Tarece Johnson-Hassell honored by the US MBDA

August 5, 2009

The Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only federal agency dedicated to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in the United States. Through a network of minority business centers and strategic partners, MBDA works with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses in size, scale and capacity. The Distinguished Supplier Diversity of the Year award recognizes individuals for their accomplishments in diversity advocacy; overcoming technical and competitive diversity challenges; and overall economic, environmental and societal contributions.

Tarece was selected as the Atlanta region honoree for her innovative, unique and creative approach to the development and growth of the AGL Resources Supplier Diversity Program. Since 2006, Tarece has been cultivating a new way of thinking for employees when it comes to selecting contractors and suppliers for the company. She has worked diligently to educate employees on the value and importance of providing opportunities to diverse suppliers. AGL Resources' Supplier Diversity Program has been growing steadily with supplier development opportunities, and a year-over-year increase in minority and women-owned enterprise spend from 1 percent to 6 percent. Tarece has been committed to integrating diverse suppliers into the company's procurement and strategic sourcing process.

Tarece’s other accomplishments include:
* Building a supplier diversity foundation that requires 30 percent inclusion of diverse suppliers in every Request for Proposal (RFP).
* Implementing a Second -tier reporting process and creating supplier-pipeline connections that markets and facilitates relationships with businesses to prime suppliers and internal customers.
* Developing the AGL Resources Supplier Business Development Program (SBDP), which helps to provide transparency regarding the business and industry by providing certified minority and women businesses with one-on-one technical assistance through strategic partners, education and training. This program helps participants learn the specifics of the natural gas industry and form relationships with AGL Resources employees through mentoring.
* Developing a marketing and communications strategy that has resulted in more than 868 supplier registrations in the company’s internal database.
* Creating local and national recognition for the AGL Resources Supplier Diversity Program.
* Instrumental in the development of a joint venture, to secure new business related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Tarece will be honored on Aug. 4, 2009, at the Minority Enterprise Development Week conference at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta.

For more information about supplier diversity, go to the AGL Resources Supplier Diversity Program Webpage: http://www.aglresources.com/supplierdiversity

Contact:
Wayne Young
404-522-4436

wayne.young@comcast.net

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