Photo caption: Bruce Mayberry (center), senior supplier diversity advisor, and Sydney Furbush (far right), manager of supplier diversity, accepted the Innovation Award on behalf of SDG&E.
Innovations at our company are not just limited to leveraging new technologies to make our electric and natural gas systems run more efficiently and safely. We also take pride in developing innovations to harness the expertise and talents of diverse businesses to better serve our customers.
For that reason, SDG&E was recently honored by the Edison Electric Institute – an association for investor-owned electric companies across America – with a Business Diversity Award in the innovation category.
Given out each year in four categories, the EEI Business Diversity Awards recognize member companies, diverse businesses, and prime suppliers for outstanding achievements in the advancement of opportunities for diverse and small businesses.
SDG&E was presented the Innovation Award for promoting business diversity through technology and outreach efforts that resulted in increased business development of our suppliers. We have a custom online portal for suppliers to enter their monthly spend with diverse subcontractors, allowing us to track and audit subcontractor spending and to further monitor to ensure the use of diverse subcontractors.
With the support of more than 180 employees volunteering their time as Supplier Diversity Ambassadors, we are able to develop partnerships with prime contractors to achieve a high level of success.
“We are proud of our accomplishment in partnering with diverse businesses to better serve our region and our customers’ needs,” said Kevin Sagara, SDG&E chairman and chief executive officer. “Diversity is a core value at SDG&E and at our parent company, Sempra Energy, where we embrace a culture of innovation and continuous improvement to create an inclusive culture.”
Setting New Records on Spending with Diverse Businesses
Last year, we achieved the highest level of spending with diverse businesses in the history of our company, purchasing 43.9 percent, or more than $722 million, worth of goods and services from enterprises owned by women, minorities, veterans, and other diverse contractors.
For six years in a row, SDG&E’s supplier diversity spending has surpassed 40 percent, far exceeding the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) goal of 21.5 percent.
More Information
Learn more about our supplier diversity initiatives here.