11th Annual Best Practices in Supplier Diversity Program Strategies and Initiatives Seminar August 9-10, 2006

Diversity Information Resources will sponsor the 11th annual "Best Practices" seminar August 9-10, 2006. This year’s seminar is hosted by Ernst & Young and will be held at Ernst & Young’s Corporate Headquarters in New York City.

Leslie Bonds, Executive Director, "We are expecting record attendance this year. The location, Ernst & Young’s state-of-the-art corporate headquarters is located in the heart of Times Square and supplier diversity professionals are eager to learn from leading supplier diversity experts. "

Topics will include: Government and Non-Government Reporting, Subcontracting Plans, and Goals; Second Tier: Prime Supplier and Buyer Training; Creating Strategic Alliances; Is Your Supplier Diversity Program in the Game? ROI for Supplier Diversity/Business Case; Building Your Personal Board of Directors, Networking with a Purpose; Is Your Program Really Focused on Results?

Leslie Bonds states, "The first Best Practices Seminar in 1995 was a pilot program designed to bring together supplier diversity professionals to discuss current trends and issues in supplier diversity. Today the seminar has grown in participation, includes leading edge topics presented by expert practitioners, and has gained national attention by many US Corporations. "

31st Edition of "Purchasing People in Major Corporations" is now available online and in print

The updated and improved 2006 Purchasing People in Major Corporations directory is now available. Access approximately 700 supplier diversity and purchasing managers from major corporations, government agencies, large non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. Market your products and services directly to these companies by purchasing online access or the print directory today.

"Purchasing People in Major Corporations" data includes the name of the company, contact name and title, address, phone, fax, email and web site, as well as a description of products and services and industry classifications. The online access version is continuously updated to ensure accurate data and allows users to develop and download targeted customer lists, email directly from the database and access web sites.

The 2006 print directory is $60 and the one-year online access is $85. Special pricing is also available. For more information or to order, call DIR or order online here.

To access the Purchasing People online database click here www.dirpurchasingpeople.com

Gregory Huelsman Selected as Diversity Information Resources (DIR) New Seminar Facilitator

DIR has selected Mr. E. Gregory Huelsman as its new Supplier Diversity Seminar Facilitator. Voted "Best of the Decade" in diversity in 2003 by a major national minority magazine, Mr. Huelsman has amassed a successful 25-year career in supplier diversity with a leading Fortune 10 manufacturing firm. His leadership in directing the firm’s diversity initiatives and creating purchasing policies and procedures, change management initiatives, supply chain management plan and corporate responsibility strategies underscore his career in Operations and Purchasing.

According to Leslie Bonds, Executive Director of DIR, "The DIR Board of Directors is excited about the selection of Mr. Huelsman. We have been conducting successful seminars on supplier diversity for over 20 years. We know that Mr. Huelsman’s knowledge, leadership and excellent presentation skills will contribute to a successful seminar series."

Mr. Huelsman states, "I have always viewed DIR as the leader in this training and certainly one of the best organizations in America serving Supplier Diversity. To be a part of DIR is a great honor. My seminars have been well received. I am confident that the training will be effective, entertaining and thought provoking. My presentation goals have always been to motivate the audience into action and to give them the right tools, concepts and ideas so that they can return to work armed and ready to improve their supplier diversity programs."

The 2006 seminars series is scheduled for February 16-17, February 20-21 in Scottsdale, AZ, and June 8-9, June 12-13 in Minneapolis, MN. For more information on the seminars click here or call (612) 781-6819.

DIR Celebrates the 10th Anniversary “Best Practices” in Supplier Diversity Program Strategies and Initiatives Seminar – August 10-11, 2005

According to Leslie Bonds, Executive Director, Diversity Information Resources, "2005 will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Best Practices in Supplier Diversity Seminar. We are excited to celebrate 10 years of educating supplier diversity managers and directors on the Best Practices in this arena."

Experienced supplier diversity program practitioners will address the topics: Supplier Diversity and Multicultural Marketing, the Delicate Balance; Mentor Protégé Relationships: A Critical Element in Supplier Diversity Programs; Global Procurement/Globalization and the Impact on M/WBEs and Supplier Diversity; Federal Government: Significant Developments for Small Businesses and Large Prime Contractors, Subcontracting with Small Businesses, Automating Reporting; Role of the Supplier Diversity Professional; Second Tier: Fundamentals through Effective Tactics.

Leslie Bonds states, "The first Best Practices Seminar in 1995 was a pilot program designed to bring together supplier diversity professionals in an educational setting to discuss current trends and issues in supplier diversity. Today the seminar has grown in participation, includes leading edge topics presented by expert practitioners, and has gained national attention by many US Corporations."

John Taylor, ADM, Theresa Harrison, Ernst & Young and Michael Robinson, IBM join the Diversity Information Resources Board of Directors

Diversity Information Resources (DIR) is proud to announce it’s newest board members: John Taylor, Director, Corporate and Supplier Diversity, ADM; Theresa Harrison, Supplier Diversity, Ernst & Young; and Michael Robinson, Program Director Global Supplier Diversity, IBM.

The DIR Board of Directors are comprised of major U.S. Corporations with strong supplier diversity programs. The board sets policy and direction for the organization and the members are leaders in the supplier diversity arena.

According to Leslie Bonds, Executive Director of Diversity Information Resources, "DIR is committed to assisting diverse suppliers and corporate buyers in achieving their goals. The board's role in achieving this success is substantial. They have the expertise, knowledge, and networking skills to affectively market DIR’s products and services. The board member's corporations are also DIR’s customers, which helps continuously improve DIR's products and services." See entire Board of Directors.

DIR Sourcing/Supplier Registration Portal now includes Veterans, Service Disabled Veterans and HUBZone Businesses

For 36 years Diversity Information Resources has managed data on certified minority and women-owned business enterprises. In June 2004 the DIR Board of Directors voted to include Veteran, Service Disabled Veteran and HUBZone businesses.

Leslie Bonds, Executive Director states, "The requests from our customers as well as potential customers who need accurate data on Veteran, Service Disabled Veteran and HUBZone businesses was overwhelming. It made good business sense to include those business classifications in the DIR sourcing portal."

The DIR Sourcing/Supplier Registration Portal now includes minority, women, Veteran, Service Disabled Veteran and HUBZone business classifications. The portal is a tool to source certified diverse suppliers as well as a place to have suppliers register. There are several levels of access ranging from sourcing only to an all inclusive database management portal (sourcing, supplier registration/certification validation, data cleansing, data uploading, etc.)

For more information on access to the portal go to Products on the menu above.

New DIR Chair - Paul Schupmann, General Mills

The DIR Board of Directors held their annual board meeting in June 2004. Officer elections were held at that time. The new DIR Officers are Paul Schupmann, General Mills, Chair; Benita Fortner, Raytheon, Vice Chair; Jethro Joseph, DaimlerChrysler, Treasurer; and Kenneth Gardner, Johnson Controls, Secretary.

Paul Schupmann was the Vice Chair for the past two years and has served on the DIR board for over 7 years. He has served as past Chair of the Marketing Committee, served on the Personnel Committee as well as Treasurer.

To view all of the DIR Board of Directors click on About DIR in the menu bar above.