Founded in 1980, the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) is the premier organization that educates, advocates and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Our success stems from our ability to provide the resources that allow our members to cultivate their individual careers.  Equally important, we partner with the country’s leading media companies that are committed to leveraging diversity as a business imperative.

Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program In order to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace, the SBA created the 8(a) Business Development Program, which offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Founded in 1918, the American Gas Association (AGA) represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. Today, more than 68 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across the nation receive their reliable, affordable supplies of natural gas from AGA members—and natural gas meets almost a quarter of America’s energy needs.

In 2011 the Missouri Public Service Commission opened a voluntary docket to study the benefits and encourage utilities’ efforts to procure goods and services from diverse suppliers. As a result of this docket, a coalition of major utilities created a Supplier Diversity Task Force, whose purpose is to develop and share best practices.

To be considered for 8(a) or other designated program, diverse business enterprises must be certified by an approved agency, which receives proof of the enterprise’s status.

Civil society non-profits that operate within a single local community.

The Wireless Association® is an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.

For more than 32 years, EEI's Supplier Diversity Program has created opportunities for diverse businesses to take part in the growth of the electric utility industry.  EEI and its members aim to establish long-term relationships with diverse suppliers who provide products and services that help our industry succeed in a highly competitive environment.  EEI and its members continue to build close alliances with diverse suppliers, knowing that a business practice today will impact business development tomorrow.  Our mission is to provide guidance and leadership to members using a dynamic 360º vision, managing a myriad of needs and sustaining full industry alignment in a changing business environment.

In response to California Assembly Bill 3678, the California Public Utilities Commission issued
General Order 156 (GO 156), which outlined program guidelines to promote utility recruitment and use of women and minority-owned business enterprises. GO 156 also required participating utilities to establish a joint clearinghouse. Procurement goals of 5% for women and 15% for minorities were initially established, and later augmented with a 1.5% goal for disabled veteran enterprises.

Every public utility shall furnish to the Commission all information required by it to carry into effect the provisions of this Act, and shall make specific answers to all questions submitted by the Commission.

International Organizations for Standardization has set for quality management. ISO 9000 series provides guidance and tools for companies that wish to ensure that products and services consistently meet customer requirements. ISO 9001:2008 sets the criteria for quality management and can be certified by an accredited organization. For a list of accredited organizations in a specific area, consult.

http://anabdirectory.remoteauditor.com

The Walter Kaitz Foundation stands at the center of the cable industry’s long-standing commitment to diversity as it seeks to advance the contributions of women and multi-ethnic professionals in cable. Through the funds we raise, the organizations we support, and the programs we produce, the Walter Kaitz Foundation serves as a catalyst for increasing diversity in cable in three areas – its workforce, its supplier base and its programming.

Beginning in 2009 the Commission has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with Maryland utilities in which the signing companies commit to use their best efforts to achieve a goal of awarding 25 percent of their total dollars spent on contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders to diverse suppliers.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving equal opportunity and civil rights in the mass media, telecommunications, and broadband industries. MMTC is the leading advocate for minority participation in the communications industries.  We seek to preserve and expand minority ownership and equal employment opportunity in these industries and to close the digital divide.

"Minority-owned small business" means a business that is at least 51% owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51% of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals.

In 2011 the Missouri Public Service Commission opened a voluntary docket to study the benefits and encourage utilities’ efforts to procure goods and services from diverse suppliers. As a result of this docket, a coalition of major utilities created a Supplier Diversity Task Force, whose purpose is to develop and share best practices.

Utility Marketplace Access http://www.naruc.org/committees.cfm?c=30

By promoting inclusion and the utilization of prudent and competitive procurement practice, UMA will open the gate of opportunity for women, minority and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (DBE) in utility supply markets. UMA will strengthen relationships that provide mutual economic benefits for ratepayers, investors, and DBEs.

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) is the voice of the private water industry—the organization exclusively representing this group of quality service providers, innovation drivers and responsible partners. We are an association defined by our members, and by working together we can leverage our strengths to more effectively address the opportunities and challenges facing our nation.

NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation's largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access, serving more than 51 million customers, after investing $200 billion to build two-way interactive networks with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to more than 27 million American consumers.

NRRI serves state utility regulators by producing and disseminating relevant, high-quality research that provides the analytical framework and practical tools necessary to improve their public interest decision-making.

The National Minority Supplier Development Council advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members.

The National Utilities Diversity Council conducts research to educate, develop best practices and guide efforts that will promote diversity in the utilities industry in the areas of governance, employment, procurement, language access/customer service, and philanthropy.

The act of buying goods and services.

Public Service or Utility Commissions are state regulatory agencies that regulate the services and rates that public utility (i.e. electric providers, gas providers, telecommunication companies) companies provide and impose on ratepayers.

A business organization (as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation.

The money that companies pay for goods and services.

Supplier Diversity is a proactive business process that seeks to provide suppliers equal access to purchasing opportunities. It promotes supplier participation reflective of a company's diverse customer base and the diverse business community. It also enables the company to develop new markets, new customers, and new talent in diverse communities.

"Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise" as used in this provision means a small business that: (i) is at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more service-disabled veterans (as defined at 38 U.S.C. 101(2), with a disability that is service connected, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(16)); or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock of which is unconditionally owned by one or more service-disabled veterans; and (ii) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of a veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace.

It is a national report the current state of supplier diversity across all sectors of the utilities industry.

Contract holder or primary supplier.

Subcontractor.

"Woman-Owned Small Business Enterprise" as used in this provision means small business that: (i) is at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more women; or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock of which is unconditionally owned by one or more women; and (ii) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Woman-Owned or Minority-Owned Business Enterprise

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations to provide its world class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. Outside of the United States, certification is provided by our alliance partner, WEConnect International.

"Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise" as used in this provision means a small business that: (i) is at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more veterans (as defined at 38 U.S.C. 101(2)); or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock of which is unconditionally owned by one or more veterans; and (ii) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more veterans.

Utility Market Access Subcommittee of the National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commission.