DALLAS – Parkland Health & Hospital System has been recognized by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Suppler Council (D/FW MSDC) for its commitment to increasing minority business participation and growth. Parkland was one of 37 entities recently honored at the organization’s annual BUY THOSE THAT BUY US™ (BTTBU) Recognition Breakfast honoring executives, chief procurement officers and supplier diversity professionals for their continued commitment to the inclusion of minority businesses in their purchasing decisions.
Parkland was honored in the area of Best Practices for its implementation of a project for one of its contracted vendors.
D/FW MSDC officials stated that the Best Practice designation was awarded to organizations that provided specific examples of real results with D/FW MSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). The Best Practice entities were recognized for their unique and/or innovative approach to increasing MBE participation and growth. In 2015, this year’s 37 honorees spent a combined $3.1 billion with minority-owned businesses.
“Parkland’s Board of Managers made inclusion of diverse suppliers a strategic priority for the organization,” said Indria Hollingsworth-Thomas, Parkland’s Director of Supplier Diversity and Ethical Sourcing. “The Board’s vision, coupled with the guidance of the executive leadership team, has created a climate of meaningful inclusion.”
Hollingsworth-Thomas added that inclusion of MBE suppliers positively impact’s Parkland’s bottom line as “we strive daily to provide quality healthcare to those who depend on us.”
“We understand minority business inclusion is about economic development, expanding the tax base, putting and keeping people employed and enhancing our communities,” said James Mining, Senior Director – Supply Chain at Oncor and Co-Chair of the BUY THOSE THAT BUY US ™ Initiative. “It is good for our businesses, our communities and the nation. To realize success, we must continually update our message and marketing to reach more corporations and government agencies to join supplier diversity efforts.”
He added that utilizing minority-owned businesses in a company’s supply chain provides innovative ideas, more efficient processing and cost-controlling solutions as well as helping build the North Texas economy.
For more information about the D/FW MSDC, visit www.dfwmsdc.com. To find out more about Parkland, go to www.parklandhospital.com.
