American Water has experienced phenomenal success in implementing its Supplier Diversity initiative. This success comes from relentless intentional strategizing to find diverse suppliers who contribute to and build a stronger community connection.

-By Sharon Ross

American Water spends approximately $418M with certied diverse suppliers annually which represent 19.3% of total spend of $2.1B. The success of the Supplier Diversity initiative demonstrates the importance of being intentional in attracting and retaining diverse suppliers. The corporate philosophy is: Supplier Diversity is viewed as a business imperative; it is a strategic initiative that requires t....