Diversity Resource Network
- The DRN TeamOur business is connecting yours.
Edwin PerezAn entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in sales, governmental procurement and supplier diversity both in the private and public sector. As KeySpan Energy Minority and Woman Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Key Accounts Manager, Ed was responsible for the development of the M/WBE market segment for the company and assisting M/WBE’s in business development. Ed also served as Director, Strategic Business and Diversity Relations for the Avis Budget Group. In this capacity he managed the team’s process of identifying potential disadvantaged, minority and women-owned business enterprise suppliers and assisted them in implementing business opportunities at Avis and Budget airport locations throughout the country. As Director of the Suffolk County Office on Minority Affairs, Ed created Suffolk County’s M/WBE certification program and supplier directory to identify qualified M/WBE businesses that could bid on county capital projects and be utilized by prime contractors for the fulfillment of government M/WBE compliance requirements. Ed also created Suffolk County’s first ever bonding mentoring program that prepared small, minority and women-owned businesses to become bonded as well as bid on capital projects valued up to $250K without bonding requirements.
Karen SclafaniA corporate attorney with over 35 years experience providing legal and consulting services to both major corporations and small women-owned enterprises. Having served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer of Avis Budget Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 vehicle rental company and government contractor, Karen understands the corporate mandate for supplier diversity and the RFP process. Her expertise includes D/M/WBE certification, RFP responses, contract review, corporate housekeeping and compliance. Karen currently serves on the New York certification committee of the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization, a partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the largest third-party certification entity for women-owned businesses.
