What is Supplier Diversity?

Supplier diversity is a proactive business practice that seeks to provide all suppliers equal access to purchasing opportunities. It encourages supplier participation reflective of the diverse business community and promotes economic development. Diverse and small businesses are the fastest growing businesses in this country.  Below are recognitions, awards and comments received by EEI member companies in supplier diversity.  

Member Company Recognitions

EEI member electric companies strive to develop a base of suppliers that reflects their local communities. Their efforts help to keep them among the nation’s most competitive electric and natural gas delivery companies in the country.  They also help the U.S. electric power industry to be among the strongest industries in the world.

NV Energy recognized as Corporation of the Year by The Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council (NvMSDC). 

The Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council (NvMSDC) celebrated its 17th Annual Excellence Awards, themed “Honoring Nevada’s Best” at Caesar’s Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. The event, which highlights the accomplishments of Minority Business Enterprises and Major Corporations in the State of Nevada that have excelled in programs, products and/or services the previous calendar year, was full of excitement, entertainment and lots of surprises.  Press Release

NV Energy had a major sweep in three major categories which included: Kyna Krause as the Community Relations Specialist of the Year; the award for Supplier Diversity Program of the Year; and the top honor as the Corporation of the Year for their outstanding programs and outreach to minority suppliers.  Team NV Energy 

PG&E Engages Minority-Owned Banks to Execute $400 Million Bond Sale

SAN FRANCISCO, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) selected Loop Capital Markets, an African American-owned investment bank headquartered in Chicago, to be one of four joint lead managers, along with Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo Securities, for a $400 million offering of 30-year senior notes that closed yesterday.   

The company also engaged two other diverse firms – woman-owned MFR Securities in New York and service disabled veteran-owned Mischler Financial Group in Southern California – to join BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC and RBC Capital Markets as co-managers for the deal.  "We are proud to work with these firms to complete this transaction," said Kent Harvey, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PG&E Corporation. "The low-cost financing this provides represents a great outcome for our customers, and it's another example of the way PG&E is continuing to leverage the capabilities of diverse suppliers in keeping with our strong commitment to supplier diversity."

This bond transaction represents the third that PG&E has completed with a minority-owned investment bank as a lead manager. The bonds mature on April 15, 2042, and bear an interest rate of 4.45 percent – a record-low 30-year coupon for PG&E. The bonds are rated "A3" by Moody's Investors Service and "BBB" by Standard & Poor's. Proceeds from the bonds will be used primarily for general corporate purposes, including repaying a portion of the utility's outstanding commercial paper.  "We were delighted to work with PG&E on this important transaction," said Jim Reynolds, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital Markets. "The company was patient in accessing the markets and really benefitted from enthusiastic participation by a broad range of investors seeking to have a high-quality bond in their portfolio."

"Supporting the development of women-, minority-, or disabled veteran-owned investment banks is an important step in helping meet diversity procurement goals," said Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). "The CPUC will continue to work with California utilities to assure that diverse businesses fully participate in our state's economic gains."   Diversity and inclusion have long been hallmarks of PG&E's heritage.
 
Earlier this month, PG&E was named Corporation of the Year by the Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council for the utility's commitment to minority business development. The award is among a number of recent accolades for PG&E, which spent a record $1.6 billion with diverse suppliers in 2011.

"Diverse companies offer a wealth of innovation," said Michael R. Peevey, President of the CPUC, which encourages utilities to procure a percentage of goods and services from diverse companies. "Procuring from diverse suppliers only strengthens PG&E's supply network and creates jobs and economic growth for the communities it serves."

For information on PG&E's supplier diversity program or to learn how to apply to become a certified diverse supplier, visit www.pge.com/supplierdiversity/.  Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG - News), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/ and www.pgecurrents.com.  

2011 Top 30 Champions of Diversity - Diversity Plus Magazine

Congratulations to the following EEI Supplier Diversity Members, that were featured in the "Diversity Plus Magazine" as Supplier DIversity Champions:

• Jewel Smith, Manager, Supplier Diversity, CenterPoint Energy 
• John H. Eley, Jr., Senior SC Manager, Corporate Procurement/Supplier Diversity, DTE Energy
• Joan Kerr, Director, Supplier DIversity and Development, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• Glenda S. Thomas, Contracts Supervisor, Southern Company
• Susan Hogan, Manager, Supplier Divesity, PSEG 

APS Celebrates the Best-of-the-Best for 2011
Phoenix-based APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, has spent more than a half-billion dollars over the past five years on products and services provided by women- and minority-owned suppliers. These suppliers share the vision and company values of APS, and their innovative ideas and solutions have played a large role in the success that APS has enjoyed in serving its customer base of more than 1.1 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties.

APS recently honored suppliers in five categories that are in concert with APS’s core business values. The categories and winners are listed below:

• Commitment to Sustainability: G.D. Barri and Associates, Inc. (Staff augmentation services company)
• Value-Added Partnership: GEOMAT, Inc. (Engineering and materials testing company)
• Alignment with APS Values: GillTek Systems International, Inc. (Information technology staffing and consulting firm)
• High Performance/Operational Excellence: Speedy Gonzalez Construction (Construction services company)
• Community Service: Synergy Seven, Inc. (Staffing and human resources consulting)

For more information about the efforts of APS to diversity its supplier based, please visit www.aps.com.

Comments from the 28th Annual EEI Supplier Diversity Conference, Seattle, Washington

I just wanted to say how great the EEI Supplier Diversity conference was this year. We renewed some of our previous contacts as well as made some new ones. We will definitely be there next year!  Thank you for all your help.
Jugma Bora, Luitporia Software

Thank you so very, very much for all your hard work at the amazing event last week. Clearly you work with professionals who are committed to making a difference!! So many people told me this group's work makes a difference - forming strong, strategic partnerships with vendors.  And so many people told me how there was a significant ROI associated with this event.  Of course, there are no guarantees, clearly as a supplier our work is cut out for us, but this forum is such a terrific environment to promote productive and effective working relationships. 
Kelly Frankenfeld, Energy Resources

I had a FABULOUS time at this year’s EEI conference! As always, your team did an outstanding job of bringing us together for great speakers, great workshops and great networking!!  I always say, I developed my supplier diversity skills just through the knowledge I gain at this conference. I told my boss when I got back, I never thought I would get so motivated and enjoy the teachings of an economist. EXCELLENT!  
Gwen Johnson, Minority Sourcing Coordinator, Cooper Power Systems

I can honestly say that this EEI Conference was one of the BEST I've attended in terms of location and content.
Seattle was just beautiful.  I thought the speed dating turned out really well and the diverse suppliers were happy because everyone I talked with got to see those they wanted to see. 
Rose Davis, Supplier Diversity Manager, NV Energy

THANK YOU for a great conference.  This was my first meeting, and it was a great experience.  I made two new utility contacts that I did not have and will result in new business for my company.  Now that I've experienced what a great opportunity, I look forward to next year!!
Doug Deaton, Caerus Energy, LLC

I understand the importance of getting feedback for your hard work, so I want you to know about some of our small successes.   While at EEI, I met several great diverse suppliers, and while we would like to be able to include all of them in our supply chain, it just doesn’t happen that way.   However, we were able to reach out to several suppliers for NEW opportunities.  (In addition to the suppliers currently being used)  Since the EEI conference, we have reached out to seven suppliers for new opportunities!
Rivers Frederick, III, Lead Supplier Diversity Specialist, Entergy Services, Inc   

APS Honors Eight Arizona Businesses With Inaugural "Key Business Partner Award"


Acknowledging the important role women and minority-owned businesses play in the company’s success, APS honored eight suppliers with its inaugural “Key Business Partner Award.”

“We recognize the importance of building productive and lasting relationships with our customers, business partners and the diverse communities we serve,” said APS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Don Brandt. “The eight companies honored exemplify the importance of creating strong partnerships that enable us to provide outstanding service to our 1.1 million customers throughout Arizona.

“As a company, our success is strengthened by our diverse business relationships and the economic vitality of our communities. Supplier diversity is a fundamental business strategy at APS.”

Organizations honored with the 2010 Key Business Partner Award at APS’s Tribute to Diverse Business at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel include:

• American Fire Equipment Sales and Service Corp. – Ann Papuga, President
• ATL Inc. – Frank Rivera, President and CEO
• Diversified Diamond Products – Mary Dillon, President
• Diversified Support Services Inc. – Gail Kellington, President
• EnviroSystems Management Inc. – Stephanie Treptow, President
• Great Impact Inc. – Teresa Ornelas, President and CEO
• Honey Bear's BBQ – Mark Smith and Gary Clark, Owners
• Vargas General Engineering LLC – Jose L. Vargas, Owner

APS founded its Supplier Diversity and Development Department in 1992 and has set increasingly aggressive goals. Since 1999, spending on direct and indirect goods from women and minority-owned businesses has increased 77 percent. In 2010 alone, the goal is to purchase $68 million in goods and services from diverse suppliers.

Robert Esquivel, Manager of APS Supplier Diversity and Development, said, “We selected these honorees for being the best at what they do. They provide high-quality products and services at a competitive price. A healthy supplier base contributes to the well-being of our many local economies and that of APS, as well.”


Pepco Wins Historic Award for Outstanding Supplier Diversity / Utility Captures Maryland Chamber’s Inaugural Large Company Partner in Business Award 

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pepco has been honored by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce for its outstanding contributions to supplier diversity. A panel of four independent judges, who represented a diverse group of small business publications in the state of Maryland, made the historic selection.  Pepco is now the first company ever to be honored in the newly-created category of Large Company Partner in Business. In 2009, Pepco conducted business with 172 Maryland suppliers, of which 113 were large firms while 59 were small firms – the equivalent of roughly 34 percent of Pepco’s business. Upon receiving the award, Pepco Region President Thomas H. Graham said, “Opportunity and innovation are at the heart of our Diversity Supplier Program. Pepco benefits greatly from its partnerships with a variety of small but highly capable companies. That is why I am very proud of this program and deeply honored by the Maryland Chamber’s recognition.”

Created in 1987, Pepco’s supplier diversity initiative has been widely recognized as a national model for the utility industry. In the category of innovation, Pepco scored high marks with the judges because of “Sourcing Workflow,” an online and transparent tool that allows professional buyers, user groups and PHI’s Supplier Diversity team to review what is required for a request for proposal (RFP) and add qualified bidders for consideration.

Established in 2001, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Awards program was created to honor the dedication, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by Maryland’s estimated 160,000 small businesses.
Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POM - News), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.    Media Contact:  Bob Hainey, 202-872-2680 rshainey@pepcoholdings.com

NV Energy Earns Double Honors

LAS VEGAS -- The Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council (NVMSDC) celebrated its15th annual Excellence Awards at Caesar’s Palace Hotel, and NV Energy again played a major role in the event.

NV Energy received the award for Supplier Diversity Program of the Year, and Senior Supplier Diversity Administrator Rose Davis of NV Energy was honored as the Community Relations Specialist of the Year.  The April event highlighted the accomplishments of Minority Business Enterprises and Major Corporations in the State of Nevada that have excelled in programs, products and/or services the previous calendar year. The Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council is a nonprofit organization and affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

The NVMSDC represents the interests of more than 300 certified minority businesses and more than 80 major corporations throughout the State of Nevada that has generated over $110 billion dollars in business since its inception.
Last year, NV Energy was selected to the NVMSDC Hall of Fame as well as winning Supplier Diversity Program of the Year.  NV Energy’s Carolyne Sharp also won Community Relations Specialist of the Year.