administration as one of three first-time recipients of its Accolade Award. The State launched the award program to honor its private sector partners that have demonstrated superior minority involvement in state procurement and construction related spending. Boise Office Solutions received the award in the category of general procurement.

"In addition to increasing economic opportunities for minority businesses, other criteria for the award included providing innovative techniques for achieving supplier diversity," said Godwin Amegashie, director of Wisconsin Minority Business Program. "Boise Office Solutions Milwaukee location created a specialized program for the Department of Administration that includes custom reporting and stocked products."

Godwin Amegashie and Linda Seemeyer, deputy secretary of Wisconsin Department of Administration, presented the award to Ken Cupp, senior vice president of U.S. Contract Operations for Boise Office Solutions, and Wanda Lewis, manager of minority business development and supplier diversity for Boise Office Solutions.

"Our goal at Boise Office Solutions is to provide customers with exceptional, personalized service. We also have a commitment to supplier diversity that dates back 30 years," said Cupp. "Receiving the Accolade Award is an exceptional honor that recognizes two of our most important priorities." The Accolade Award was presented at the "Business Opportunities in the Government Sector" (BOGS) workshop sponsored by the State's Department of Administration. The workshop was held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Center.

Boise Office Solutions is committed to the development of businesses owned and operated by minorities and women (MWBE), service disabled veterans and those companies employing people who are developmentally or physically challenged. In 2001, Boise Office Solutions' sales for MWBE products increased by 32 percent.

Boise Office Solutions is a premier multinational distributor of office and technology products, office furniture and paper, with annual sales totaling $3.5 billion. Boise Office Solutions reached domestic e-commerce sales of approximately $800 million in 2001. The company, headquartered in Itasca, Ill., has customers ranging in size from small organizations to multinational corporations. Boise Office Solutions has operations throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico, and serves customers in Europe through a joint venture with Guilbert S.A. The company is recognized for its outstanding commitment to customer service and is the recipient of Gartner Inc.'s inaugural CRM Excellence Award. Boise Office Solutions has demonstrated leadership in supporting minority- and women-owned business development since 1972. For more information, visit http://www.boiseoffice.com .