USHCC Applauds Ford's Record-Breaking Year in Supp

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) applauds Ford Motor Company, one of the largest automakers in the world, for exceeding its contracting goals with minority-owned suppliers for a fourth consecutive year. Through its Supplier Diversity Development (SDD) program, Ford continues to source well over 10 percent of its U.S. purchases annually from minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.

Ford Motor Company is among only eighteen companies in the world to be inducted into the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR), comprised of select corporations that spend in excess of 1$ billion a year with diverse suppliers. The company has been a longstanding partner of the USHCC, and for each of the past four years, has consistently invested hundreds of millions of dollars with Hispanic-owned firms.
 
"The USHCC congratulates Ford on yet another phenomenal year of exemplary leadership in supplier diversity. Our association has worked closely with the company for many years, and we've witnessed its incredible stewardship first-hand," said USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez. "Through its strategic partnership with many of our Hispanic Business Enterprises, Ford provides countless small and minority-owned firms the chance to manufacture products that bear the proud words: Made in America. The USHCC looks forward to celebrating these American success stories at our National Convention this September."
 
Last year, the company purchased $6.5 billion in goods and services from minority-owned suppliers through the SDD program within the United States. Ford currently works with 400-plus diverse suppliers, many through partnerships that have spanned over 30 years. Since the program's inception in 1978, Ford has invested more than $74 billion in women, veteran, and minority-owned firms.
 
"The Ford team remains committed to our Supplier Diversity Development program as well as being our suppliers 'Customer of Choice'," said Hau Thai-Tang, group vice president, Global Purchasing.  "We view the goal of creating equal opportunity for minority, women, and veteran owned business enterprises as being integral to our ONE Ford plan.  We also recognize that to meet and exceed the expectations of our consumers in diverse global markets, we need to partner with a supply base that is reflective of this diversity."
 
"Ford Motor Company continues to demonstrate unwavering support for the Hispanic business community and it has been wonderful to see the transformative effect this company has on our members," said USHCC Chairman Marc Rodriguez. "Ford understands minority businesses are truly American businesses. We look forward to celebrating Ford's growing success as it continues to set the global standard for supply base diversification and partnership with small business."
 
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com .
 
About USHCC

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of our nation's entrepreneurs. The USHCC advocates on behalf of nearly 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that together contribute in excess of $468 billion to the American economy, each year. As the leading organization of its kind, the USHCC serves as an umbrella to more than 200 local chambers and business associations across the nation, and partners with more than 220 major corporations.
 
For more information, visit www.ushcc.com .

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Ammar Campa-Najjar Associate Director of Communications 619-721-5148