- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=AT&T Spends $15.5 Billion with Diverse Suppliers in 2013 https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45744?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45744?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45744?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=AT&T Spends $15.5 Billion with Diverse Suppliers in 2013&body=ESG News from AT&T https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/45744?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Diversity & Inclusion](/CSR-News/diversity-inclusion) # AT&T Spends $15.5 Billion with Diverse Suppliers in 2013 Apr 18, 2014 10:05 AM ET Campaign: ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/ATT_DiversitySpend_040814_FINAL.jpeg) Dallas, Texas, April 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ - AT&T\* spent $15.5 billion in 2013, or 28 percent of its total spend, with certified diverse suppliers – the highest percentage the company has ever achieved through its supplier diversity program. In 2012, AT&T spent $12.8 billion with diverse suppliers. “Supplier diversity is key to our overall success, and we take pride in being a leader in this area,” said Tim Harden, AT&T Supply Chain president. “Diverse suppliers are an integral part of our supply chain, as evidenced by achieving our largest-ever diversity spend in 2013. They bring valuable perspective to the table, and that benefits everyone – our customers, the community and our company.” [AT&T’s Global Supplier Diversity](http://www.attsuppliers.com/sd/default.aspx "AT&T Global Supplier Diversity ") organization gives certified diverse businesses worldwide an opportunity to provide the company with products and services. AT&T Supplier Diversity promotes participation and helps bring more minority, women and service-disabled veteran owned businesses to its supply chain. AT&T continues to look for diverse suppliers in key strategic areas like mobile Internet, wireless, [U-verse](http://about.att.com/mediakit/uverse "U-verse") and cloud services. AT&T is now innovating at a faster pace to continue delivering superior service. That means working with suppliers who can take AT&T to the next level. AT&T has a number of programs in place to identify and develop certified diverse suppliers. One of them is [Operation Hand Salute](http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=17206 "Operation Hand Salute"), a national education and mentoring program for service-disabled veteran business owners. The initiative provides advanced training and mentoring for up to 15 qualified business owners – with the goal of improving their business operations and their ability to win corporate contracts. Earlier this year, AT&T was ranked No. 1 DiversityBusiness.com’s [Top 50 Companies for Multicultural Business Opportunities](http://www.diversitybusiness.com/Resources/DivLists/2014/DivTop50/2014Div50C.htm "link") list. The company was also listed to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council list of [top corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises](http://www.wbenc.org/newsflash/newsflash.asp?id=295) for the 15th year in a row. To learn more about the AT&T Global Supplier Diversity organization, please visit [www.attsupplierdiversity.com](http://www.attsupplierdiversity.com/). [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/att_globe_rgb_pos.jpg)](/profiles/att) ### More from AT&T ###### [AT&T Expands Its Renewable Energy Program With NextEra Energy Resources](/news/att-expands-its-renewable-energy-program-nextera-energy-resources) Jun 15, 2018 4:00 PM ET ###### [Empowering a California Asparagus Farmer to Conserve Water Through IoT Connectivity](/news/empowering-california-asparagus-farmer-conserve-water-through-iot-connectivity) May 24, 2018 12:50 PM ET ###### [Meet the 2018 AT&T Aspire Accelerator Class](/news/meet-2018-att-aspire-accelerator-class) May 15, 2018 2:45 PM ET ###### [Volunteerism: The Journey I Didn’t Expect](/news/volunteerism-journey-i-didnt-expect) Apr 25, 2018 11:30 AM ET ###### [A Lesson in Preserving the Earth](/news/lesson-preserving-earth) Apr 17, 2018 12:40 PM ET ###### [Help Classrooms Across the U.S. Win Up to $5,000 to Tell Their Story](/news/help-classrooms-across-us-win-5000-tell-their-story) Apr 16, 2018 12:50 PM ET ###### [Lauren’s Last Wish—the ELLE Foundation](/news/laurens-last-wish-elle-foundation) Apr 11, 2018 12:00 PM ET ###### [Celebrating Our Employees Living a Life of Service](/news/celebrating-our-employees-living-life-service) Apr 4, 2018 12:45 PM ET