Barnes & Thornburg LLP has launched a new Diverse Supplier Program that expands relationships with key vendors, aligning it with the firm’s ongoing efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion in the firm’s outside vendor and business interests across all of its offices.
The program seeks to identify ways the firm can further work with diverse businesses and service providers. The plan establishes expectations of suppliers, the process to be acknowledged as part of the program and various communications channels the firm will engage to roll out the plan.
"We seek to model our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all that we do and this new program is another step in that direction,” said Dawn R. Rosemond, Barnes & Thornburg’s director of diversity, professional development and inclusion. “Indeed, one of our core values affirms, ‘We are responsible stewards of our resources, taking care to use our influence, brand, purchasing power, and thought-leadership to drive diversity and inclusion growth outside the walls of our firm.’ This new program was specifically created to this end.”
Barnes & Thornburg’s new Diverse Supplier Program incorporates a registration process that will port suppliers and vendors into a centralized database accessible by all procurement decision-makers. Further, to facilitate increasing opportunities for a certified Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) to work with the firm, the program facilitates consideration of a DBE in the fulfillment of each sourcing opportunity. DBE classifications include women and minority-owned businesses as well as enterprises led by veterans, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.
“We’re excited that our new Diverse Supplier Program will more formally emphasize our support and expansion of our business relationships with DBEs,” said Debi Mitchell, the firm’s director of operations.
Barnes & Thornburg is seeking diverse suppliers in several different areas, including facilities and operations, information technology, marketing and other professional services, such as recruiting, couriers and training.
“Barnes & Thornburg has been integral to the growth and success of my business,” said Kamika Perry, co-founder of Eyedea Studio. “They genuinely believe in strengthening and building a strong partnership with us and having had the opportunity to meet everyone from the managing partner, to the receptionist in multiple locations I can truly say that Barnes & Thornburg is as authentic as they come.”
For more information about our new program and how to register, visit our Diverse Supplier Program webpage.
With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.
