2016 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity
SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY - DiversityPlus Magazine is pleased to once again honor the winners of the 9th annual 2016 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity award. The women named this year have achieved great success in their organizations in Supplier Diversity, achieving recognition from corporate leaders, colleagues, staff members, and numerous diversity organizations. These are the women who have driven real progress in Supplier and Corporate Diversity programs, taking great pride in helping diverse businesses achieve economic empowerment and business sustainability.
The Women in Power will be honored in the May/June 2016 issue of DiversityPlus Magazine that will be distributed at the 2016 Women's Business Enterprise National Council Conference (WBENC) in Orlando, Florida held June 21-23, 2016. In addition, the awardees will be featured in DiversityPlus' state of the art digital eMagazine that reaches over 127,000 readers in the United States, European Union, and seven other countries. The description of accomplishments for each woman will also remain available on the
www.diversityplus.com website for one year, and everyone is encouraged to review the information in the hope it sparks innovative ideas for expanding Supplier Diversity.
Each of the women have achieved success in her own unique way. Some chose to work internally in order to build a culture of diversity and garner support for including diverse suppliers in every RFP/Bid opportunity. Others have already built strong internal Supplier Diversity programs and are reaching out into communities to connect internal and external efforts. Still others assumed roles in Supplier Diversity programs that were well developed but not growing due to a variety of challenges that could only be overcome with innovative approaches. The women leaders had to regenerate the programs to stimulate growth. All of the women are committed to their responsibilities and view Supplier Diversity initiatives as critical for the modern organization that wants to maintain sustainability in a diverse marketplace.
The meticulous selection process first required a commitment of time and effort by colleagues or coworkers who had to nominate a woman corporate diversity leader. There were
139 nominations this year, indicating the level of contribution the women leaders are making within their respective organizations. Each nominee then submitted a bio and completed a set of questions that explored what they believed was the key to their success in the supplier diversity strategy implemented within their organization, the diversity success stories they were most proud of, and how senior management support for diversity made a difference. The DiversityPlus Magazine staff researched additional information on the nominees, and questionnaires and information was passed to an editorial team who had the difficult task of narrowing the list of nominees to 25 names.
Each year the Supplier Diversity programs mature some more, and this year is no different. The focus now is on bringing buying decision-makers across the organization into the effort, so the Top 25 Women in Power have worked on networking and bringing people together to develop a common mindset. It is the only way true progress can be made in expanding Supplier Diversity programs because programs do not work in a vacuum. All buyers and leaders need to consider Supplier Diversity as present and essential in every sourcing and procurement conversation, even when a diversity professional is not present.
It is with great pleasure that DiversityPlus Magazine presents the 2016 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity. These are the corporate movers and shakers who drive diversity progress through their dedication to people. They want to improve lives, generate economic progress, and promote business development and innovation. Every day on the job, the women are rigorously making the business case for diversity, demonstrating that diversity really is the right thing to do.
DiversityPlus magazine is one of the nation's leading diversity publications that is focused on the most current and impactful thinking about diverse supplier relationships. The subscriber base targets minority suppliers, and corporate purchasing and supplier diversity executives at worldwide firms. For more information about the 2016 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity or DiversityPlus magazine, visit
www.diversityplus.com or call Steven Surujballi at 973-275-0142 ext. 702.
Nedra Dickson
Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Lead
Accenture
Nedra Dickson
Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Lead
Nedra Dickson Creates Global SD Presence for Accenture
As the Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Lead for Accenture, Nedra Dickson maximizes procurement opportunities with diverse businesses as suppliers and subcontractors within 16 countries. She strongly believes there is a business case for supplier diversity, a critical point for garnering senior management support and commitment. She works closely with the chief purchasing officer who is hands on in the program and a key mentor in the Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program. The program has graduated more than 75 diverse suppliers, many of whom were then integrated into Accenture’s supply chain.
Nedra is very active in several supplier diversity capacities. She holds four board seats for community organizations, including the Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council, the Greater Women’s Business Council, and others. She has been recognized as one of Atlanta’s Top 25 Women in their Female Success Factor Series and is frequently invited to speak on global supplier diversity and sustainability panels. Nedra has extensive experience in technology management and brings a state-of-the-art technology perspective to supplier diversity.
Favorite Quote:
"There’s a pure and simple business case for supplier diversity: Companies that are more diverse are more successful” — Mindy Grossman
Veronica Johnson
Supplier Diversity Specialist in Procurement Operations
ADM
Veronica Johnson
Supplier Diversity Specialist in Procurement Operations
Veronica Johnson Grows SD by Building Strong Supplier Partnerships
Veronica Johnson is a supplier diversity specialist in procurement operations at Archer Daniels Midland Company. She has been recognized for her genuine concern for the well-being of others and her ability to exceed the challenges of increasing diverse spend, corporate visibility, and expanding market share. She attributes the success of the supplier diversity strategy to the building of strong partnerships and the sharing of successes across business units. The sharing enables her colleagues to better understand the competitive edge that diverse suppliers offer in terms of quality, price, and deliverables.
Veronica believes Supplier Diversity success is not simply found in bid awards. Great success is seen when a sourcing team decided not to include diverse suppliers in a bid but changed their minds after many conversations and allowed the diverse suppliers to present. The end result was that diverse suppliers impressed the sourcing teams with their product knowledge, capabilities, and cost. Veronica is very active as a board member for several organizations supporting diversity, and coaches and mentors diverse suppliers.
Favorite Quote:
“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” — Marion Wright Edelman
Cheryl Smith
Director, Portfolio Pricing
Ahold USA
Cheryl Smith
Director, Portfolio Pricing
Cheryl Smith Brings Diverse Suppliers and AUSA Decision-Makers Together
Cheryl Smith, director of portfolio pricing at Ahold USA (AUSA), has been instrumental in developing and expanding the supplier diversity initiative in her current role and her previous role as director of supplier diversity. She introduced the Supplier Diversity Day event two years ago that caters to diverse vendors that have products for resale and are not currently doing business with AUSA. The event attracted over 80 new businesses, giving each vendor an opportunity to present their product line to the appropriate AUSA category team.
“Cheryl has created a platform for customers to experience fantastic products from some very exciting, diverse suppliers,” said Nick Bertram, senior vice president of merchandising strategy & support “Everyone is winning because of what she built.”
To grow sales with diverse—owned businesses, Cheryl worked across the AUSA organization to educate managers on supplier diversity and garner their support. She regularly created opportunities for diverse suppliers to meet with proper company stakeholders who make decisions regarding supplier products and services.
Favorite Quote:
SUCCESS isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you INSPIRE others to do. — Anonymous
Jillnell Joiner
Senior Supplier Diversity Manager
American Red Cross
Jillnell Joiner
Senior Supplier Diversity Manager
Jillnell Joiner Travels the Country to Expand the National American Red Cross Supplier Diversity Initiative
Jillnell Joiner travels throughout the country to put on workshops about “How to Do Business with American Red Cross.” As the senior supplier diversity manager, she uses the workshops as a catalyst for connecting with and for training potential WBEs/MBEs. The workshops were started in 2015 in collaboration with six NMSDC Council offices. Suppliers attending any of the 16 scheduled workshops learn how to do business with the American Red Cross, including how to register on the portal and how to communicate with the senior supplier diversity manager. Each workshop includes the participation of a category manager or director who speaks shares about current sourcing opportunities.
Diversity success depends on senior management support, according to Jillnell. She is proud of the fact that the American Red Cross executive director of strategic sourcing and the senior vice Manager of Supplier Diversity & Business Development of Diversity & Inclusion services are warriors for supplier diversity. Senior management works directly with Jillnell to maintain a successful supplier diversity program. Jillnell is a tireless advocate, liaison, and go-to person for diverse vendors who wish to do business with the American Red Cross.
Favorite Quote:
“I love what I do and I do what I love” — Jillnell Joiner
J'nelle Clements
Supplier Diversity Manager
AstraZeneca
J'nelle Clements
Supplier Diversity Manager
J'nelle Clements Grows SD by Changing Mindsets at AstraZeneca
J'nelle Clements is the supplier diversity manager at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. She manages a strategic-level supplier diversity program that is in full compliance with federal laws. She believes her greatest successes revolve around providing opportunities for suppliers to meet with the appropriate organizational decision-makers. She experiences great joy when meetings lead to opportunities for suppliers, who normally would not have this kind of access, to compete and win business. The meetings between diverse suppliers and organizational buyers are the result of J’nelle’s ongoing efforts to change the mindset and culture at AstraZeneca.
To grow the supplier diversity program internally and connect with the community externally, J’nelle is very active in the local MSDC, WBEC Chapters, the National Association of Women Business Owners, and others. She also sits on the Board of the Diversity Alliance for Science, Claymont Community Center and the Delaware Chapter of the Institute of Supply Management. She is a recipient of the Delaware Today’s Women in Business Award.
Favorite Quote:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
Alithia Bruinton
Director, AT&T Supplier Diversity Organization
AT&T
Alithia Bruinton
Director, AT&T Supplier Diversity Organization
Alithia Bruinton Cultivates Diverse Supplier Relationship at AT&T
As the Director of the AT&T supplier diversity organization, Alithia Bruinton developed and implemented strategies to produce exceptional business results in supplier diversity. Working her way up through the organization, she now leads the Channel Management and Prime Supplier Team, among other duties. The Prime Supplier Program is instrumental in meeting and exceeding AT&T’s aggressive 21.5 percent diverse spend goal. Alithia guides the team in creating detailed plans for utilizing diverse suppliers and in managing process improvements for reporting and monitoring results.
The foundation of Alithia’s success lies in the creation of collaborative opportunities for AT&T’s decision-makers and suppliers. The WBE ProSys Information Systems is a good example of a diversity success story. The supplier diversity program was instrumental in helping the supplier develop manufacturer relationships, identifying sourcing opportunities, and championing ProSys internally. AT&T and ProSys now work together to expose diverse suppliers to opportunities in AT&T’s Global Supply Chain organization. The ripple effect of supplier collaborations, coupled with matchmaking events and rigorous program accounting, keep AT&T in a leadership position in supplier diversity.
Favorite Quote:
“We collaborate with innovative suppliers who can take our company to the next level.” — Alithia Bruinton
Monica Billinger
Senior Manager of Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability
Baxter International Inc.
Monica Billinger
Senior Manager of Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability
Monica Billinger Grows Baxter International Supplier Diversity Efforts through Collaboration
Collaboration is the key to the success of the Baxter International Inc. supplier diversity program, according to Monica Billinger, senior manager of global supplier diversity and sustainability. Monica finds it very rewarding to introduce creative programs and innovative pathways to promote diversity. “At Baxter, we believe an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce drives innovation, creates trusted partnerships, and contributes to the success and sustainability of our business and the patients we serve.” Monica is most proud of providing opportunities for viable diverse suppliers to access procurement.
Her team works closely with diverse suppliers, helping them navigate the bidding process and make connections as a result of their developed capabilities. Monica was instrumental in leading Baxter’s supplier diversity fair held earlier this year. Monica currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and the Chicagoland Business Leaders Network. She was named the 2010 Minority Small Business Champion of the Year by the Illinois Small Business Administration.
Favorite Quote:
“The aim of the great leader is not to get people to think more highly of the leader. It’s to get people to think more highly of themselves.” — Bob Moawad
Judy Panayos
Manager, Supplier Relations Programs
Becton Dickinson
Judy Panayos
Manager, Supplier Relations Programs
BD&39;s Judy Panayos Builds Supplier Diversity Program with Transparency
Judy Panayos, manager of supplier relations programs at BD, attributes the success of BD’s supplier diversity program to the integration of supplier diversity into the procurement process. This is achieved by developing an effective communications process and data transparency so that Global Procurement associates are able to embed supplier diversity requirements into all sourcing processes. Judy also developed the Supplier Recognition Program to celebrate high-performing suppliers in the organization. Each year diverse suppliers are represented among the recognized suppliers. The supplier recognition program is commemorating its sixth year in 2016.
BD’s supplier diversity program is rigorously supported by executives and senior management which has committed dedicated resources to the program. Under Judy’s leadership over the last seven years, the supplier diversity program saw significant growth. In her current role, Judy manages supplier programs, including supplier quality management, supplier recognition and sustainable procurement. In 2015, Judy transitioned the supplier diversity program to Jessica Gemmell and continues to coach and advise Jessica in her progress of strengthening and expanding the program.
Favorite Quote:
“Principle Number 1: Everyone makes a difference…At the end of the day, the only question that matters is, ‘What kind of difference did you make?’” — The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn
Anne Leger
Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Technology Process
Boston Scientific
Anne Leger
Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Technology Process
Anne Leger Drives Boston Scientific SD Strategy to Success
Anne Leger, manager, Strategic Sourcing and technology process at Boston Scientific, attributes the success of the company’s supplier diversity strategy to setting realistic, achievable goals for sourcing staff and business partners. The sourcing team is held accountable for meeting and investigating new suppliers, including qualified diverse suppliers in every RFP where possible, and setting an annual diverse business spend goal. Anne believes the full commitment of senior management to the program enables success with the company supporting mentorship programs and attendance at tradeshows, sponsoring of supplier events, and participation on boards of healthcare specific industry organizations.
To help the company meet goals, Anne builds a strong corporate presence by attending industry conferences, networking events, business fairs and supplier-corporate matchmaking events. She engages managers across Boston Scientific and is active in many organizations in order to find prospective suppliers. She holds the vice chair person position at the Healthcare Industry Group. Anne is also active with the NMSDC, GNJohnson Controls, the Center for Woman’s Excellence and the Diversity Alliance for Science.
Favorite Quote:
“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
— Anne Leger
Sharon R. Pinder
President and Chief
Executive Officer
CRMSDC
Sharon R. Pinder
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sharon R. Pinder Brings New Thinking to the CRMSDC
As the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC), Sharon R. Pinder brings a wealth of government and entrepreneurial experience to the position. After her stints in Fortune 100 corporations, Pinder was appointed by Maryland’s governor as the state’s first Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and then later by Baltimore’s Mayor as the director of the mayor’s office of minority and women-owned business development. Pinder successfully spearheaded landmark legislation and developed innovative programs that led to Maryland’s MBE program being a national and international model of excellence.
Pinder also founded the Mid-Atlantic Top 100 MBE Awards Recognition Program to promote and honor MBEs and women in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
Pinder was CEO of The Pinder Group and founder of the non-profit Center for Business Inclusion and Diversity. Pinder strongly believes that the power of relationships married with good public policy will ultimately produce a marketplace that levels the playing field for all business.
Favorite Quote:
Business is about relationships and turning those relationships into revenue…..
— Sharon R. Pinder
Terrez Thompson
Vice President & Global Supplier Diversity
Coca-Cola
Terrez Thompson
Vice President & Global Supplier Diversity
Coca-Cola's Terrez Thompson Develops Highly Capable Diverse Suppliers
Serving as Vice President & Global Supplier Diversity for the Coca-Cola Company, Terrez Thompson is adamant that a supplier diversity strategy only succeeds with executive leadership support and business unit accountability for meeting goals and objectives. Her focus is on high priority categories and opportunities that will sustain and grow over time rather than just yielding the biggest one-time spend. As The Coca-Cola team focuses on attaining $1 billion in 1st tier spend Terrez finds more leverage in focusing on highly capable, innovative diverse suppliers with scale who can deliver and grow from year-to-year.
The recent diversity success Terrez is most proud of is the 2016 re-launch of the new supplier development approach, named The Coca-Cola Company Supplier Diversity Institute (C3SDI). Diverse supplier participants are called Fellows and are some of the most capable suppliers in the industry but need to strengthen their ability to land bid opportunities. The suppliers chosen for the program are highly competitive and have the ability to grow. This is a significant effort to bring diverse suppliers into the company that have a strong desire to join Coca-Cola’s supply chain.
Favorite Quote:
“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” — Jesus Christ
Kendra Burris-Austin
Director, Supplier Diversity
Express Scripts
Kendra Burris-Austin
Director, Supplier Diversity
Kendra Burris-Austin Builds Business Case for SD at Express Scripts
Kendra Burris-Austin has been the director of supplier diversity at Express Scripts for less than two years, spending the time strengthening the business case for the nascent supplier diversity program. She strongly believes that transparent internal and external communication is critical for building a business case and creating advocates who move supplier diversity forward. Her philosophy is that a diverse vendor should be sought for every company product or service purchased. Success depends on including every buyer in the conversation.
One of the diversity success stories Kendra shares involves the supplier AlphaPointe. The company did not have the right machinery to produce bottles, so Express Scripts worked with the company on terms, offering a multi-year contract. AlphaPointe was able to secure financing for the required machinery and hired 10 new sight-impaired employees. This story demonstrates her belief that management commitment is crucial to supplier diversity success because it turns the conversation into action. Kendra sits on the Mid-States MSDC and chairs the St. Louis MBC.
Favorite Quote:
: “It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” — Winston Churchill
Lynn Reddrick
Supplier Diversity Program Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Lynn Reddrick
Supplier Diversity Program Manager
Lynn Reddrick Nurtures SD Program at Federal Reserve Bank of SF
Lynn Reddrick, supplier diversity program manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, nurtures the program through effective communication and by finding opportunities to collaborate and advocate for the bank and the diverse business community. She attributes diversity success to organization-wide support and efforts to provide diverse businesses technical assistance and contracting opportunities. She manages the hosting of at least 10 technical assistance workshops for diverse businesses each year that strive to meet the needs of the businesses and collaboratively develop solutions to address those needs. One of the challenges of growing a supplier diversity program is finding activities that fit within the parameters of the bank’s ethics program, so technical and networking meetings are crucial to success
To connect with the community, Lynn serves on the board of directors for Astra Women’s Business Alliance and the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity. She is also a member of the executive committee for the Bay Area Business Roundtable. Since joining the bank in March 2012, spend with MWBEs has significantly increased from 6 percent to 27 percent.
Favorite Quote:
“If better is possible, then good is not enough.” — George Graziadio
Sherry Diccion
Manager of Supplier Diversity & Business Development
Johnson Controls
Sherry Diccion
Manager of Supplier Diversity & Business Development
Sherry Diccion Utilizes SD Best Practices at Johnson Controls
In her role as the manager of supplier diversity & business development for Johnson Controls’ Automotive Experience Group, Sherry Diccion utilizes supplier diversity best practices to grow and manage over $1 billion in diverse spend. These practices include working with buyers and commodity teams to build project plans and set annual goals; developing and sharing spend reports, and customer summary reports with analysis to evaluate effectiveness toward customers’ goals; conducting quarterly audits of diverse spend data; recognizing buyers for their work in supplier diversity; and implementing a process to solicit purchasing managers’ input to identify high performing diverse suppliers.
Sherry believes the success of the supplier diversity initiative begins with strong senior management support and direction, and initiative integration into the corporate strategy. Diverse suppliers are incorporated into customer solutions, benefiting Johnson Controls and entire communities. Supplier diversity goals originate with the chairman and CEO and are embraced by management. Sherry’s efforts have placed the company among the world’s elite corporations in supplier diversity, the Billion Dollar Roundtable.
Favorite Quote:
“Being successful doesn’t necessarily make you great. What makes you great is when you reach back and help somebody else become great.” — Joel Olsteen
Poppie Parish
Sr. Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion
KeyBank
Poppie Parish
Sr. Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion
KeyBank’s Poppie Parish is a Master at Recognizing SD Opportunities
Poppie Parish is the senior vice president of diversity and Inclusion at KeyBank, overseeing their workforce, workplace and supplier diversity business strategies. She is an early leader in diversity and inclusion, bringing over 40 years of experience in supplier diversity with 15 years spent expanding KeyBank’s initiative. Poppie continually builds a solid network of collaborative relationships with executive leaders and managers across the organization; identifies and leverages industry best practices; fosters a strong alignment with procurement; coaches and mentors diverse employees; and develops partnerships with outside organizations to provide community-based relationships.
An innovative thinker, Poppie focuses on creating internal and external opportunities for diverse suppliers. She is a master at recognizing opportunities for inclusion, and a tireless champion and advocate. Poppie utilizes her experience and knowledge to lead and support actions that continue to build an inclusive workforce, workplace, increase supplier diversity and provide support to diverse clients and communities KeyBank serves.
Favorite Quote:
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
Shaleta Dunn
Director, Diverse Talent and Supplier Programs
ManpowerGroup
Shaleta Dunn
Director, Diverse Talent and Supplier Programs
Shaleta Dunn Sources Diverse Talent and Suppliers for ManpowerGroup
Shaleta Dunn is the director of diverse talent and supplier programs for ManpowerGroup. She has led her company to a leadership position as among the first in the workforce solutions industry to commit to a fully engaged supplier diversity initiative. She works closely with the Supplier Diversity Executive Steering Committee and with the ManpowerGroup Supplier Diversity Business Unit Champions to build a culture of diversity and drive supplier diversity across the enterprise. Shaleta, the Executives and Champions attend national and regional conferences, engaging suppliers in 1:1 sessions, serving as matchmakers, and networking.
Shaleta oversees the Annual Supplier Diversity Roundtable. The signature event creates a forum for diversity partner executives to network and grow their relationships with ManpowerGroup leaders and peers, and learn about industry trends and mentoring activity. The gathering has grown into a complimentary two-and-a-half day event. Shaleta also sources diverse talent able to meet client needs for diverse talent pools. In this capacity, she develops and sustains relationships with recruiters, colleagues and organizations focused on diverse talent.
Favorite Quote:
: “If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction. Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.” — Melinda Gates
Denise Naguib
Vice President, Sustainability and Supplier Diversity
Marriott
Denise Naguib
Vice President, Sustainability and Supplier Diversity
Denise Naguib Drives Global Change through Marriott’s Supplier Diversity Program
As the vice president, sustainability and supplier diversity for Sanofi, Denise Naguib has developed a program that offers opportunities for thousands of diverse-owned businesses across the globe. She defines success equally by spend and by the positive impact the opportunities have on others. She is passionate and committed to further developing and growing diverse businesses as a means of economic empowerment for suppliers who may not have experienced such opportunities before.
Marriott’s commitment to supplier diversity begins with executive leadership and accountability. The company’s board of directors and executive—level committees are focused on the execution of its diversity and inclusion strategy. Denise and her team work closely with organizational leaders to create awareness around diversity and inclusion, specifically as it relates to global supplier diversity. Her philosophy is that no one can expect the world to change if the person does not exhibit, represent and support a transformation. Leading by example drives positive change, and she uses her passion for diversity as a guiding principle for influencing and motivating others every day.
Favorite Quote:
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Carolyn Mosby
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mid-States MSDC
Carolyn Mosby
President and Chief Executive Officer
Carolyn Mosby Brings Outstanding Leadership to the Mid-States MSDC
Carolyn Mosby became the president and chief executive officer of the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council in 2011, and in 2014 was awarded the first Vanguard Award from the NMSDC for outstanding leadership by a regional council president. Her organization is one of 23 councils nationwide that certifies ethnic minority businesses and advocates for the economic well-being and growth of Mid-States MSDC-certified MBEs. Carolyn brought extensive experience to her position having previously served as the chief marketing officer for Kiwanis International and was the first African-American executive in the 100-year old organization. Previously, she held public relations and marketing positions in natural gas, steel, telecommunications, and not-for-profit organizations, and worked for the Indiana Department of Administration.
Carolyn is active in the community, serving on multiple boards of diverse organizations. She is currently the board chairperson for Freetown Village and a member of the Indianapolis Urban League and Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee boards, the Indiana State University Black Alumni Council, Trusted Mentors, and others. Carolyn is also an author, having written her autobiography “Unflappable.”
Favorite Quote:
“Life itself can’t give you joy unless you really will it. Life just gives you time and space it’s up to you to fill it” — Anonymous
Beth Canning
Manager, Supplier Diversity for the Prudential Financial Sourcing & Procurement Group
Prudential
Beth Canning
Manager, Supplier Diversity for the Prudential Financial Sourcing & Procurement Group
Beth Canning Bridges Prudential and Diverse Supplier Community
As the manager of supplier diversity for the Prudential Financial Sourcing & Procurement Group, Beth Canning is the primary contact between Prudential Financial and the diverse supplier community. She has been committed to growing the supplier diversity program for most of her career at Prudential and on a full—time basis since 2000. She has garnered numerous awards including The Women Presidents’ Educational Organization Advocate of the NY Region award in 2015. Beth is also listed as a champion of supplier diversity by a variety of other organizations, including Minority Business News USA and Women’s Enterprise USA.
Beth works to develop meaningful opportunities for diverse suppliers in Prudential’s procurement process. She fosters the company’s core focus on embedding D&I internally and externally. She has been instrumental in bringing diverse suppliers into non-traditional areas within the company, like the Law Department. She is active in the community and currently serves as first vice-chair and executive committee member for the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity. Beth also serves on the board for the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization.
Kathleen Castore
Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability
Sanofi
Kathleen Castore
Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability
Kathleen Castore Develops Organization-Wide Sanofi SD Program
Kathleen Castore is Sanofi’s head of supplier diversity & sustainability for North America. She developed an award-winning program that includes Corporate Partner of the Year from NJAWBO and Top 10 Veteran Friendly Businesses in the USA from NaVOBA. A key element of her strategy is networking and connecting internally with various departments to promote collaboration and drive value and knowledge of the advantages of supplier diversity. This approach has given supplier diversity access to areas of the business where it would not have necessarily reached. The collaborative approach has increased spend with diverse suppliers and supported the business units at the same time.
The greatest success Kathleen notes is the expansion of a traditional compliance program in one division into a full-blown supplier diversity initiative. She branched the initiative across all business divisions and Puerto Rico, and expanded diversity to include the disabled, veterans and service-disabled veterans, and LGBT. Kathleen’s strategy brings in additional qualified suppliers, contributes to economic inclusion, and adds jobs and wealth while serving Sanofi’s business needs.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
Joyce E. Eriksen Eggers
Associate Director, Supplier Diversity
Takeda
Joyce E. Eriksen Eggers
Associate Director, Supplier Diversity
Takeda’s Joyce Eggers Grows SD Program through Advocacy
As Takeda Pharmaceuticals international supplier diversity lead within Takeda’s sustainable procurement group, Associate Director of Supplier Diversity Joyce Eggers works closely with global procurement to develop and maintain partnerships with diverse suppliers who meet their requirements for excellence and innovation, and are competitive in their offerings. She is an advocate, mentor, and coach to diverse suppliers, expanding the program by making supplier connections and building long-term relationships. Joyce has the full commitment of senior management.
Joyce actively promotes diverse suppliers who are a good fit and can meet the needs of our patients. For example, in one situation a small woman-owned business was a good fit for an upcoming RFP but was not enthusiastically received by procurement. Joyce had numerous conversations with procurement staff and the supplier went through several RFP rounds. Persistence paid off, with the WBE awarded the business and now the supplier of choice for the particular service. The WBE grew, went global and now also supplies Takeda’s international operations.
Favorite Quote:
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters to what lies within us. — anonymous
Estrella Cramer
Corporate Supplier Diversity Director
UPS
Estrella Cramer
Corporate Supplier Diversity Director
Estrella Cramer Mentors Internally and Externally at UPS
Decades of service across different UPS business units has led to Estrella Cramer becoming the corporate supplier diversity director. She attributes success of the supplier diversity program to top-down commitment and bottom-up buy-in. Estrella manages a number of activities, including participation on the cross-functional UPS Diversity Steering Council, chaired by the CEO and VP of HR. She also manages a robust formal and informal supplier diversity mentoring program which benefits from her position as chairperson of the UPS Asian American Business Resource Group. Supplier diversity program strength also comes from the inclusion of diverse suppliers in all relevant RFPs/bids, while a strong culture of D&I is developed by mentoring of employees and community youth through the UPS Business Resource Group.
Estrella serves on several boards of diversity organizations, including WBENC, GMSDC, GWBC, and the US-Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Southeast Chapter. She mentors students and entrepreneurs through her participation in groups like the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connections Program and the Advisory Council for the Georgia Tech IAC Women’s Entrepreneurship Program.
Favorite Quote:
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike. — Madame de Stael
Edkedsha (KeeKee) Mathis
Supplier Diversity Manager
Volkswagen
Edkedsha (KeeKee) Mathis
Supplier Diversity Manager
Volkswagen’s Edkedsha (KeeKee) Mathis Focused on Diverse Supplier Economic Viability
Edkedsha (KeeKee) Mathis, supplier diversity manager for Volkswagen Group of America, is focused on developing a supplier base that mimics the customer base. She finds and supports the development and growth of diverse suppliers by growing awareness of the business case among company leaders and supporting their efforts as needed. Edkedsha fosters strong relationships internally and externally through networking, and oversees the annual Partnering for Success Trade Show that brings together Tier 1 suppliers with qualified MBEs. The show enables one-on-one opportunities for suppliers to meet with purchasing management and buyers.
Asked to describe diversity success, Edkedsha is quick to say that she is proud of every Volkswagen diverse supplier’s accomplishments. She does not consider the dollar value of the contract awarded as an indication of accomplishment. Instead, Edkedsha considers a greater success to be the potential long-term economic viability of the diverse suppliers. She applauds the high level support of senior management that enables Volkswagen representatives to attend tradeshows, seminars, and meetings with suppliers, and builds a culture of diversity.
Favorite Quote:
Commitment is an act; not a word. — Jean-Paul Sartre
Emilia DiMenco
Chief Operation Officer
WBDC
Emilia DiMenco
Chief Operation Officer
Emilia DiMenco Oversees Significant Expansion of WBDC
After serving on the Board for the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) for several years followed by three years as the Acting Chief Operation Officer, Emilia DiMenco became the President and Chief Executive Officer in 2013. She has overseen significant expansion of the WBDC, including the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification program now offered in a nine-state Midwest region; the opening of a new office in Aurora, Illinois; the establishment of two WBDC microloan programs with a lending pool of $1.7 million; the expansion of the Latina business programs offering bi-lingual business services; the development of an eLearning library; and the launch of an entrepreneurship program serving military veterans.
Emilia’s extraordinary leadership in the empowerment of women began during her 30-year career at BMO Harris N.A. She paved the way for women pursuing senior positions in non-traditional finance and banking organizations, and now assists entrepreneurial women needing greater access to capital, contracts and knowledge for business sustainability and growth. Emilia is also active in leading civic and professional organizations such as Women Impacting Public Policy.
Favorite Quote:
“While the number of women business owners has grown dramatically, the challenges they face prevent them from achieving business growth and true economic self-sufficiency.” — Emilia DiMenco
Regina O. Heyward
Senior Vice President and Head of Supplier Diversity
Wells Fargo
Regina O. Heyward
Senior Vice President and Head of Supplier Diversity
Regina Heyward Strengthens Wells Fargo SD Program
Regina Heyward, senior vice president and head of supplier diversity at Wells Fargo & Company, created a strategy for engaging and developing certified diverse businesses in a wide array of procurement categories across global operations. The effort led to $1.2 billion in spend with diverse suppliers in 2015. Current efforts focus on the development and execution of targeted growth strategies in procurement categories such as construction and temporary labor to increase the use of capable qualified diverse businesses. One of the largest projects was the completion of 1.1 million square feet of office building for 5,000 Wells Fargo employees with the project delivering more than $54 million in diverse supplier spend in Minneapolis’ Downtown East neighborhood.
Regina also drives diverse supplier spend by focusing on supplier development and capacity building. She collaborates with organizations like the NMSDC, WBENC, and the U.S. Business Leadership Network to identify and develop diverse-owned businesses. The supplier diversity program also provides scholarships for diverse suppliers to attend executive education training and development programs at prestigious business schools.
Favorite Quote:
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman