Johnson Controls recently was selected as "Corporation of the Year" for 2006 by the Central and South Texas Minority Business Council (CSTMBC) for its outstanding achievements in developing diverse supplier companies.
Representatives from CSTMBC presented Johnson Controls with the top honors at the group's 2006 Awards Banquet earlier this month. Kenneth Gardner, diversity business development manager for the Automotive Experience business of Johnson Controls, accepted the award. The event, attended by more than 300 people, was held at the Marriott Rivercenter hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
Johnson Controls - a global diversified conglomerate - has operated an innovative program to recruit and develop diverse suppliers since the early 1990s. In fiscal-year 2006, the company purchased approximately $1.004 billion in goods and services from diverse firms, making it a member of the "Billion Dollar Roundtable" that includes just 12 companies that spend $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers.
CSTMBC, a voluntary organization with more than 400 members, works to create links between major corporations and minority businesses.
This year marks the first time in which Johnson Controls has gained Corporation of the Year recognition from the CSTMBC.
"Embracing diversity, and the positive results that it generates, is an important part of our company's corporate mission, values and business strategy," said Keith Wandell, president and chief operating officer of Johnson Controls. "We are pleased to be recognized by the CSTMBC for our minority supplier development activities in Texas."
The Corporation of the Year recognition earned by Johnson Controls was for companies that actively include certified minority suppliers in their procurement opportunities; assist in the development of minority suppliers; and promote supplier diversity and business development within their corporation and to their vendors and other businesses and organizations.
Also at the event, Reginald Layton, diversity business development director at Johnson Controls, received the 2006 Presidents Award for his service as chairman of the CSTMBC board of directors and his leadership in the launch of successful new CSTMBC programs in 2006. And Thomas Shipps, operations buyer at Johnson Controls, was selected as a finalist for the CSTMBC's 2006 Advocate of the Year Award.
Within the Diversity Business Development model at Johnson Controls, "diverse" suppliers include companies that are owned by minorities, women or veterans - and those designated by government agencies as small businesses or disadvantaged businesses.
Here are highlights of Johnson Controls' recent activities and achievements in support of diverse suppliers and minority-owned firms:
The company...
-- Integrates "diversity business development" as a key component of its
strategic business plan. Purchases from diverse suppliers, including
those owned by minorities and women, are targeted to grow each year.
-- Requires its vendors to develop and implement their own diversity
business development programs.
-- Pledges to include diverse suppliers in divestitures, lead supplier
arrangements, joint ventures and strategic alliances.
-- Creates successful partnerships in support of diverse businesses. For
example, Johnson Controls is a joint-venture partner with SAT Auto
Technologies, Ltd. in Avanzar Interior Technologies, LLC, in San
Antonio, Texas. Avanzar supplies seat systems and other interior
parts for 2007 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup trucks at the
automaker's new San Antonio plant.
-- Sponsors educational fellowships for officials from minority-owned
companies. Each year since 1998, Johnson Controls has funded
fellowships that enable executives to attend continuing-education
programs at the Tuck Graduate Business School of Dartmouth College in
Hanover, New Hampshire. Johnson Controls also has funded fellowships
for minority executives at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
-- Convenes trade shows and other events to promote purchases of goods
and services from diverse firms. Recently, Johnson Controls hosted
CSTMBC's Construction Forum to enhance business opportunities for
diverse firms on construction projects at the University of Texas
System and with the Texas Building and Procurement Commission.
-- Implemented standardized internal processes throughout the company for
recruiting, training and using diverse suppliers nationwide.
-- Launched a special mentoring and training process for corporations and
diverse suppliers in California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New
York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
-- Adopted web-based systems to provide business opportunities for
diverse suppliers, measure performance, and promote diversity-oriented
business solutions to customers.
-- Has provided significant support to the leadership and mission of
CSTMBC.
Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise.
