USM Mentors Local Small Businesses in the Diversity Certification Process
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
USM, has been working with local small businesses throughout the U.S. for over 25 years. The subcontractor network, comprised of over 12,000 highly qualified service providers, is built into their business model. And small businesses make up over 90% of their network. Electricians, HVAC technicians, landscapers, snow plowers and others are working directly on-site at over 80,000 USM client facilities.
USM’s subcontractors live and work in the communities where these clients’ sites are located. The additional business they receive by working with USM, goes right to the heart of local communities– the local bank branches where these subcontractors have accounts, the hardware stores where they shop for their supplies, the grocery stores that they frequent. USM depends on these small business owners to help drive growth and has a vested interest in their success.
As an industry leader, USM has a responsibility to their subcontractor network to be their partners for change and to help them achieve their own growth objectives. As the USM workforce evolves to reflect the growing diversity of their client base, the communities they serve and the global marketplace, the initiative to understand, value and incorporate differences becomes increasingly more important.
As part of USM’s Supplier Diversity initiative to foster diversity and inclusion throughout the organization’s daily service operations, the company has an objective to increase their engagement and spend with certified Minority/Women-Owned/Veteran or Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprises (MWVBE) and has dedicated Diversity Specialist, Marisela Sanchez, to educating their subcontractor network to increase awareness of the MWVBE certification program and the benefits businesses receive through the certification.
“We want to make sure that our subcontractors are aware of the opportunities that the MWVBE certification offers,” said Ms. Sanchez. “Diversity not only helps create an inclusive and respectful business culture, but it also makes USM a stronger partner for our clients, enriching the service we provide through these small business partners to our client sites in local communities.”
The MWVBE certification gives businesses the opportunity to compete for government contracts in addition to inclusion in a national database of certified businesses utilized by corporations across the U.S. To help increase awareness, USM has established a Supplier Diversity Certification Mentoring Program. The program was designed to help existing USM subcontractors that are minority, women, and veteran business owners that have not taken the steps towards becoming certified. The mentoring program will assist these contractors in obtaining certification.
Additionally, USM has developed several trainings and webinars as well as a Microsoft SharePoint team site dedicated to the Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program. The site allows subcontractors to get information and to monitor their progress throughout the certification process. Open to all active USM subcontractors that are identified as minority, women or veteran owned enterprises, the team site allows visitors to capture valuable information, share documentation, host discussions and, of course, promote diversity.
USM is a corporate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) which provides a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses. In support of the company’s diversity commitment, USM’s diversity team has exhibited at the NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Fair, most recently in October 2010 with Transfield Services Americas’ Transportation Infrastructure business. They have also participated in the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Business Opportunity Expo and the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council’s Diversity at the Border Conference.
Media Enquiries
Deb Yorkman
Director, Marketing and Communications
Ph (610) 313-2839
comms@usmservices.com
USM specializes in providing non-core, mission critical facilities maintenance and management services to large organizations with geographically dispersed properties in various industries such as retail, restaurants, banking, telecommunications and others with multi-location business operations.
Regardless of the type of service - whether it’s electrical, HVAC, Repair and Maintenance, Landscaping, Snow & Ice Management, or Janitorial and Floor Care - USM takes a unique, total supply chain management approach to delivering the outcomes that their clients desire.