- Stellantis hosts 23rd Annual Supplier Diversity MatchMaker event
- Virtual event connects more than 200 diverse business owners with more than 100 Tier 1 supplier decision makers and 200 Stellantis buyers across commodity areas
- Launches program to foster growth and development of women-owned and certified companies in partnership with the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council
- Event honors four companies for excellence in supplier diversity
Continuing a tradition now in its 23rd year, Stellantis virtually hosted its annual supplier diversity MatchMaker program, furthering the company’s long-standing commitment to building a diverse supply base and growing wealth for diverse business owners and communities.
This year’s MatchMaker, attended by more than 150 exhibitors, 1000 attendees, and 200 Stellantis decision makers, offered diverse-owned companies the opportunity to host virtual exhibit spaces for networking and to learn about Stellantis diversity development initiatives, including matchmaking meetings with key buyers and decisionmakers..
The opening ceremony kicked off with remarks from Stellantis executives and Julie Fream, president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).
“A key competitive differentiator of Stellantis’ commitment to diversity continues to be our leadership in providing new opportunities to grow diverse suppliers, including certified minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ+ and disability-owned businesses,” said Mark Stewart, North America COO, Stellantis. “Stellantis is proud of this extraordinary record and our team’s commitment to sustaining our position as a corporate leader promoting the best values of supplier diversity. In effect, sharing our success to empower diverse communities.”
Since 1983, the company has purchased more than $100 billion from diverse suppliers.
MatchMaker has generated more than $4 billion in new business opportunities for minority-owned businesses, including women, veterans, LGBTQ and disabled and small businesses since its inception in 1999.
In 2021, Stellantis in North America spent more than $7 billion with 200-plus diverse suppliers.
Over the last few years Stellantis received the following honors for its supplier diversity efforts:
- Number three ranking out of more than 2,000 companies in Diversity Inc’s annual review of corporate supplier diversity programs in the U.S.
- President’s Award from the National Veterans Business Development Council
- Corporation of the Year Award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council
- Benchmark Corporation of the Year from Rainbow Push Coalition
- Best-in-Class Award from the Great Lakes Women Business Council
- Top Corporation Gold Award from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
- President’s Award from the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council
MentorWE – Women’s Business Development Program
During the event, Stellantis announced the launch of a new program in partnership with the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council.
The program, named Mentor-WE, will focus on growth and development of women-owned and certified companies. The nine-month program will kick off in October 2022 with an initial group of 10 women-owned businesses. The program will include business development modules taught by Stellantis executives and leading women entrepreneurs, with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“MentorWE is the next generation of business development, elevating WBE businesses to new levels by combining peer group support, successful WBE and corporate group mentoring, and executive business education and counseling,” said Michelle Richards, founder and director, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. “Stellantis is a valuable partner in this initiative, which will assits WBE businesses to go from incremental to exponential growth as a result.”
Supplier Diversity Excellence
Stellantis also recognized suppliers that have demonstrated leadership, passion, and commitment to building robust supplier diversity programs.
Winning companies in four award categories:
- Indirect Services and Logistics: Giffin
- Direct Production: Mayco International
- Aftermarket: Kem Krest
- Tier 1 Supplier Diversity Champion: Cummins Inc.
Other topics presented at MatchMaker included a review of projects underway in North America as part of the company’s Dare Forward 2030 plan and efforts to improve the lives of customers today and in a digital and electrified future.
“Despite our team’s many successes, we remain highly motivated to continue to find innovative ways to take our commitment to diverse suppliers to exciting new levels,” said Bashar Cholagh, Head of Supplier Diversity Development, Stellantis – North America.
For more information about Stellantis’ supplier diversity programs, visit https://www.supplierdiversitystellantis.com/.
The virtual event was powered by OESA’s meeting platform.
