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AT&T Congratulates First Graduates from Mentoring Program for Disabled-Veteran Business Enterprises
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Dallas, TX / July 05, 2011 / -AT&T announced the completion of its first year-long mentoring program “Operation Hand Salute” for California-based disabled-veteran business enterprises (DVBEs) and the graduation of five participants. The program is designed to help DVBEs develop the tools and expertise to win large corporate contracts.
“Operation Hand Salute” matched participants with mentors and connected them with industry experts, community leaders and AT&T executives throughout their training. The program included classes and webinars that taught participants how to operate efficiently within a global supply chain; create effective marketing strategies; and incorporate cutting-edge technology to improve operations, remove defects and elevate customer satisfaction. Participation in the program also afforded participants the opportunity to obtain TL 9000 certification – an internationally recognized quality system requirement for suppliers to telecommunications companies.
“It’s an honor for AT&T to mentor companies led by those who have served our country, said Tim Harden, president of AT&T Supply Chain and Fleet Operations. “The inclusion of diverse enterprises in our supply chain strengthens our company and helps us achieve our diversity objectives.”
During the graduation event Abram Wilson, mayor of San Ramon, Calif.; and Karen Stepper, mayor of Danville, Calif., congratulated the five participants, who also received a congressional certificate from U.S. Rep .Jerry McNerney, member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
“Operation Hand Salute” reflects the AT&T’s commitment to increasing its vendor diversity by putting in place a program that addresses the challenges that small businesses face when competing for contracts in the global marketplace.
With more than 40 years of experience, AT&T is a pioneer of including diversity owned businesses—minority, women and disabled veterans in its supply chain. AT&T is a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a supplier diversity think tank of corporations that spend more that $1 billion annually with diverse companies. Only 17 member companies qualify at this level. In 2010, AT&T was named one of the “Best 10 Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses” by Vetrepreneur Magazine, and received the George Washington Award for its commitment to business development for veterans by the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation.
AT&T has been an active supporter of DVBEs since 1993 when, working with the Association for Service-Disabled Veterans (ASDV), it led the private sector in championing the passage of the Disabled Veterans Business Act of 1999. AT&T is also a supporter and member of the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), Elite Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) Network, and the California DVBE Alliance.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
About DiversityBusiness.com
Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness is the largest organization of privately owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities. DiversityBusiness provides research and data collection services for diversity including the "Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities", "Top 500 Diversity Owned Companies in America", and others. Its research has been recognized and published by Forbes Magazine, Business Week and thousands of other print and internet publications. The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design. DiversityBusiness reaches more diverse suppliers and communicates more information to them on a more frequent basis then all other organizations combined. We also communicate with mainstream businesses, government agencies and educational institutions with information related to diversity. Our magazine reaches over 300,000 readers, a monthly e-newsletter that reaches 2.4 million, and website visitors of 1.2 million a month. It is a leading provider of Supplier Diversity management tools and has the most widely distributed Diversity magazine in the United States. DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAii.com) of Southport, CT. Founded in 1980.
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