Public universities in Virginia, as in many states, have generally not paid much attention to diversity among their suppliers. For years, state expenditures for outside contracts went to the usual suspects--White contractors from well-established companies. Four years ago, former Governor Mark Warner, a progressive Democrat from the high technology sector, launched a statewide study to determine if there were disparities in how contracts were awarded. He later ordered colleges and other agencies that make purchases for the state to make sure that they were including minority and female-owned businesses when they solicited services. Bill Cooper, a publishing industry veteran and entrepreneur, was recruited in 2005 by the University of Virginia as a diversity supply officer. He quickly set about collecting information about the university's vendors and their contracts, and created an updated list of minority-owned suppliers who could be contacted when the university invited bids for projects. This article describes how minority-owned businesses are starting to get a share of the university market. It also examines why minority-owned firms and women-owned firms used to represent less opportunities from the university market.