Supplier Diversity Increases Business Opportunity for Women and Minorities

The National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) is recognizing supplier diversity individuals who increase business opportunities for Woman Business Enterprises (WBEs). NWBOC accepts nominations from its certified WBEs for outstanding supplier diversity managers or buyers who go the extra mile for women-owned companies.

The winner of the Buyer/Supplier Diversity Manager of the Month in January was Adrienne Williams of Kiewit in Irving, Texas. Adrienne leads the small business initiatives at Kiewit by implementing successful strategies to progress diverse business inclusion and development efforts.

Winners are announced with a company highlight in the bimonthly supplier diversity edition of the NWBOC e-newsletter and also receive a free six-month Buyer's Registration to the NWBOC eProcurement MarketPlace.

The NWBOC eProcurement MarketPlace is an interactive database that allows buyers to send bid opportunities to women-owned companies or use it as a database. In addition, as vendors, women business owners can do business with one another. All the tools are easy to use with no special equipment or training required. Buyers can discover new vendors and enhance their WBE outreach, while WBEs increase sales and grow their companies.

"We continuously hear about the efforts of outstanding supplier diversity individuals and buyers with whom our certified WBEs work," says Janet Harris-Lange, NWBOC President. "It only makes sense to recognize those individuals for their contributions to women- and minority-owned businesses."

If you are NWBOC WBE certified and would like to nominate an outstanding supplier diversity individual or buyer, please e-mail your recommendation to janet@nwboc.org for consideration. Include the name, title, company, e-mail, phone, city and state and a reason for the nomination along with your name and company name as the nominator.

For more information about NWBOC or its WBE certification program, visit www.nwboc.org or email info@nwboc.org.