Global Supplier diversity

Pitney Bowes is committed to the growth of business with diverse suppliers. We believe diverse businesses enhance our global supply base, as they provide innovative strategies and solutions while meeting or exceeding expectations in the areas of cost, quality and delivery. We work diligently to ensure that the following diverse groups have the opportunity to compete for our business.

  • Minorities
  • Women
  • Veterans, service-disabled veterans
  • HUBZone
  • Native American
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT)
  • Economically Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB)
  • Small Businesses
  • Americans with disabilities

We continue to develop new strategies to help diverse businesses grow and participate in our own growth globally.

New areas of opportunity: We identify potential diverse suppliers in areas ranging from logistics and distribution, marketing, mechanicals, facilities and staffing, to finance, travel, benefits and legal work. We use business fairs and matchmaking opportunities to vet suppliers and build a continuous pipeline. The Global Supplier Diversity team meet regularly with sourcing teams to address gaps and develop plans. We are committed to earning recognition as a global supplier diversity leader in our industry, and have repeatedly been recognised in the United States for our supplier diversity practices and performance.

Communication: We work across the global procurement enterprise and supply chain to ensure commitment to supplier diversity throughout the company. We hold annual training for procurement professionals.

Supplier development: We work with existing diverse suppliers to help them qualify for expanded relationships through product or process improvements. We also mentor potential suppliers.

Sourcing: We integrate supplier diversity into our global sourcing process with an ongoing partnership between Global Supplier Diversity and procurement. Our sourcing processes include requirements for the inclusion of diverse businesses.

Metrics: Each year we establish a Small Business Administration commercial subcontracting plan. We set goals for year-over-year growth in diverse spend and use a supplier diversity dashboard to track performance by each diverse category.

CT-Supplier-Connection Small and Diverse Suppliers Workshop: “Is your Company Ready to Win a Contract with a Large Buyer?”

Pitney Bowes partnered with IBM, ISM-CT, Inc. and The Business Council of Fairfield County to present a new workshop to help diverse businesses win contracts and bid on new business opportunities with large firms ranging from Pitney Bowes and IBM to AT&T, DuPont, Pfizer and many others. 

john toto

John Toto, President of ISM-CT, Inc.

shelton workshop

A crowd of 100 attended the workshop at Pitney Bowes’ facility in Shelton, CT

Reporting

We report diverse supplier spend on a monthly basis to Management, and assess against internal goals as well as the Small Business Administration subcontracting plan. We also report supplier diversity spend to select commercial clients on a quarterly basis. And we require majority suppliers with whom we spend more than $500,000 per year to report their supplier diversity spend on a quarterly basis.

Supplier qualification and certification

We require all suppliers to meet high standards of product and service quality, as well as specific objectives related to cost, quality and delivery. To be considered for business with Pitney Bowes, diverse businesses are required to register their business on the supplier diversity portal at supplier-connection.net. Diverse businesses are strongly encouraged to seek certification from one of the following agencies:

  • National Minority Supplier Development Council
  • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
  • Small Business Administration
  • Association for Service Disabled Veterans
  • National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  • Minority Supplier Development-UK
  • We-Connect International

We also accept certification by federal, state and local governments in the United States.

Outreach organisations

We provide opportunities for small/diverse suppliers to connect with sourcing professionals and internal stakeholders:

We are an active leader and member of several major organisations dedicated to the advancement of diverse supplier development:

  • The National Minority Supplier Development Council – Minority
  • The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – Women
  • The National Veteran Owned Business Association – Veterans
  • The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber & Commerce –LGBT
  • The Minority Supplier Development – United Kingdom – Minority
  • The Connecticut Veterans Chamber of Commerce – Veterans 

gillan

Gillann Blunschi, Sr. Commodity Specialist, Procurement (center) accepted the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Top Corporation award for Pitney Bowes from Theresa Harrison, WBENC Board Chair, Diversity & Inclusiveness Procurement Leader, E&Y and Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President & CEO. 

mel ohl

Mel Ohl acceptance speech on behalf of Pitney Bowes for the National Corporation of the Year for 2016.

Leadership

Our engagement with diversity business development organisations includes active leadership and participation on key committees. Our Global Supplier Diversity Manager serves on the board of directors of the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council as well as on the Advisory Board of the National Veterans Owned Business Association. A senior procurement executive seat on the Board of Directors of the Woman’s Business Enterprise National Council is the Council’s immediate Past Chair.

supplier connection

Gary Breitbart, Head of CT-Supplier-Connection, The Business Council of Fairfield County, Jay Sheldon Wesley, Head of Global Supplier Diversity, Pitney Bowes and Timothy Coates, IBM Program Director during the question and answer period.

Performance 2016:

Global Supplier diversity

In 2015, we achieved 38.3% increase in spend with diverse suppliers over 2014. Contract awards to diverse businesses included staffing, facilities services, information technology and logistics.

Recognition and Awards

We have received numerous awards and recognition for our global supplier diversity programme. Click here to view some of our other supplier diversity awards. 

Pitney Bowes Awarded the 2016 National Corporation of the Year

The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) awarded Pitney Bowes the following awards at their 41st Annual Awards Gala for Outstanding Work in Advocacy for Minority Communities.  GNEMSDC’s mission is to advance business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. During its award ceremony, the Council recognises companies and individuals that advocate, connect, and support these minority businesses.

Pitney Bowes was named National Corporation of the Year for 2016. The award was accepted by Mel Ohl, Global Head of Procurement.

Jay Sheldon Wesley, Head of Global Supplier Diversity, was awarded the 2016 Advocate of the Year award for his tireless outreach in supporting minority business growth, job creation as well as his leadership through the Supplier Connection.  

jay 2016 advocate of year

Jay Sheldon Wesley, Head of Global Supplier Diversity, was awarded the 2016 Advocate of the Year award by The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council for his tireless outreach in supporting minority business growth, job creation.

business pioneer award

Jay Sheldon Wesley, Head of Global Supplier Diversity receives Advocate of Year, Business Pioneer Award CTLGC (CT Gay, Lesbian, Transgender Chamber of Commerce) 2015 to the right John Vincent Pica-Sneeden, CTGLC Executive Director and left Nan Arnstein/Treasure.