A focus on Supplier Diversity – Part 2 of 2

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.

Participating in an Historic Event – First Ever US Federal Government Procurement Fair for LGBT Businesses!

Part 1 of 2 of a series around LGBT economic development

On November 15, 2012, it was truly an exciting privilege to attend the first ever Federal Government Procurement Fair for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) owned businesses. The event was organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the certifying body for LGBT business enterprises. And the NGLCC provides a wide range of support services to LGBT-owned businesses as well as for the corporate partners who now include LGBT in the supplier diversity mix.

The afternoon session was appropriately held at the US Department of Commerce Building in Washington, DC. Before the 50 to 60 LGBT business owners started visiting with the approximately dozen Federal agencies that were represented, we had a dynamic and inspiring 45 minute session with several short addresses.

Dr. Rebecca Blank, the Acting Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of Commerce delivered a compelling speech on

Dr. Rebecca Blank, Acting Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of Commerce

the importance of encouraging LGBT owned business as a key to US economic growth. Dr. Blank spoke of the President’s US Export Initiative and how LGBT-owned business can and should contribute to it. Three of her key points:

• That LGBT entrepreneurs can start businesses that help spur economic growth
• That creative LGBT business owners can develop innovative products and deliver more efficient processes that will help our economy
• LGBT entrepreneurs starting business can help grow jobs

Dr. Blank also praised the work being done by the NGLCC with its US government sanctioned trade mission to Colombia, since LGBT business have special products and expertise that international markets want … and this also helps the US balance of trade.

Gautam Raghaven, White House Liaison to the LGBT community

A second speaker, Gautam Raghaven, White House Liaison to the LGBT community, spoke of the need to continue to stimulate and grow the economy, and that is an issue that LGBT business owners should deeply care about…. because what is good for the economy is good for LGBT people.

Later on this week I will write a second blog connecting several aspects of the LGBT community to our country’s economy.