2024 WBE Hall of Fame Awards Program Presenters from left: Tom Trotter, Billy Bryant Schultz and Terri Quinton.
Accepting for Coca-Cola, Michelle Burgess, Director, Inclusion & Diversity Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, LLC
Coca-Cola established its Supplier Diversity Program over 40 years ago to ensure equal opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and disabled persons. The company has partnered with key diversity organizations, including the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. In 2010, Coca-Cola integrated sustainability into its diversity initiatives, collaborating with suppliers who prioritized environmental and social responsibility. By 2015, the program had gained national recognition, earning multiple awards for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the supply chain.
Reaffirming its dedication in 2020, Coca-Cola set ambitious goals to economically empower diverse suppliers by increasing spending with minority-owned businesses. The company actively mentors diverse suppliers, fosters innovation, and measures the broader impact of its diversity initiatives. Coca-Cola also supports Rise Up Crowdfunding, which helps women and minority-owned startups raise capital. Expanding its outreach further, the company has hosted AI summits in the U.S., Italy, and Spain to engage and support minority- and women-owned businesses.
WBE HALL OF FAME HONOREE
