Reporting on supplier diversity.

How to actually get business from WEConnect International after you get certified

Most WEConnect-certified businesses wait 12 to 18 months before landing their first corporate purchase order. Here is what the ones who get …

· Mario Bailey

How to qualify for the Billion Dollar Roundtable: requirements and what membership means

The Billion Dollar Roundtable is the only US designation for corporations that verify $1 billion or more in annual diverse supplier spend. …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity after the DEI rollback: what changed and what didn't

The Trump administration's 2025 executive orders eliminated federal DEI programs and accelerated corporate retreats from branded diversity spending. Federal small-business set-aside contracting …

· Mario Bailey

How to write a federal subcontracting plan: what contracting officers actually want

Federal contracts above $750K require a subcontracting plan with specific percentage goals for small and diverse businesses. Primes that submit vague plans …

· Mario Bailey

How to become an Aflac diverse supplier

Aflac runs a formal supplier diversity program tied to NMSDC and WBENC membership, with documented spend in marketing, IT, and professional services. …

· Mario Bailey

How to become an Albertsons Companies diverse supplier

Albertsons Companies runs one of the largest grocery supplier diversity programs in the U.S., sourcing from MBE, WBE, LGBTBE, SDVOSB, and disability-owned …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Berkshire Hathaway Energy diverse supplier

Berkshire Hathaway Energy operates formal supplier diversity programs across its Iowa, Nevada, and California utilities, with state commission reporting requirements that create …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Estee Lauder diverse supplier

Estée Lauder Companies runs one of the most structured diverse supplier programs in consumer goods, with formal NMSDC and WBENC ties and …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Kellanova (formerly Kellogg's) diverse supplier

Kellanova runs a formal supplier diversity program under its parent Mars, Inc. umbrella and sources from MBE, WBE, veteran, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Macy's diverse supplier

Macy's runs a formal supplier diversity program through its vendor registration portal and attends NMSDC and WBENC conferences annually. Here's how to …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Marriott International diverse supplier

Marriott International runs one of the hospitality industry's largest supplier diversity programs, sourcing from MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, and other certified businesses across …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Molson Coors diverse supplier

Molson Coors runs a formal supplier diversity program under its Beyond Beer and Brew initiatives, with sourcing focused on ingredients, packaging, marketing …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Parker Hannifin diverse supplier

Parker Hannifin runs a formal supplier diversity program with NMSDC and WBENC membership. Here is exactly how to register, which certifications count, …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Publix Super Markets diverse supplier

Publix Super Markets runs a formal supplier diversity program through its Supplier Diversity department, prioritizing food and beverage, packaging, and store services …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Stryker diverse supplier

Stryker runs a formal supplier diversity program through its Supplier Diversity & Sustainability office and sources from MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, and other …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Valero Energy diverse supplier

Valero Energy runs one of the most active supplier diversity programs in the oil and gas sector, with procurement concentrated in construction, …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Whirlpool Corporation diverse supplier

Whirlpool Corporation runs a formal supplier diversity program out of its Benton Harbor, MI headquarters and actively sources from MBE, WBE, and …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a W.W. Grainger diverse supplier

Grainger runs one of the more structured diverse supplier programs in industrial distribution, with NMSDC and WBENC membership and a dedicated registration …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Yum! Brands diverse supplier

Yum! Brands operates a formal supplier diversity program across KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut and requires franchisees to source from diverse …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in automotive: how to get into the GM, Ford, and Stellantis supply chain

The Big Three automakers pioneered supplier diversity and collectively spend over $3 billion annually with diverse suppliers. Most diverse businesses enter at …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Chicago: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Chicago runs its own M/[WBE certification](/guides/wbe/) through the Department of Procurement Services, separate from Illinois's state BEP certification. You likely need both …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Dallas Fort Worth: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

DFW is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters than almost any metro in the country. Here is how diverse suppliers get into …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in energy and utilities: opportunities for diverse contractors

California's CPUC mandates 40% diverse utility spend; New York and Illinois have comparable requirements. That regulatory pressure translates into real, recurring contract …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in marketing and communications: agencies, PR, and media buying

Marketing and communications is one of the most accessible entry points for diverse suppliers at Fortune 500 companies — CMOs have made …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in media and entertainment: opportunities for diverse content creators and suppliers

Major studios and streaming platforms have made public diverse supplier commitments since 2020, but formal program structures vary widely. Here is what …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Portland: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Portland has city, state, and federal certification programs for diverse businesses, plus active corporate buyers at Nike, Intel, and Columbia Sportswear. Here …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity sourcing events: what they are and how to run one

Supplier diversity matchmaking events use pre-scheduled 15-minute meetings between corporate buyers and screened diverse suppliers. The NMSDC Annual Conference alone draws 12,000+ …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Tampa: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Tampa's supplier diversity market is anchored by MacDill Air Force Base, Raymond James, and Publix — plus state certification through the Florida …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity software and platforms: Supplier.io, TealBook, Coupa, and SAP Ariba compared

Six platforms dominate supplier diversity tracking in corporate procurement. Which one fits your organization depends on your ERP stack, whether you need …

· Mario Bailey

Tier 2 supplier diversity: how to set up and track it

Tier 2 supplier diversity tracks how much your prime suppliers spend with diverse sub-suppliers. GM, Ford, and Stellantis each report $15B+ in …

· Mario Bailey

Commercial subcontracting plans: when prime contractors use them and how they differ

Some large prime contractors negotiate a single commercial subcontracting plan that covers their entire government business rather than writing a new plan …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier development programs for diverse businesses: how corporations structure them

Spend tracking is table stakes. The corporations actually moving the needle on diverse supplier growth run structured development programs with mentoring cohorts, …

· Mario Bailey

Launching a corporate supplier diversity program: a checklist for procurement teams

If you've been handed the task of standing up a supplier diversity program, this checklist covers what actually matters in year one …

· Mario Bailey

Measuring the ROI of corporate supplier diversity programs: what the data says

Procurement leaders are under pressure to justify diverse supplier programs in dollar terms. The data exists — but you have to know …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity spend tracking tools: options for procurement teams managing Tier-1 data

Federal subcontracting plans require certified spend data at ISR/SSR time. Here is how procurement teams at primes and agencies are actually capturing, …

· Mario Bailey

Economic impact framing for supplier diversity: replacing DEI language in 2026

The DEI rollback didn't eliminate the business case for small and diverse suppliers. It changed the vocabulary. Here's how procurement teams are …

· Mario Bailey

FAR Part 19: what prime contractors must do for small business subcontracting

A contract over $750K with a federal agency triggers mandatory small business subcontracting obligations under FAR Subpart 19.7. Most prime contractors know …

· Mario Bailey

Mentor-protégé versus teaming agreements: when to use each for federal bids

Both arrangements let a prime partner with a small business on federal work, but they operate under different rules, carry different risks, …

· Mario Bailey

How prime contractors find qualified HUBZone subcontractors for their projects

HUBZone is the hardest set-aside category to fill on a subcontracting plan. Here's where qualified firms actually are and how to verify …

· Mario Bailey

Finding SDVOSB subcontractors: directories, verification, and common mistakes

Since January 2023, SDVOSB self-certification is gone. Here is exactly where to find verified veteran-owned subcontractors and how to confirm their status …

· Mario Bailey

How to find WOSB subcontractors for federal projects and corporate supply chains

WOSB certification has two tracks — self-certified and third-party — and the distinction matters when you're documenting subcontracting goals. Here's where to …

· Mario Bailey

HUBZone price preference in full-and-open competitions: how the 10% works

When a HUBZone firm competes in a full-and-open competition, the contracting officer adds 10% to every non-HUBZone bid before making the award …

· Mario Bailey

Individual subcontracting plan requirements: what to include and how to set goals

An individual subcontracting plan is contract-specific and legally binding. Get the 10 required elements wrong or miss a reporting deadline and you …

· Mario Bailey

ISR and SSR reporting for federal subcontracting plans: a step-by-step guide

If your contract carries a subcontracting plan, you file an Individual Subcontract Report twice a year and a Summary Subcontract Report once. …

· Mario Bailey

Mentor-protégé programs for large prime contractors: what you get and what you commit to

Mentor-protégé programs give large prime contractors a direct path to joint venture eligibility with small businesses and credit toward subcontracting goals. The …

· Mario Bailey

When prime contractors can use a joint venture to meet small business requirements

A joint venture with a qualifying small business can win a small business set-aside, but the rules are stricter than most BD …

· Mario Bailey

Subcontracting flow-down clauses: what primes must include in their sub agreements

When your prime contract includes a subcontracting plan, the government expects those obligations to travel down the supply chain. Here is exactly …

· Mario Bailey

How UK Businesses Sell to US Companies: Supplier Diversity and Corporate Procurement

The US-UK trade relationship exceeds $300 billion annually, yet most UK businesses don't know US corporations run formal supplier diversity programs that …

· Mario Bailey

How US multinationals run supplier diversity programmes in Asia-Pacific

There is no APAC equivalent to the SBA's 8(a) program or WBENC certification. US multinationals operating in Asia-Pacific are building supplier diversity …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Asia-Pacific: the state of play in 2025

APAC is roughly a decade behind the US and UK in formalised supplier diversity, but ESG reporting mandates and US multinational procurement …

· Mario Bailey

Malaysia's Bumiputera contractor programme: what it is and how it compares to US supplier diversity

Malaysia runs one of the world's most formalized ethnic-preference procurement systems, with mandatory Bumiputera participation quotas written directly into government contract awards …

· Mario Bailey

Tier 2 supplier diversity reporting: what it is and how it affects international suppliers

When a US buyer asks its prime suppliers to report diverse sub-supplier spend, that request reaches international businesses too. You may be …

· Mario Bailey

US supplier diversity certifications explained for international businesses

The US supplier diversity system splits into three tracks: federal (SBA-administered), corporate (NMSDC, WBENC, and others), and state. Most federal programmes require …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Southern Company diverse supplier

Southern Company spent $2.5 billion with diverse suppliers in 2023 — 29.1% of total spend — and has been running a formal …

· Mario Bailey

Small business subcontracting goals: what agencies expect and what other primes report

Federal agencies set wildly different small business subcontracting goals, and what satisfies a DoD contracting officer will get you flagged at DHS. …

· Mario Bailey

Good-faith efforts in small business subcontracting: what protects primes from LD exposure

Missing a small business subcontracting goal can trigger liquidated damages. What actually constitutes good-faith effort under FAR 52.219-9, and how do you …

· Mario Bailey

State-level set-aside programs for diverse contractors: how they differ from federal

Federal set-aside rules get most of the attention, but state programs carry real teeth on transportation, construction, and publicly funded contracts. The …

· Mario Bailey

Subcontracting disputes on federal projects: when primes and subs disagree

Federal subcontracts sit in a legal gray zone where commercial dispute norms often don't apply. Knowing the specific tools available — and …

· Mario Bailey

Subcontractor outreach plans for federal bids: what COs actually want to see

Most subcontracting plans fail not because the prime didn't try, but because they can't prove it. Here's what contracting officers actually scrutinize.

· Mario Bailey

How corporations write supplier diversity annual reports: structure and disclosures

Fortune 500 supplier diversity reports follow a predictable structure. Here is what goes into them, what institutional investors and advocacy groups scrutinize, …

· Mario Bailey

Tier-2 supplier diversity reporting: what corporations ask and how primes comply

Toyota, Ford, and P&G don't just want you to certify your own diversity status. They want to know who your suppliers are. …

· Mario Bailey

What is the Billion Dollar Roundtable?

The Billion Dollar Roundtable is a coalition of corporations that each spend more than $1 billion per year with diverse suppliers at …

· Mario Bailey

Guide · 9 min

How corporate supplier diversity programs actually work

Corporate supplier diversity programs operate as internal advocacy and tracking functions within large procurement organizations. Understanding who actually makes buying decisions — …

· Mario Bailey

Janitorial and cleaning company [MBE certification](/guides/mbe/)

Janitorial and cleaning services is one of the highest-volume categories in corporate supplier diversity programs. NMSDC's MBE certification is the key credential. …

· Mario Bailey

What is the difference between MBE and SBE certification?

MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and SBE (Small Business Enterprise) certifications operate in different markets, have different eligibility criteria, and are issued by …

· Mario Bailey

Guide · 9 min

Security guard services MBE or [DBE certification](/guides/dbe/) guide

Security services companies can pursue NMSDC [MBE certification](/guides/mbe/) for corporate contracts and DOT DBE certification for federally funded projects. Each credential opens …

· Mario Bailey

Staffing agency [MBE certification](/guides/mbe/): what NMSDC requires

NMSDC's MBE certification is the standard credential for minority-owned staffing agencies seeking corporate contracts. The site visit and financial documentation requirements are …

· Mario Bailey

What counts as a diverse supplier?

Eight ownership categories define diverse supplier status across federal and corporate programs. Owning 51% is the baseline requirement in almost every program, …

· Mario Bailey

What is supplier diversity?

Supplier diversity is the practice of intentionally sourcing goods and services from businesses owned by people from historically underrepresented groups. It operates …

· Mario Bailey

What is Tier 2 supplier diversity?

Tier 2 supplier diversity is the tracking and reporting of how much a company's own suppliers spend with diverse businesses. For certified …

· Mario Bailey

How to become an Abbott Laboratories diverse supplier

Abbott is a WBENC and NMSDC corporate member with a formal supplier diversity program that purchases across medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition, and …

· Mario Bailey

How to become an Aramark diverse supplier

Aramark runs one of the more active supplier diversity programs in food services, with Billion Dollar Roundtable membership and dedicated teams sourcing …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Dollar General diverse supplier

Dollar General operates 19,000+ stores and runs a formal supplier diversity program focused on MBE, WBE, and veteran-owned consumer packaged goods suppliers. …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a DXC Technology diverse supplier

DXC Technology is an IT services prime contractor with $14B+ in annual revenue and active subcontracting relationships with SDVOSB, 8(a), MBE, and …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a MetLife diverse supplier

MetLife is an NMSDC corporate member with an active supplier diversity program spanning insurance, financial services, IT, and professional services. Here is …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Parsons Corporation diverse supplier

Parsons Corporation is a $6B+ defense and infrastructure prime with a formal small business subcontracting program. Here is how to get registered, …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Sysco diverse supplier

Sysco is a Billion Dollar Roundtable member with $500M+ in annual diverse supplier spend. Getting in requires the right certification, the right …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Texas Instruments diverse supplier

Texas Instruments runs a formal supplier diversity program tied to its manufacturing supply chain in Texas and beyond. Here is what you …

· Mario Bailey

[MBE certification](/guides/mbe/) in Florida: Requirements, Process, and Benefits

Florida MBE certification runs through two separate tracks: NMSDC's affiliate council for corporate contracting, and the Florida Office of Supplier Diversity for …

· Mario Bailey

Which diversity certification is most valuable? A data-driven comparison

Federal set-aside programs awarded over $96 billion to diverse businesses in FY2023. But that money is not evenly distributed, and the certification …

· Mario Bailey

How Canadian Businesses Access US Corporate Supply Chains

Canada exports over $450 billion annually to the US, and Canadian diverse suppliers can access US corporate procurement through WEConnect International, USMCA …

· Mario Bailey

How European Businesses (Germany and Beyond) Access US Corporate Supply Chains

The US and EU trade $1.3 trillion in goods and services annually, yet most European B2B suppliers don't know which US corporate …

· Mario Bailey

How Indian Businesses Sell to US Companies: Certifications, Portals, and Approved Vendor Lists

US companies import roughly $50 billion in IT and professional services from India annually, but getting on an approved vendor list requires …

· Mario Bailey

How Mexican Businesses Sell to US Companies

Mexico surpassed China as the US's top trading partner in 2023, with bilateral goods trade exceeding $800B annually. The entry points for …

· Mario Bailey

How Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya Businesses Access US Corporate Supply Chains

AGOA gives duty-free US market access to 6,500+ product categories from 35 African countries, but getting into a US corporate supply chain …

· Mario Bailey

How Non-US Businesses Qualify for US Supplier Diversity Programs

WEConnect International is the only major supplier diversity certification available to women-owned businesses without a US entity. Every other mainstream certification requires …

· Mario Bailey

How International Businesses Access US Corporate Supply Chains

Most US supplier diversity certifications require a US business entity or US citizenship. The exception is WEConnect International, which certifies women-owned businesses …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Citibank Singapore diverse supplier in Singapore and APAC

Citi has operated in Singapore since 1902 and employs 8,000+ people locally. Registration goes through their Ariba-based iSource platform, and WEConnect International …

· Mario Bailey

How to become a Tyson Foods diverse supplier

Tyson Foods sources from thousands of suppliers across its protein supply chain and runs an active NMSDC-affiliated supplier diversity program with specific …

May 11, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a Mastercard diverse supplier

Mastercard runs a formal Supplier Diversity program with a 5% diverse supplier spend goal and a WEConnect International partnership for women-owned businesses …

Apr 8, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a KPMG diverse supplier

KPMG runs a formal supplier diversity program as an NMSDC and WBENC member, sourcing diverse suppliers across technology, legal, facilities, and professional …

Mar 31, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a Kaiser Permanente diverse supplier

Kaiser Permanente spent over $2.3 billion with diverse suppliers in 2022 and is a Billion Dollar Roundtable member. Here is how to …

Mar 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a Humana diverse supplier

Humana is a $106 billion health insurance and services company with an active supplier diversity program and NMSDC and WBENC membership. This …

Mar 20, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a Cigna diverse supplier

Cigna has committed to more than $1 billion in annual diverse supplier spend and actively recruits certified MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, LGBTBE, and …

Feb 13, 2026 · Mario Bailey