Commentary
NS: Expanding Opportunity Through Our Supplier Diversity Program
Written by Norfolk Southern Corporate Communications Department
Norfolk Southern colleagues at the Greater Women’s Business Council’s Top Corporation Awards Luncheon.
Our supply base includes hundreds of small and diverse firms that provide a wide variety of products and services, such as engineering services, mechanical services, information technology, office furniture, construction, promotional items, and transportation services. We partner with such firms who are committed to providing new technology, innovation, and competitively priced, high-quality products and services.
As a part of supporting our ongoing business needs, Norfolk Southern has implemented a number of inclusive sourcing practices. Our efforts are critical to providing opportunities for small and diverse firms to do business with us through our Supplier Diversity Program. In turn, this program supports job creation and encourages entrepreneurship among minorities, women, and other underrepresented communities.
“We want to be the leader in the rail industry as it relates to supplier diversity,” said Jackie Corletto, AVP Sourcing. “We are committed to building a leading-edge program that maximizes opportunities for small and diverse firms.”
Since formalizing our program in September 2021, we’ve made significant progress, increasing our overall spend with diverse suppliers, which include veteran-owned, minority-owned, women-owned, and more. In 2022, Norfolk Southern increased our spend with small and diverse businesses by 31%.
Norfolk Southern’s Sourcing organization proactively seeks proposals from small and diverse firms on all sourcing needs. This includes engaging in events hosted by a number of national and local business organizations such as the Greater Women’s Business Council, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. These events also serve as an opportunity to showcase Norfolk Southern and its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In recognition of these efforts, Norfolk Southern received the 2022 George Lottier Rising Star Award at the GMSDC’s 2022 Spirit of Alliance Awards held in Atlanta. The Rising Star Award recognizes a company with a supplier diversity program that is active for less than three years and has significantly impacted the growth of supplier diversity within the company.
“Supplier diversity is an essential business strategy at Norfolk Southern,” said Valerie Nesbitt, Group Manager, Supplier Diversity & Sustainability. “It is important for us to form meaningful business relationships by engaging high quality small and diverse firms. We are proud of our successes to date and excited about the future as we continue to grow our program.”
Norfolk Southern’s engagement on supplier diversity extends beyond its own needs, and the company seeks to broaden the opportunities available to suppliers. On April 12, Jackie Corletto, AVP Sourcing; Herbert Smith, Regional Vice President, State Relations; and Jeff Paige, Engineering Planning presented at the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program’s Get On Board business-to-business networking event. The event helped to connect companies with experienced small and diverse business owners seeking partnerships with railroads, contractors, design and engineering firms, and railroad contract and procurement executives for upcoming CREATE Program rail infrastructure improvements and other transportation initiatives in Northeastern Illinois.
“We have strong relationships with our partner organizations and regularly speak with them on how diverse suppliers can do business with us,” said Corletto. “Our suppliers play a critical role in helping us deliver value to our customers, shareholders, and the communities that we serve. We are committed to continuing to grow our partnerships with diverse suppliers from throughout our network.”
Firms who would like to participate in Norfolk Southern’s Supplier Diversity Program must first be certified by a valid council or government agency and then register to become a supplier. To learn more, please visit our Supplier Diversity homepage.
