UPS Honored As WBENC Top Corporation For Women Bus

ATLANTA, March 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE: UPS ), in partnership with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), is proud to be included on the 17th annual list of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) – the only national award honoring corporations for world-class supplier diversity programs that reduce barriers and drive growth for women-owned businesses.

Gary Kallenbach, UPS chief procurement officer, and, Estrella Cramer, UPS supplier diversity director, received the Platinum distinction award on behalf of UPS and were recognized in front of an audience of more than 1,500 business leaders at the WBENC Summit & Salute to Women's Business Enterprises award ceremony that took place March 23, 2017, in New Orleans.

“Our UPS supplier diversity process ensures that the small, minority and woman-owned businesses that drive economic development in the communities we serve are at the forefront of our procurement operations,” said Larry Darrow, president, UPS Global Business Services. “We are honored to collaborate with WBENC to make the business world a more diverse and competitive environment and foster a climate for entrepreneurial success.”

In 2016, UPS spent close to a billion dollars in procurement with small and diverse businesses in the United States. The company is working to increase that number significantly over the next few years.  A recent third-party study on the economic impact of UPS spending with small, minority, women, veteran-owned businesses and other diverse suppliers led to over $2.3 billion in contributions to the U.S. economy (U.S. GDP) and sustained more than 14,200 jobs in the supply chain and local communities. 

"As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we are so proud of WBENC’s Top Corporations, including UPS, for choosing to set the standard for access and increase opportunities for women suppliers in new markets," said Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of WBENC, the nation's leader in women's business development.

Each Top Corporation honoree has demonstrated continuous, effective practices leading to significant results, further reinforcing a strong business case for their organization, the development of WBEs, and breaking down barriers to WBE inclusion within their organization.  The degree to which corporations leverage diversity and inclusion within their corporate culture to integrate sustainable Leading Programs for WBEs determines the company’s recognized distinction on the list:  Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at  ups.com ® and its corporate blog can be found at  longitudes.ups.com . To get UPS news direct, visit  pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_News .

About WBENC

Founded in 1997, WBENC is the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with over 13,000 WBENC-Certified WBEs. WBENC-Certification is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America's most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and other entities. Throughout the year, WBENC and its 14 Regional Partner Organizations provide opportunities for interactions between more than 650 member corporations, government agencies and thousands of certified WBEs at business building events and other forums. WBENC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks and accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals that support its mission and programs. For more information about the annual America’s Top Corporations for Women Business Enterprises, visit http://www.wbenc.org/americas-top-corporations-for-wbes

Kristen Petrella 404-828-4182 kpetrella@ups.com