Tag Archives: Jennifer Brown Consulting

A focus on Supplier Diversity – Part 2 of 2

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Last week I published part 1 (link) of this two part series by summarizing an online SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) article in which I was one of a handful of industry experts extensively quoted. In the article, “Diverse Suppliers Can Lead to Diverse Talent” by Rebecca R. Hastings, the main theme was that supplier diversity initiatives do have a strong connection to similar efforts to recruit and retain the best employees via the widest possible diverse pool of candidates.

In this follow on blog, I am providing links (underlined bolded titles) to a few more resources and articles on this supplier diversity topic.

ARTICLE 1: “How to Engage LGBT ERGs in Supplier Diversity” by Consultant Jennifer Brown (Jennifer Brown Consulting.) Jennifer, also extensively quoted in the SHRM article mentioned above, authored this article where she summarizes feedback she had received from several Fortune 500 companies on how they leverage their LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Employee Resource Groups to assist with their LGBT supplier diversity execution. These learnings are easily transportable to other diversity constituencies such as women-owned and black-owned businesses.

Carla Traci Preston, Director of Supplier Diversity Development, Ford Motor Company

Carla Traci Preston, Director of Supplier Diversity Development, Ford Motor Company


ARTICLE 2: “Ford Puts Supplier Diversity Into Overdrive” by Jeffrey Cattel. This article provides an in depth discussion with Carla Traci Preston, director of supplier diversity development at Ford Motor Company. Ms. Preston discusses the important link to economic development of historically under-utilized minority businesses and the leadership role that large corporations like Ford have in helping fuel wide-spread economic growth. She also shares some of her own personal story of how she got involved in supplier diversity, some specific execution points from Ford, and suggestions for other companies wanting to expand their supplier diversity efforts.

ARTICLE 3: “First Ever US Federal Government Procurement Fair for LGBT Business.” This was a blog I published in December, 2012 after being a participant in this historic event held in November at the US Department of Commerce Building in Washington, DC. In addition to interacting with about a dozen procurement representatives from various government agencies, we also heard the compelling logic for this move by the US administration from Acting Secretary of Commerce Dr. Rebecca Blank and Gautum Raghaven, White House Liaison to the LGBT Community.

Continue to look for additional development in 2013 around supplier diversity and its importance to helping grow the economy across all sectors.

A focus on Supplier Diversity – Part 1 of 2

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As I kick off a new year of business for Total Engagement Consulting, I will start where I left off at the end of 2012. As the year came to a close, I seemed to be involved in various items around the hot growing area of Supplier Diversity. As companies and governments seek to find the widest selection of qualified suppliers to deliver cost-effective and innovative products and services, it makes great business sense to focus on a supplier diversity program that throws out the net to encompass the widest possible range of suppliers.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management, representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management, representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries.


In Mid-December, an online SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) article was published where I was one of a handful of industry experts extensively quoted. Here is a link to that article, “Diverse Suppliers Can Lead to Diverse Talent” by Rebecca R. Hastings. NOTE: you need to be SHRM member to access the article, one of the benefits of joining SHRM! Ms. Hastings also provides a lot of useful data from an Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and ties the data in nicely to her main points

The main theme of this article is that supplier diversity efforts do have a strong connection to similar efforts to recruit and retain the best employees via the widest possible diverse pool of candidates. Some of the particular points that I made in my interview with Ms. Hastings which were included in the article included:
• Though the diversity procurement function may reside in an organization’s procurement function or human resources function, the two areas must team closely together in these efforts.
• Companies should promote their diversity procurement efforts to be able to get the best suppliers from the widest possible pool.
• Federal and state government efforts around supplier diversity have really helped the economic development of minority-owned businesses.
• When employees know that their company is reaching a diverse range of suppliers, that will have a positive impact on their productivity, engagement, and recruitment.

Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer is a certified diverse supplier (LGBT-BE) via the NGLCC

Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer is a certified diverse supplier (LGBT-BE) via the NGLCC

In addition to myself, another LGBT-BE (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Business Enterprise) certified via the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) consultant, Jennifer Brown of Jennifer Brown Consulting, was quoted. We are both participating in the newest growing area of supplier diversity – LGBT owned businesses.

Early next week I will publish part 2 of this series which will include useful links to other recently publish articles around supplier diversity.