“Supplier diversity is important in life because equity, parity, and inclusion are important to the ecosystem of human life.” – Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams is a supplier diversity manager at Evergy, a company that delivers utility services to 1.8 million residential and commercial customers in Kansas and Missouri. Courtney has worked in community engagement for over 20 years and is passionate about the development of diverse businesses as a way to create local impact and foster generational wealth. As a supplier diversity manager for Evergy, Courtney is also dedicated to increasing the culture of supply chain inclusion and the development of impactful business relationships. She holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Lindenwood University.

Courtney joins us today to discuss why cultivating supplier diversity in the energy sector is an engine for economic development and economic justice. She describes her professional journey in supplier diversity and how she became a part of the Evergy family. She explains Evergy’s goal and its approach to making its supply chain more diverse and inclusive. She outlines Evergy’s three pillars as an organization and how supplier diversity aligns with them. She highlights why, despite the necessity of ensuring spending on diverse firms, it’s still imperative to treat them according to their merits and the quality of the products they provide. Courtney also underscores why having an economic impact report is crucial and why it’s essential to have policies, practices, and procedures that make it easy to be inclusive in supplier diversity opportunities.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Courtney’s background and role as a supplier diversity manager at Evergy

Connect with Courtney Williams:

• Evergy

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

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“Diverse suppliers should focus on what’s important to the companies they’re engaging with. They have to be able to scale, operate, and deliver, leading to better outcomes relative to services and products.” – Curtis Crowder

Mishaune Sawyer is the Senior Regional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager at JE Dunn Construction. A leader in the commercial construction industry since its founding in 1924, JE Dunn is a family-owned, employee-owned commercial building contractor headquartered in Kansas City. Mishaune has over two decades of professional experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the former Director of Projects at ERS Enterprises, Inc., where she served for over 20 years before joining JE Dunn Construction. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Emory University and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

Kris Oswold is the Vice President of Global Supplier Diversity at UPS. Kris is a leader in global business process design and organizational transformation who has built a career at UPS designing and executing global organizational change through formal programs and personal leadership. As the Vice President of UPS’s Global Supplier Diversity program, Kris is dedicated to expanding opportunities for diverse suppliers and enabling them to collaborate with UPS. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington.

Curtis Crowder is a cross-functional senior executive, award-winning entrepreneur, and diversity leader. He is the Director of Global Supplier Diversity, Sustainability, and Innovation at Fiserv, a leading global technology provider for the financial services industry. Curtis served as the Chief Information Officer of Jetaire Flight Systems and the Director of Client Solutions for Metasys Technologies before joining Fiserv. He also formerly served as the founder and CEO of Syntellus Dataworks for over a decade before joining SPI as an infrastructure solutions partner in 2014. He holds a degree in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mishaune, Kris, and Curtis join us today to share their insights on how they select diverse suppliers. They describe the key factors corporations evaluate when considering working with diverse suppliers. They explore how diverse suppliers can demonstrate scalability to corporations they want to work with. They also outline best practices and innovative tips for leveraging diversity and gaining access to corporate procurement opportunities.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Business continuity, value proposition, and other factors corporations consider when working with diverse suppliers

Resources Mentioned:

• National Association of Minority Contractors

Connect with Mishaune Sawyer:

• JE Dunn Construction

Connect with Kris Oswold:

• UPS

Connect with Curtis Crowder:

• Fiserv Services Technology

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Purchase-order financing, account-receivable financing, and asset-based lending are other descriptions of what we do, but it’s all about what your assets are and how we can advance on the assets you already have.” – Jon Shane

Jon Shane is the Vice President for Broker Relations at SouthStar Capital, an asset-based private lender with in-house closing, underwriting, and account management. A commercial lending institution that specializes in accounts receivable, payroll funding, and purchase-order financing, SouthStar Capital provides custom financial solutions from its diverse product mix to help its customers meet their unique cash flow needs. Jon holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a Master’s of Ministry in Biblical Studies from Northland International University.

Jon joins us today to discuss purchase-order financing and SouthStar’s asset-based lending services. He describes his role and responsibilities as the Vice President for Broker Relations at SouthStar Capital. He differentiates asset-based lending from other financing structures and outlines different terms that describe the asset-based lending structure. Jon also highlights how asset-based lending can help small businesses create cash flow and grow their accounts receivable.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• SouthStar’s asset-based lending services and Joe’s role and responsibilities in the organization

Connect with Jon Shane:

• SouthStar Capital

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“The psychology of consumer loyalty is impacting all of us.” – Stefanie Francis

Stefanie Francis is the Founder of Hootology, a marketing research firm that fully utilizes a tech-forward approach to consumer behavior and analytics. Hootlogy is founded on her passion for quantitative analytics, anthropology, innovation, art, and the creative process. She champions supplier diversity and is an advocate for equality inside and outside the workplace. Stefanie is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU SPS Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business. She is an award-winning speaker, a member of Valley Leadership, and has been recognized as one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s ‘Forty Under 40.’

In this episode, Stefanie shares the significance of considering consumer psychology when making an intelligent business decision. She shares how Hootology got started and what the name stands for. She explains how her company stands out among other research firms, particularly regarding the kind of data analytics they apply. She discusses the percentage of supplier diversity awareness in the industry. Stefanie also describes what large companies are missing by ignoring the trending data on supplier diversity.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• How the idea of Hootology started.

Connect with Stefanie Francis:

• Hootology

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“The more diverse the decision-making body is, the more factors you can get into the decision.” – Johnny Howze III

Johnny Howze III is the Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Southern Company, an energy company that produces clean, safe, and affordable energy for its 9 million customers. Johnny’s responsibilities include overseeing operational functions and power delivery. He has over 20 years of experience in plant operations and leadership positions, including running various coal-fired power plants that served millions of customers.

Johnny joins us today to discuss why he prefers the term “economic inclusion” over “supplier diversity.” He divulges Southern Company’s efforts in helping small businesses work with them, especially regarding the services they will need in the future. He explains his economic takeaways from the pandemic and why a diverse team allows for better decision-making. Johnny also dispels the myth of the costs associated with working with small businesses.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What Southern Company provides

Connect with Johnny Howze III:

• Southern Company

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Understand and know your data, and don’t over-collect. If you’re worried about it—and all businesses who collect data should worry about these laws—engage a privacy professional and attorney.”
– Rebecca Rakoski

Rebecca Rakoski, Esq., is the co-founder and managing partner of XPAN Law Partners. A boutique domestic and international cybersecurity and data privacy law firm, XPAN Law is dedicated to global strategic thinking that reduces risk and leads businesses forward. Rebecca, an experienced litigator, is committed to counseling and defending public and private corporations and their boards during data breaches and has handled hundreds of matters in state and federal courts. She is also skilled in mitigating her clients’ litigation risks by managing the intersection of state, federal, and international regulations that impact the transfer, storage, and collection of data. She received her Juris Doctor from the Widener University School of Law.

Rebecca joins us today to discuss data privacy and why it’s critically important for small businesses to understand. She discusses the right to privacy and how the United States views it differently from other parts of the world. She explores state-level data privacy laws in the United States and describes how business practice should be done in states with data privacy laws. Rebecca also explains what access control policies are and why data privacy policies and practices need to evolve and be tailored to the needs of a business.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What data privacy is and why it’s important for small businesses to consider

Resources Mentioned:

• Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon

Related Content:

• What Businesses Need To Know about Cybersecurity Law with Rebecca Rakoski of XPAN Law Partners

Connect with Rebecca Rakoski:

• XPAN Law Partners

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Failure is an option. Failure is a great guide. It is how you learn—how you recognize you’re not doing the right things and therefore you should change to succeed.” – Paul Singer

Paul Singer is the Investigations and Impact Editor at the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. His The Color of Public Money series at GBH News investigates the systemic exclusion of minority-owned businesses from public contracts in Massachusetts. Before joining GBH News in 2018, Paul was a politics editor and Washington correspondent for USA Today. He also previously worked as an associate editor of Investigations for Roll Call and an executive branch correspondent for the National Journal. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Kenyon College.

Paul joins us today to share a recent ground-breaking story about a construction company that filed false reports on its diverse spend to the city government while working on a $100 million public contract. He describes the background of The Color of Public Money series at GBH News and how they discovered evidence of vast racial disparities in awarding government contracts. Paul also underscores how the leadership of an enterprise can impact spending on diverse businesses and highlights the importance of transparency.

“Failure is an option. Failure is a great guide. It is how you learn—how you recognize you’re not doing the right things and therefore you should change to succeed.” – Paul Singer

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• How the state of Massachusetts falsified information on the number of contracts they awarded to minority-owned businesses

Resources Mentioned:

• The Color of Public Money: Worcester Spent More Than $100 Million Building Polar Park. Minority Companies Got Peanuts

Related Content:

• Uncovering Racial Inequalities in Public Contracting with Journalist Paul Singer

Connect with Paul Singer:

• GBH News

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Good financial stability and wellness of the company, coupled with good people, is every business’s heartbeat. Without them, the likelihood that a company can survive is low.” – Durran Dunn

Durran Dunn is an accomplished business professional currently serving as the Managing Director for Grant Thornton’s Advisory, Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Controls practice. Over his 20 years of experience leading global businesses in accounting, finance, and internal audits, Durran has worked in multiple industries, including manufacturing, consumer products, media & entertainment, and biopharmaceuticals. In addition to his work with Grant Thornton, he is a professional athlete, a popular member of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball club, and the 2021 World Series champion.

Durran joins us today to discuss presence, excellence, and risk management strategies for small businesses. He describes his passion to succeed and his background as a professional athlete and explains why athletes make excellent business professionals. He highlights the value of being fully engaged at the moment and details his ability to excel as a professional athlete and business professional. Durran also underscores the importance of representation and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and offers advice on how small businesses can improve their accounting and risk management efforts.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Grant Thornton’s audit and advisory services

Resources Mentioned:

• QuickBooks

Connect with Durran Dunn:

• Grant Thornton LLP

“As supplier diversity leaders and professionals, we need to open our eyes and minds to doing something differently and finding new ways to engage stakeholders, scale with the program, and create inclusion.”
 – Curtis Crowder

Curtis Crowder is a cross-functional senior executive and award-winning entrepreneur, and diversity leader. He is the Director of Global Supplier Diversity, Sustainability, and Innovation at Fiserv, a leading global technology provider for the financial services industry. Before joining Fiserv, Curtis was the Chief Information Officer of Jetaire Flight Systems and the Director of Client Solutions for Metasys Technologies. He also formerly served as the founder and CEO of Syntellus Dataworks for over a decade before joining SPI as an Infrastructure Solutions Partner in 2014.

Curtis joins me today to discuss creating innovation in supplier diversity and sustainability. He outlines how he transitioned his career from deep technology to supplier diversity. He describes Fiserv’s services and how supplier diversity sits within its global strategic sourcing. He explains supplier sustainability at the enterprise level with Environmental, Social, and Governance metrics and how supplier sustainability can be viewed from the lens of the supply chain and vendors themselves. Curtis also highlights how supplier diversity and supplier sustainability walk hand-in-hand in Fiserv and underscores how supplier diversity professionals and leaders can lead the next steps toward creating an equitable and inclusive marketplace for buyers and suppliers.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Curtis’ career history and background in deep technology

Connect with Curtis Crowder:

• Fiserv Services Technology

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started, please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“To really build in supplier diversity, you have to hit all levels within an organization.” – Cecelia Bolden

Cecelia Bolden is an IT executive, business strategist, client relationship expert, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion advocate with over 34 years of experience in the information systems industry. She serves as the Chief Development and Diversity Officer of SDI Presence, an IT consultancy and managed services provider that leverages its strong team presence to advance its clients to a secure digital enterprise. In her role, Cecilia leads the development of new, large strategic accounts for SDI Presence. She oversees the organization’s financial stability, growth, vision, and direction while working to implement a business strategy that foregrounds DE&I efforts. She worked for Accenture and Oracle prior to joining SDI Presence and holds an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business.

Cecilia joins us today to discuss cultivating an ecosystem of diverse suppliers. She describes her professional journey in consulting and her role and responsibilities as SDI Presence’s Chief Development & Diversity Officer. She reveals the deficiencies in IT that she sees as an African American woman. She outlines how SDI Presence empowers diverse suppliers and how they work with organizations like Chicago United to build a supplier diversity ecosystem in Chicago. Cecilia also highlights how it’s possible to turn business competitors into collaborators and partners and underscores how the integration of commitment, education, and corporate America can create a thriving ecosystem of diverse suppliers.

“To really build in supplier diversity, you have to hit all levels within an organization.” – Cecelia Bolden

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Why Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion is all about intentionality and focus

Connect with Cecelia Bolden:

• SDI Presence LLC

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started, please visit us @ hireground.io today!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.