Johnson Controls honored as Corporation of the Year
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/1914/1/Johnson-Controls-honored-as-Corporation-of-the-Year/Page1.html
By F. Carlton Peeples
Published on 10/31/2007

For its outstanding achievements in developing diverse supplier companies, the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) recognized Johnson Controls as Corporation of the Year.
Johnson Controls

FROM LEFT: Jethro Joseph, senior manager, Diversity Supplier Development, Chrysler; Charles Harvey, vice president, Diversity and Public Affairs, Johnson Controls, and Louis Green, president and CEO, Michigan Minority Business Development Council.
For its outstanding achievements in developing diverse supplier companies, the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) recognized Johnson Controls as Corporation of the Year.
This marks the tenth time in the the past 12 years the supplier has gained this important honor. MMBDC reps presented Johnson Controls the award at the group’s 24th annual awards dinner on Oct. 16 at the Detroit Marriott Hotel.
Charles Harvey, vice president, Diversity and Public Affairs, for Johnson Controls, accepted the award.
Johnson Controls has utilized an inventive program to recruit and develop diverse suppliers since the early ‘90s. Throughout fiscal year 2007, global, the multi-industry company has purchased more than $1.5 billion in goods and services from diverse firms, making it a member of the “Billion Dollar Roundtable” that includes just 14 companies that spend $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers.
Similarly, MMBDC creates links between major corporations and minority businesses.
The organization’s core component of its mission is executed by its more than 2,000 members.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from the MMBDC, which salutes the wonderful efforts of our purchasing team, supply base and business partners,” said Keith Wandell, president and chief operating officer of Johnson Controls.
“At Johnson Controls, we embrace diversity because it is a key element of our company’s mission and values, as well as our business strategy.”
Within the Diversity Business Development model at Johnson Controls, “diverse” suppliers include companies that are owned by minorities and women in the United States, and internationally, firms that are historically underutilized in their local country.
Whereas the Corporation of the Year recognition earned by Johnson Controls was for companies in the Manufacturing Sector of MMBDC. It is presented to firms that actively include certified minority suppliers in their procurement opportunities; assist in the development of minority suppliers and promote supplier diversity and business development within their corporation and to their vendors and other businesses and organizations.