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DaimlerChrysler Wins 'Corporation of the Year' Award Minority Council

13 November 2000

DaimlerChrysler Wins 'Corporation of the Year' Award From Michigan Minority Business Development Council

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 10 DaimlerChrysler Corporation
won the highly coveted "Corporation of the Year" award this week at the
Michigan Minority Business Development Council's (MMBDC) 17th Annual Awards
Dinner in Detroit.  This distinguished award is given to the OEM that
demonstrates a commitment to minority business enterprises and puts forth
efforts to help minority businesses develop, grow and prosper.
    "We consider receiving the MMBDC's 'Corporation of the Year' award a
tremendous honor," stated Jim Holden, DaimlerChrysler Corporation President
and CEO.  "Our company has actively supported minority business development
for more than 15 years and we are very proud to be recognized for our
commitment to these key partners in our Extended Enterprise(R)."
    This is the second time in a week that DaimlerChrysler has won an award
that recognizes its efforts to mentor minority suppliers.  On November 1,
DaimlerChrysler was presented the National Minority Supplier Development
Council's (NMSDC) "Corporation of the Year" award in New Orleans, beating out
Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, IBM and 34 other
corporations.
    DaimlerChrysler is the first corporate member of both the MMBDC and the
NMSDC to win Corporation of the Year in the same year.  Chrysler Corporation
won the award from the MMBDC in 1986 and 1993, and won the NMSDC award in
1994.
    In addition to receiving Corporation of the Year from the MMBDC,
DaimlerChrysler's William Edoff won the "Corporate Minority Business Advocate
of the Year" award.  Edoff was one of 57 nominees for this award that
recognizes an individual who symbolizes the spirit and intent of minority
economic development.
    Starting in 1983, DaimlerChrysler sourced $25 million to minority
suppliers.  That number grew to $528 million in 1992 and $2.1 billion in 1999.
By the end of this year, the company expects to source $2.5 billion to
minority-owned suppliers.
    On May 16 of this year, DaimlerChrysler Corporation announced the
DaimlerChrysler Minority Enterprise Initiative, an unprecedented partnership
with Comerica Bank and ASG Renaissance, to provide minority suppliers with
comprehensive business assessments to improve their current processes and be
better poised for new business opportunities.  This program is unique in that
it marks the first time an OEM has entered into a working partnership with a
bank and a consulting firm to support and grow the OEM's minority supplier
base.
    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 to achieve minority sourcing goals.  SSR has
been recognized by the National Coalition of Minority Businesses for its
outstanding efforts in minority supplier sourcing.