AT&T Named 2010 Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council
Top national award recognizes AT&T's efforts to increase share of procurement spending with minority-owned businesses
DALLAS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has been named the 2010 Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The prestigious award was given in recognition of AT&T's exemplary achievements in the inclusion of Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American-owned providers in its supply chain.
"We are both honored and encouraged by the National Minority Supplier Development Council's recognition," said Tim Harden, president, AT&T Supply Chain and Fleet Operations. "Supplier diversity is a strategic component of our business plan and has enabled us to become a world leader in delivering the best products and services to our customers," he added.
AT&T's minority business enterprise spending has ranked among the highest in the country year after year. Since its program began in 1968, AT&T has spent $50 billion with diversity enterprises, more than $5 billion with minority enterprises –10 percent of its total—in 2009 alone. The company has worked hard to maintain its diversity spending objectives even during times of economic change, in fact increasing its diversity spending by $2 billion in the past two years. AT&T has an aggressive target of purchasing 21.5% percent of its total procurement from diversity suppliers.
Along with spending the NMSDC award recognized AT&T's 42-year leadership in supplier diversity. Many of the company's long-standing processes are considered industry best practices while new ones continue to be created. AT&T's Women of Color Businesses Growth Initiative and AT&T's Operation Hand Salute, which is targeted to disabled veteran-owned business, are examples of recent innovation. Both programs were created to mentor and coach diverse suppliers to better compete for corporate contracts.
Additionally, in July AT&T re-launched its Prime Supplier Program through a series of matchmaking events designed to target economically hard hit areas. These events are hosted in partnership with diverse community-based organizations, including local NMSDC councils, to provide opportunities for certified prospective suppliers to network with AT&T's prime suppliers.
AT&T is an original member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable – a diversity think-tank of only 17 corporations that spend more than $1 billion annually with women and minority-owned companies.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at the AT&T Web Site. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at AT&T Newsroom, and as part of an RSS feed at AT&T RSS Feed. Or follow our news on Twitter @ATT. Find us on Facebook at the AT&T Facebook to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at AT&T Small Business Facebook to discover more about our small business services.
© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
Share this article