As executive director of AT&T’s global supplier diversity programs, Joan N. Kerr helps the company to continue pioneering and leading the inclusion of W/MBE-DVBEs in corporate procurement as it has for over 40 years. AT&T spent over $6 billion or 12 percent of its total procurement with W/MBE-DVBEs in 2008. In the past 10 years alone, AT&T has increased its spending with diverse suppliers nearly fourfold, reaching $32 billion in diversity procurement this decade.

The company’s global supplier diversity programs were among the first to launch a multi-tiered prime supplier participation program and fund university training programs. AT&T’s program is the first that is both ISO- and TL-registered.

The company has set a goal of 21.5 percent diversity participation that includes every area of spend. AT&T is also working with a select group of W/MBEs in their 18-month Women of Color Growth Initiative to help them become more competitive for Fortune 500 business opportunities.

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