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DaimlerChrysler Wins Award For Minority Business Practices

12 November 1999

DaimlerChrysler Procurement & Supply Wins Award For Minority Business Practices

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- DaimlerChrysler was
recognized for its outstanding efforts in minority supplier sourcing at the
First Annual Awards Dinner of the National Coalition of Minority Businesses
(NCMB) last night in Washington, D.C.
    Following a keynote speech by President Bill Clinton, the NCMB recognized
companies from different industries, including the auto industry, for their
continued relationships with minority businesses.
    Since 1983, DaimlerChrysler's actual dollars placed with minority
suppliers have grown three times the original amount allocated, from $25
million to more than $1.7 billion in 1998.
    Accepting the award for DaimlerChrysler was Jethro Joseph, Senior Manager,
Special Supplier Relations.
    "I am humbled to accept this award on behalf of a company that embraces
the business principle that our supplier base should reflect our customer
base," said Joseph.
    DaimlerChrysler's Special Supplier Relations (SSR) department has been at
the forefront of minority supplier support for more than 15 years.
Established in 1983, SSR primarily focuses on assuring that the company has a
quality minority supplier base, reflective of the customer base, in order to
achieve minority sourcing goals and commitments to the government and to the
community.
    SSR partners with suppliers to develop role model minority suppliers and
to establish a working environment of mutual respect, teamwork and continuous
improvement, while maintaining high ethical standards.
    The ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel also recognized Ford Motor Company
and General Motors Corporation.
    Founded in 1994, the National Coalition of Minority Businesses is a
privately funded, non-partisan, minority advocacy group with nationwide
membership.  They aggressively promote and protect the interests of multi-
ethnic/multi-racial constituencies in federal government procurement matters.