The Acumen - May 2024

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During his 7 years at the District, Murugan has increased spend with Minority and Women Owned Businesses from 22% to 34% utilization. In his 15 years serving in Supplier Diversity roles he has helped Women Owned Businesses obtain over half a Billion dollars in contracts. He is a strong proponent of MWBE’s and small businesses and believes that helping small businesses grow and succeed are the keys to growing our economy and our community. His passion for community service is evident with his involvement in and leadership roles in several of the local Chambers of Commerce and other local organizations. In March of 2012, The Denver Business Journal named Murugan to its Top 40 Under 40 list of Business Leaders in Colorado and in 2014 The Colorado Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission awarded Murugan both its Humanitarian of the Year and Business Social Responsibility Awards. In 2015 COBiz Magazine named him to its list of the Top 25 most influential young professionals in Colorado. DID YOU KNOW?! CBCC offers committees and special interest groups for members to get involved with, including: • Business Policy Cabinet with Senator James Coleman • Public Policy Committee • Membership Committee • Gala Committee • Black Construction Group • Black Retailers Group • Black Professional Services Group Join us today! For more information, please contact Dr. Angelic Cole at dr.angelic.cole@cbcc.biz.

We invite you to learn more about the dynamic CBCC board members.

Director, Office of Business Diversity Denver Public Schools

Meet Murugan Palani Board Member

Murugan Palani is the Director of the Office of Business Diversity at Denver Public Schools. He is a native of Denver and a graduate of the University of Colorado. Murugan is a former Officer in the United States Army with one deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader and Civil Affairs Officer. During his tour of duty he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals, one for heroic actions in intense close quarter combat. Upon completing his service to the United States Army, Murugan accepted a position with Xcel Energy in 2009 to run its Supplier Diversity Program. He later accepted the position of the Director of the Office of Business Diversity for Denver Public Schools in 2016 to help them turn around their procurement equity program.

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The Acumen

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