Hispanic Magazine.com - June 2003 - Top 25 Minority Vendors

Top 25 Vendors | Money

TOP 25 Vendor Programs for Latinos

Partnering With Hispanic Entrepreneurs

For years, public and private corporations have attempted to include more minority- and women-owned businesses, also known as WMBEs, into their supply chain. The federal government laid the groundwork for that in 1978 when it enacted government supplier diversity programs that required WMBE involvement.

Today minority suppliers have access to more information than ever before about vendor contracting, thanks to online services that are revolutionizing the way companies interact with vendors. An increasing number of companies, as well as the federal government, are requiring online registration as well as online supply chain management. The move is a double-edged sword for Hispanic vendors: While it provides greater access in general, Hispanic entrepreneurs in particular must bridge the so-called “digital divide” while competing with a broader array of vendors.

Demographics, however, are on Latinos’ side. Minorities account for more than 30 percent of the U.S. population and wield $1 trillion in purchasing power. That fact is driving companies to emphasize supplier diversity programs in an effort to understand minority communities better and more effectively market to Hispanics and others.

7-Eleven, Inc.
2711 North Haskell Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
800-255-0711
www.7-eleven.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Janey Carpenter, manager, consumer and Latino affairs Description: 7-Eleven is a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council that sources and certifies minority-owned businesses. The company, based in Dallas, seeks supplies and services as diverse as sandwiches and other foodstuffs to prepaid long distance cards and automatic teller machine services.

AFLAC
1932 Wynton Road
Columbus, GA 31999
706-323-3431
www.aflac.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Vendor Management Office
Description: AFLAC is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of supplemental medical insurance policies that cover special conditions such as cancer. The company also has an international scope and is the leading supplemental insurance seller in Japan. At year-end 2002, the corporation’s total assets exceeded $45 billion, with annual revenues of more than $10.3 billion.

Altria Family of Companies
formerly Philip Morris Cos., Inc.
9855 Woods Drive
Skokie, IL 60077
847-646-6218
www.altria.com/responsibility
Minority Vendor Contact: Sharon Patterson, director of supplier diversity Description: Formerly known as the Philip Morris Companies, Altria is comprised most notably of Kraft Foods and tobacco giant Philip Morris. In 2001 alone, Altria purchased more than $1.4 billion of products and services from minority- and women-owned firms.

AMR CORP. (parent company to American Airlines)
Purchasing Dept.
P.O. Box 619616, MD5223
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616
817-963-2620
E-mail: fred.kahl.@aa.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Fred Kahl, manager, diversified supplier program Description: The world’s largest airline company, AMR owns American Airlines as well as commuter airline American Eagle. American Airlines recently began inviting women- and minority-owned businesses to attend e-commerce workshops that teach how to conduct business electronically.

AOL Time Warner, Inc.
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10019
212-484-8132
http://supplierdiversity.aoltw.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Greta Davis, national director, minority supplier diversity Description: A diversified media giant, AOL Time Warner owns companies such as HBO, Warner Music Group, and cable news network Turner Broadcasting System, among many others. The company seeks suppliers for everything from accounting services to telecommunications goods.

AT&T Corp.
One AT&T Way
Bedminster, NJ 07921
908-234-3468
www.att.com/supplier_diversity
Minority Vendor Contact: Fernando Hernández, director, supplier diversity Description: A leader in telecommunications services, AT&T has spent more than $14 billion on minority contracts since it began its supplier diversity program in 1968. According to C. Michael Armstrong, AT&T chairman, “We will continue to engage minority suppliers that have good ideas, build solid business plans, and share our desire to make a difference.”

Bank of America
Multicultural Supplier Development
NC1-023-09-01
525 N. Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
www.bankofamerica.com/supplierdiversity
Minority Vendor Contact: Edward Cates, market development & communications engineer
Description: Bank of America–the nation’s largest banking company–says it is committed to spending 15 percent of its total procurement dollars on minority-owned business contracts. The company contracts heavily for technology services as well as marketing and personnel.

Continental Airlines, Inc.
1600 Smith St.
Houston, TX 77002
713-324-5000
E-mail: PGraha@coair.com
www.continental.com/company/profile/supplier.asp
Minority Vendor Contact: Phyllis Graham, supplier diversity program
coordinator
Description: The fourth-largest domestic airline, Continental is also a leading procurer of goods and services. Graham says, “Diversity is an integral part of Continental’s business operations.” Along with airplane maintenance services, the company also seeks suppliers of cargo services, as well as logistics and legal services, among others.

Coors Brewing Co.
P.O. Box 4030 Mail No. NH222
Golden, CO 80401-0030
303-277-3357
E-mail: supplier.diversity@coors.com
www.coors.com/community/supplierDiversity.asp
Description: In business since 1873, Coors produces some of the leading beers consumed in America today. The Colorado-based company has national distribution and seeks contracts from minority suppliers for goods and services from agriculture to logistics to shipping.

Daimler Chrysler
800 Chrysler Drive CIMS 484-01-20
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
248-576-2051
http://supplierdiversity.daimlerchrysler.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Jethro Joseph, senior manager, diversity supplier development Description: One of the largest automakers in the world, DaimlerChrysler makes everything from luxury Mercedes-Benz sedans to Dodge minivans. Like its counterparts in Detroit, the company is committed to seeking out minority suppliers not just for its car components but also its corporate services.

Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines Supplier Diversity Program
Dept. 674
P.O. Box 20531
Atlanta, GA 30320-2531
404-715-2600
E-mail: supplier.diversity@delta.com
www.delta.com/inside/supplier_diversity
Minority Vendor Contact: Valerie Nesbitt, general manager, corporate supplier diversity
Description: The third-largest domestic airline, Delta says diversity is “an essential business strategy” for the company. Suppliers provide Delta with everything from aircraft and engine systems to laundry services, tools and shipping supplies.

Ford Motor Co.
Henry Ford II World Center, 917-A6, MD 918
One American Road
Dearborn, MI 48126
313-594-7338
www.ford.com
https://portal.covisint.com/wps/public
Minority Vendor Contact: Ray Jensen, director, supplier diversity development
Description: In keeping with current trends, Ford has streamlined its procurement process by partnering with Covisint, which provides an online portal for Ford and other companies to register suppliers and manage the procurement process. The interactive site has a Minority Supplier Directory and extensive online resource section with links to public and private sector MSD resources.

General Motors Corp.
GM Supplier Diversity
30009 Van Dyke Ave.
Warren, MI 48090
586-575-4100
www.gmsupplypower.com
Minority Vendor Contact: V. Diane Freeman, senior manager, supplier diversity program
Description: The largest automaker in the world is also one of the leading procurers of minority-owned goods and services. Last year, GM spent more than $6 billion on such contracts, and GM President Gary L. Cowger says he is committed to increasing the level of minority participation well down the supply chain.

Johnson & Johnson
MWBE
410 George Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-524-2983
www.jnj.com/supplier_resources/supplier_diversity
Minority Vendor Contact: Ann Mullen, manager of supplier diversity
Description: A diversified health care products producer, J&J is one of the largest companies of its kind in the world. Its diversity suppliers program cuts across its entire family of companies, which include biotech firms as well as personal grooming and health care manufacturers.

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
425-882-8080
Fax: 425-706-7329
www.microsoft.com/mscorp/procurement/
Minority Vendor Contact: G.Winston Smith, director supplier diversity
Description: A worldwide leader in computer and networking software, Microsoft naturally is among those leading the charge for e-procurement. Its entire process for registering minority suppliers, and managing the flow of goods and services, is done online through its procurement portal.

New York Life Insurance Co.
51 Madison Ave., Room 506
New York, NY 10010
212-576-7906
Fax: 212-447-4149
Minority Vendor Contact: Annette Ficucello, director of supplier diversity
Description: Ficucello says she’s worked hard to build a successful diversity supplier program because “it’s so important to have your supplier base reflect the communities that you serve. It’s a good business decision that positively impacts the bottom line.” The company seeks contractors for things as diverse as brokerage and investment banking services to electrical supplies, printing and temporary labor.

Nordstrom
1617 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206-373-4388
http://about.nordstrom.com/aboutus/diversity/supplier.asp
Minority Vendor Contact: Bárbara Valdez, supplier diversity program director
Description: During the past decade, the upscale department store company has become a huge retailing enterprise that last year spent in excess of $597 million with minority- and women-owned businesses.

Pfizer
235 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017-5755
212-573-2323
www.pfizer.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Gwendolyn Turner, manager, supplier diversity
Description: Pfizer is one of the world’s leading makers of prescription medicines for both humans and animals, and sells many of the best-known brands such as Visine and Rolaids. The company has three business segments: health care, animal health and consumer health care, and it operates in more than 150 countries.

Pitney Bowes
One Elmcroft Road
Stamford, CT 06926-0700
203-351-6665
E-mail: kevin.beirne@pb.com
www.pitneybowes.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Kevin Beirne, manager, business diversity development
Description: Known more for its mail handling systems, Pitney Bowes in one of the nation’s leading document management companies. About 7.5 percent of its total procurement funds are funneled each year to minority- and women-owned business enterprises, which can register on Pitney’s Div2000 e-procurement online portal. Among the services it looks for are information technology, investment banking, consulting, and staffing for special projects.

Prudential Financial Companies
751 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
973-802-6000
Fax: 973-367-7138
www.prudential.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Beth Canning, supplier diversity manager
Description: One of the largest financial services companies in America, Prudential also contracts millions of dollars worth of business with vendors for everything from facilities management services to office supplies to travel services.

State Farm
1 State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710
309-766-2311
www.statefarm.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Leonard Bell, supplier diversity manager
Description: The nation’s leading automobile insurer also ranks among the Top 5 providers of other types of insurance for people homes and businesses. State Farm looks for vendors to provide them with everything from advertising and logistics services, to replacing fine arts and even sporting goods.

Toyota
19001 S. Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90509
310-468-4216
Fax: 310-468-7840.
E-mail: supplier_development@toyota.com
www.toyotasharedservices.com
Minority Vendor Contact: Monetta Stephens, manager, supplier development
Description: Known worldwide as a leading manufacturer of cars and small trucks, Toyota, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is also involved in distribution logistics, financial services, aviation and motorsports.

United Parcel Service
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-828-6159
www.community.ups.com
Description: The world’s leading package delivery company has more than 200 managers in its supplier diversity program, which spends more than $570 million in purchases annually from small, minority and women-owned businesses. Some of the services UPS contracts for are building maintenance, printing, video production, and auto and aircraft maintenance.

Verizon
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
212-338-7000
Fax: 212-476-5248
www.verizon.com/supplierdiversity
Minority Vendor Contact: Julian Birdsong, director, supplier diversity
Description: The telecommunications giant is best known for providing business and commercial telephone and wireless communications services in the U.S. Verizon purchased more than $1.8 billion dollars of goods and services from minority and women-owned businesses during 2002. DiversityInc magazine ranks it No. 3 among the Top 100 firms with supplier diversity programs.

Unified Food Service Purchasing Cooperative (UFPC), a division of Yum! Brands
950 Breckenridge Lane
Louisville, KY 40207
502-896-5900
800-444-4144
http://ufpc.com
Description: Yum! Brands! is best known for its popular fast food franchises such as Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC. UFPC, its procurement arm, spends approximately $4.35 billion a year, making it the largest purchasing cooperative of its kind. The company looks for goods and services as diverse as food packaging to insurance and product management.