Since 1968, Diversity Information Resources (DIR) has been at the forefront in providing information resources that support and enhance supplier diversity. Diverse-owned supplier? Registration on DIR's portal is free. Represent a major corporation? Learn how DIR's supplier data management solutions, educational seminars and publications can enhance your corporation's supplier diversity program. Learn more at www.diversityinforesources.com

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Why Detroit for DIR's 20th "Best Practices" seminar anniversary?


DIR’s “Embracing Change, Impacting Innovation” luncheon, a celebration of its 20th anniversary "Best Practices in Supplier Diversity Strategies & Initiatives" seminar, is being held in Detroit, MI on Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 in downtown Detroit. DIR chose Detroit for numerous reasons, some noted below. 
  • Along with a rich history of hosting industry champions, Detroit has become a city that has championed entrepreneurial renewal along with small- and diverse-owned business growth.
  • The MMSDC (Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council), headquartered in Detroit, is facilitating a $100 million fund dispersal to minority-owned businesses. That is a significant investment. DIR is pleased to welcome the MMSDC as its regional partner for the event, helping reach the regional Detroit audience.
  • Detroit's location provides easy-access for DIR's audience of major corporate professionals including those from Kelly Services, MetLife, Cintas, TimeWarner, Johnson Controls, Saatchi & Saatchi, World Wide Technology, Inc., LG&E and KU, GDS&M, AON, United Rentals, Inc., ImpaxLabs, Novation, BI and more.
DIR Keynote Speaker, August 2015DIR invited former U.S. Attorney General, The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. to be the keynote speaker of this celebratory luncheon. Along with being a senior legal advisor to Barack Obama during Obama’s presidential campaign, he is a staunch civil rights proponent. His civil service record includes defending the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was reauthorized in 2006. He supports comprehensive immigration reform, and in 2011, he announced that the Department of Justice would no longer defend cases involving the Defense of Marriage Act in court. In 2014, Holder unveiled a new policy banning profiling on the basis of religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity by federal law enforcement agencies. Mr. Holder is the first African-American to hold the office of U. S. Attorney General.

There are numerous reasons (some of which apply to attending the luncheon, too) why attending DIR professional development seminars is a good investment of time and money:
  • casual networking, a history lesson from hearing how other businesses have thrived (or suffered and rebuilt themselves)
  • access to materials that help with follow-up once you return to the office
  • multiple perspectives on how peers make their business cases to the "C" suite, and more.
But by far, what we read the most in the evaluation comments is "inspiring, refreshing, supportive". That works!

Individual luncheon tickets are available as are numerous sponsorship levels including "Engage and Educate" that provides tickets for local students. DIR is also hosting a VIP reception which includes networking and conversations with industry leaders and Mr. Holder. 

DIR has been driving supplier diversity success via publications, education and data management for over 45 years. That longevity speaks to the integrity of the data it manages, the quality of seminars it presents and the value of its publications. Join DIR for this anniversary event and be an additional driver of supplier diversity success!