Summer Polite is the Associate Manager of Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Diversity for United Rentals. As a "one person" team with limited resources, she has relied on developing partnerships within the company to build a successful diversity program. To train and educate thousands of employees across the organization, Summer uses a variety of tools and approaches that include utilizing the company's intranet site, conducting webinars and forums, and partnering with the HR and government sales teams to implement internal diversity initiatives.
Prior to joining United Rentals, Summer worked at Piedmont Natural Gas where she launched the supplier diversity program and organized and hosted Piedmont's first and very successful Supplier Diversity Procurement Forum. The forum attracted more than 140 registered vendors, leading to new business partnerships with local, small businesses. At United Rentals, she applied her experience to new opportunities. In the first year, she issued an RFP for IT recycling services, and the contract was awarded to a woman-owned business. The supplier has provided cost-saving opportunities, enhanced quality and service, and become a valued business partner.