Allstate Insurance Company hosted its fifth annual Supplier Diversity Exchange on October 5, 2012 in alliance with Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The theme of the event was: Compete. Win. Grow.
Thirty-five diverse companies attended, each participating in multiple one-on-one meetings with Allstate staff and/or prime supplier representatives responsible for purchasing goods and services. (View photos from the Exchange) In addition, there were two panel discussions moderated by Dr. Melvin Gravely II, Ph.D., Founder, Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking. During the first panel discussion, Allstate's procurement professionals shared key insights on what they are looking for in partners and how to make the right impression to get in the door. The second was focused on ways to sustain key supplier status and strategies for exceeding customer expectations and developing strategic partnerships once a bid is won. (View videos from the panels and comments from executives)
Launched in 2008, the Allstate Supplier Diversity Exchange was created to provide an opportunity for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender community to build relationships with Allstate and Allstate's prime suppliers. It offers a forum for guidance as well as insight into the procurement world of large organizations. While attendance at this event does not guarantee business, 103 attendees have had the opportunity to compete and 64 have won business. Since the launch of the Exchange, nearly thirty percent of Allstate's $1.5B diverse spend has been with exchange attendees.
The date for the 2013 Allstate Supplier Diversity Exchange is October 10, 2013. Applications will be accepted June 1-22. Feel free to revisit this site for a link to the application on June 1, or click here to submit your company's information and you will receive a link to the application site when it opens.
The application process will assist in determining which applicants will benefit most by attending the Exchange. However, due to limited seating, not all qualified applicants can be accommodated.
A new feature this year, resulting from previous feedback, will be quarterly webinars. The learning series is designed to help suppliers increase their knowledge of how to do business with large corporations, specifically Allstate. Please see the schedule below for webinar descriptions and registration links.