SUPPLIER DIVERSITY

At Logisticorp, we believe that supplier diversity is crucial for building a more inclusive and equitable business ecosystem. We partner with a diverse range of suppliers, to not only promote economic empowerment and job creation for underrepresented groups but also foster innovation, increase competition, and enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Supplier diversity is a key component of our business strategy.

MBE to MBE Spend

As a minority-owned business ourselves, we are committed to working with diverse suppliers to ensure that our procurement practices reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, and we reflect that commitment through our contracts with certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE’s).  We are also committed to ongoing increases in MBE expenditure, consistently growing the economic impact to MBE’s year over year.

MBE spend:

$1.2 Million in

2022

YOY MBE growth:

Exceeded a 1%

YOY increase goal

each year for the

past 5 years

“Supplying Success” Podcast – Hear From the Supply Chain Diversity Experts

“Supplying Success” is a series hosted by Logisticorp Group and powered by ISP Creative, focusing on exploring the challenges and opportunities in the logistics and supply chain industry.

Through insightful discussions with industry leaders, innovators and experts, this series aims to provide listeners with valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices shaping the industry. Of the six guests, three are CEO’s of their small businesses and three are on the corporate side who lead business efforts to contract MBE services.

Topics discussed include the importance of MBEs and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) to larger corporations and the overall economy, the importance and benefits of having a diverse supply chain, and how the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Development Council (DFW MSDC) helps MBEs and WBEs through certification and mentorship.

Whether you are a seasoned logistics professional or just starting out, “Supplying Success” is a must-listen series that offers practical advice, inspiring stories and thought-provoking insights to help you succeed!

Spotlighting MBEs and WBEs: How They Have Gained Traction, and Steps to Continue their Increased Supplier Relationship with the Corporate World

Special Guest:  Don McKneely – CEO of Women’s Enterprise Magazine, and Minority Business News Review

The Value That MBEs and WBEs Bring to Large Service Providers

Special Guest:  Grace Hastings – Supplier Diversity Manager at Oncor Electric Delivery, the largest transmission and distribution electric utility in Texas, and 5th largest utility in the US

 

How Companies Interact with Diverse Suppliers, and the value of the Minority Supplier Development Council

Special Guest:  Heather Herndon Wright – Director of Supply Chain Diversity at Vistra, the largest competitive power generator in the US.

Why the largest telecom company needs diverse suppliers, and how the suppliers are evaluated.

Special Guest:  Heather Ramsey – Associate Director of Supplier Diversity at AT&T.

 

The Larger Economic Impacts of MBE Supply, and MBE-to-MBE Spend

Special Guest:  Clifton Miller – Managing Principal at Cemetrics, a Professional Training and Coaching small business in Dallas/Fort Worth. Formerly 20 years with GTE (now Verizon)

Positioning Yourself and Showcasing Your Value as an MBE

Donna Clemons – President of Joy Promotions, a nationwide provider of promotions and advertising specialty products and services.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Mr. McKneely shares his thoughts on the importance of minority business enterprises (MBE’s) and women-owned business enterprises (WBE’s) to the economy, continued steps for minority business involvement in the corporate world and how his magazines highlight MBEs and WBEs, and.  The effort to promote and support MBEs and WBEs helps to grow the overall ecosystem of economic communities, and provides successful business role models for the upcoming minority community.

 

GUEST INFO

Mr. McKneely has over 50 years in Supplier Diversity functions, and over 30 years running publications focused on recognizing experts in the supplier diversity field. He is the founding chairman of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, co-founder of the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum Inc, and the Beacon Diversity Council. He sits on a variety of Boards, including the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council, and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce – Southwest Council. Mr. McKneely has also been recotnized for his dedication to diversity with numerous awards, including induction into the Minority Business Hall of Fame, and being named one of the 45 most influential people in the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s history.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Ms. Hastings shares what she has learned about the value of minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) to her company. She discusses helping the diverse supplier community grow, so that companies can harness the agility, new processes and new partnerships of MBEs and WBEs to make companies strong and reliable service providers for their clients. Ms. Hastings also discusses how to continue to support and grow MBEs and WBEs once they are at the table with contracts won.

GUEST INFO

Ms. Hastings has 34 years with Oncor Electric Delivery (formerly TXU). She finished her BBA in Business midway through her career, and has held various roles across Customer Service, Supply Chain, Procurement and Materials Management throughout her career. Ms. Hastings is also a 2012 graduate of Leadership Texas, a program under the Foundation for Women’s Resources. She currently manages Oncor’s Supplier Diversity Program, overseeing more than $2 Billion spend with diverse suppliers since the 2007 initiative started. In 2018 Oncor was a Gold Award winner in the American Business Awards and also received the President’s Award from the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the same year. In 2019, Ms. Hastings was awarded the Women’s Business Council Southwest Corporate Advocate of the Year.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Mrs. Herndon-Wright shares what she is looking for in a supplier, and what benefits a diverse supplier can and should be bringing to the conversation. She also discusses how suppliers are measured and evaluated – and how her company helps to mentor diverse suppliers to help grow the supplier capabilities. Mrs. Herndon-Wright also touches on how the Minority Supplier Development Council can continue to grow into even more of a go-to organization for the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) community.

GUEST INFO

Heather Herndon-Wright is the Director of Supply Chain Diversity for Vistra Corp with over 30 years experience. She previously founded Herndon-Wright Enterprises, a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) consulting firm, and was publisher of Women’s Enterprise Magazine. Mrs. Herndon-Wright has held positions in the nonprofit, public and private sectors, including at Lucent Technologies and Fujitsu Network Communications. She is a founding Chair of the National Veteran Owned Business Association, and serves on the boards of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council. Mrs. Herndon-Wright has received awards including the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Applause Award. She holds a BA from the University of Texas at Dallas, a Master Compliance Administrator Certificate, and maintains Professional Certifications in Supplier Diversity and Supply Management.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Ramsey shares what AT&T – the world’s largest telecommunications company by revenue – looks for in a diverse supplier, and how the supplier may be able to tackle an existing AT&T supply chain issue. She also talks about the coaching and fostering aspect that AT&T provides suppliers, and the measurements and evaluations AT&T makes with regard to their procurement spend and the resulting community job impact.

GUEST INFO

Heather Ramsey has over 25 years with AT&T, with a core background in sales and marketing. She is also on the Board of Women’s Business Council – Southwest and is a regular speaker on Workforce and Supplier Diversity topics.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Mr. Miller shares insights on his time navigating and driving supplier diversity for 30+ years in the corporate world, and his perspective now as a minority business enterprise (MBE). He shares the impact he sees MBE spend from corporations making on the larger economy, and how MBE-to-MBE spend is another space that can become more deliberate to accelerate the current organic growth of the MBE community.

GUEST INFO

Clifton Miller is the Managing Principal at Cemetrics with over 30 years experience in the corporate sector, and 20 years as an entrepreneur. He held several roles at GTE (now Verizon) over 20 years -mostly in business development, but the last five years of which implementing the company’s first supplier diversity programs across five business units. Mr. Miller has also served on the nonprofit Boards of the Concilio and the Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council. He holds a BA from Northwestern State University.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Mrs. Clemons discusses the how her minority business enterprise (MBE) company positions itself, provides products and fulfillment services, and brings value to her clients. She also touches on the benefits of networking and placement opportunities afforded by being a certified MBE, and active in the local Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC).

GUEST INFO

Donna Clemons has been the President of Joy Productions for over 30 years. She has multiple certifications for the company, including: certified MBE, certified women’s business enterprise (WBE), certified Historical Underutilized Business (HUB), and certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB). Mrs. Clemons is a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council and Women’s Business Council – Southwest.