Corporate Partners

Altria Group, Inc., became the name of the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris USA, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris Capital Corporation on January of 2003.  Collectively, these companies form the Altria family of companies. An essential part of Supplier Diversity management is accessing goods and services from the best and widest possible selection of supplier companies. Altria’s operating companies give qualified diverse suppliers an equal opportunity to work with them regardless of race, national origin or gender. The Altria family of companies — including Kraft Foods, Philip Morris Capital Corporation and Philip Morris USA — have outstanding records in advancing their respective businesses with diverse suppliers. In 2002 alone, these companies, along with Altria Corporate Services, Inc., purchased more than $1.4 billion in products and services from minority- and women-owned firms.

American Airlines has history dating back to 1926, the mission of the American Airlines Diversified Supplier Program is to assist minority, women-owned and small businesses in their development as competitive suppliers of products and services. It is our goal to proactively evaluate, award, review and assure the inclusion of these companies in order to foster mutually beneficial and diverse business relationships of the highest standards.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company founded in 1850. It is a global payments, network and travel services provider and international banking company. American Express is committed to developing mutually advantageous business relationships with small businesses and firms owned and operated by minorities, women and the physically challenged. The company seeks the best valued, highest quality products and services by encouraging competition among all suppliers.

Anheuser-Busch, they believe in promoting diversity in all of their relationships. They actively support numerous community programs sponsored by a wide variety of ethnic groups; encourage the development of minority- and women-owned companies by purchasing more than $400 million in annual goods and services from those companies; and one of our 10 core values is "building a high-performing, diverse workforce."

At AT&T their customers represent every dimension of diversity. Therefore, they encourage diversity and inclusion in everything we do and everyone with whom we work. Diversity is represented in the people who work here and in our suppliers, and it is a core feature of our training and development programs. AT&T Wireless has exceptional opportunities to reach out to our communities and multi-cultural groups, and that is an extraordinary benefit to our customers.

Days Inn® properties are found all over the globe - in cosmopolitan cities and quaint towns, at beaches and in mountain ranges, along highways and near airports. By fostering diversity among its suppliers, American corporations can have a profound impact on the overall growth of our economy. Minority and women-owned companies are among the fastest growing businesses in America today. By partnering with them, progressive companies like Wyndham Worldwide help to generate new ideas and opportunities, which not only help their own businesses, but the overall strength and dynamism of the American economy itself.

At Delta Dental, they are committed to providing services in Spanish as a way of connecting with and better serving the Hispanic community. It is important to them to not only communicate with their enrollees, but to understand their diverse cultures. As part of one of the nation’s largest dental benefits administrators, they collectively serve more than 21 million enrollees in both commercial and government-sponsored programs. Delta Dental is backed by one of the most extensive provider networks in the nation — more than 165,000 dentist locations. Of those locations, many have Spanish-speaking capabilities. Their involvement with Hispanic businesses is a way to promote growth and awareness within their various communities. Delta Dental is proud to be a part of 38 Hispanic organizations across the country. They are also platinum members of the Hispanic Dental Association and participate in several programs that provide scholarships to Hispanic students.

Direct Energy is one of North America’s leading integrated energy companies and a member of the Centrica group of companies. With operations across Canada, Texas and the north-eastern United States, Direct Energy delivers C$8 billion of energy and related services to over five million residential and commercial customers. Worldwide, the Centrica group of companies provides energy and other services through more than 32 million customer relationships.

General Motors Corporation, the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. As one of the nation's first corporations to establish a formal minority supplier diversity program over 38 years ago, they are proud of their history of leadership and progress. Since that time, they have purchased more than $56.6 billion in goods and services from direct and indirect minority suppliers. The foundation of General Motors Supplier Diversity program focuses on enhancing minority supplier's capabilities by providing developmental tools. GM demonstrates this through their mentorship program and annual recognition of exceptional performing minority-owned companies.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.3 trillion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity. component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has its corporate headquarters in New York and its U.S. retail financial services and commercial banking headquarters in Chicago. Under the JPMorgan and Chase brands, the firm serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. Their supplier diversity efforts significantly contribute to the overall success of JPMorgan Chase. The company understands the value of having a diverse supplier portfolio and are a recognized market leader in Supplier Diversity. Since 1994, the company has spent over $3.4 billion with over 1000 diverse businesses. Their Supplier Diversity efforts assist diverse suppliers in realizing economic growth and development. They believe that by helping to build a strong and vibrant business community through the utilization and development of certified diverse businesses, theyr create mutually beneficial business relationships.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, an advanced technology company, was formed in March 1995 with the merger of two of the world's premier technology companies, Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta Corporation. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company's supplier diversity mission statement is to have a world class program promoting inclusion of small, small disadvantaged, woman, hub zone, veteran-owned and service disabled veteran businesses; as well as historically black and tribal colleges, universities, and minority institutions in business opportunities.

New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurance companies in the world with net income of $1.12 billion as of December 31, 2003. The New York Life Supplier Diversity Program is designed to ensure that minority and women owned businesses have equal access to their procurement processes. Some of their current initiatives involve exploring innovative approaches to facilitate M/WBE inclusion in non–traditional areas like management consultants and investment firms. They will continue to expand our customer base for M/WBEs and participate in activities that will introduce the company to new M/WBEs. They are also encouraging their prime suppliers to subcontract with M/WBEs in the performance of our contracts.

Southwest Airlines Co. is dedicated to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. They are committed to provide their Employees a stable work environment. A key component of providing the highest quality of Customer Service and a stable work environment is low fares. In order to keep their fares low they must keep their costs low. They are, therefore, dedicated to finding ways to lower their costs and increase their productivity and quality. They value suppliers who have the same focus and look internally for ways to improve their processes and service, and willingly pass on cost savings to Southwest Airlines. As a Company, Southwest Airlines Co. values diversity and seeks to create an environment that encourages it, both in the workplace and among their supplier base. Their Supplier Diversity Program was designed to enable Southwest to extend opportunities to qualified Small, Disadvantaged, HUBZone, Minority, Women, Veteran and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (Diverse Businesses). It is the goal of this program to assist Diverse Businesses in their development as competitive suppliers of products and services.

The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. their supplier diversity mission is to provide equal access to procurement opportunities for minority- and women-owned enterprises (MWBEs). They have made a commitment to proactively building relationships with and purchasing goods and services from MWBEs to the maximum extent possible. This mission underscores their long-standing commitment to being a leader in supplier diversity and a model corporate citizen in the communities we serve. In addition, it is in keeping with the Coca-Cola Promise "...to benefit and refresh everyone who is touched by their business."

TXU manages a portfolio of competitive and regulated energy businesses primarily in Texas. In the competitive TXU Energy Holdings segment (electricity generation, wholesale marketing and retailing), TXU Energy provides electricity and related services to more than 2.2 million competitive electricity customers in Texas, more customers than any other retail electric provider in the state. TXU has a long-standing commitment to the economic development of the communities it serves. The Supplier Diversity initiative at TXU was founded, and continues to be based on the strength of this commitment. Endorsed and supported by the highest level of TXU's management team, the Supplier Diversity initiative supports the development and utilization of small businesses, and businesses owned by women and minorities. The commitment is about good business.

UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services, helping more than 25 million individual consumers nationwide achieve improved health and well-being through various health service systems. UnitedHealthcare arranges access to quality, affordable care with more than 500,000 physicians and care professionals and 4,600 hospitals across America . UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon closed on a merger with MCI, Inc. on Jan. 6, 2006. Following the merger, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. Verizon has a long commitment to Supplier Diversity and their formal Supplier Diversity Program was established in 1984. Their goal is to increase spending with certified minority, women, and service disabled veteran-owned enterprises (MWDVBEs) year over year.

The corporate culture of Wal-Mart is one of the biggest contributing factors that make it one of the world's most admired companies. When Sam Walton founded the company, he instilled in his people and his business a belief system that is still very much in place today. The philosophy that drives diversity at Wal-Mart is a natural extension of their core beliefs: respect for the individual; service to the customer; and strive for excellence. Diversity is a key dimension of their commitment to customers, suppliers, and associates: treat them with fairness and respect, be their advocates, be sensitive to their concerns, value their differences, and serve and support them the best they can.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance for more than 23 million customers through 6,100 stores, the internet and other distribution channels across North America and elsewhere internationally. Supplier Diversity is more than a phrase at Wells Fargo — it is a way of doing business. They are committed to proactively seeking minority, woman, and disabled-owned suppliers. Their dedicated Supplier Diversity team advises and guides suppliers to prepare and position their businesses for maximum access to bid and contract opportunities. They are proud of their accomplishments, but even more excited about the potential for expansion and growth.