Billie Bryant (left) and Cheri Adams

Bank of America

Accepting: Cheri Adams, Regional Sourcing Manager, Global Supply Chain
Presenter: Billie Bryant Schultz (left), Board member, Women’s Business Council Southwest

Committed to helping businesses expand and thrive, Bank of America’s formalized supplier diversity and development program began in 1990 to ensure that diverse businesses are afforded maximum opportunity to participate in their competitive contracting and procurement processes. Bank of America has successfully targeted diverse businesses to participate in professional services, including legal services, marketing and advertising, personnel, property management, design and construction, technology and automation. The bank also purchases traditional commodities such as furniture, offi ce supplies and computer equipment from diverse suppliers. Bank of America supports the development of diverse suppliers through its Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship initiative. In 2002, Bank of America founded scholarships in memory of Dorothy B. Brothers and her contributions toward the advancement of supplier diversity and development for corporations and diverse businesses across the country. MWBEs are eligible to receive a scholarship to attend continuing education programs targeted toward business development. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council has recognized Bank of America as one of America’s Top Corporations for WBEs. Bank of America received the award seven times since its inception nine years ago and has achieved world-class status in supplier diversity.

“The key to being successful in this area is commitment from the top and understanding the business case for diversifying your supplier base, said Jeff W. Jones, Bank of America’s senior vice president and supplier diversity manager. “Knowing the business case helps not only the internal advocates for supplier diversity, but it also helps the WBEs. When they know the business case, they are better able to tailor their sales presentations to meet the needs of corporate America.”