National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC) was established to address the growing need to identify and certify both Service Disabled and Veteran Owned Businesses (SD/VOBs) for the commercial marketplace. Our initiatives focus on being the Veteran business certifying authority providing reliable revenue and management information to the business community.
Each year NVBDC Board of Directors and Officers review our corporations’ activity, individual corporate members, NVBDC Certified Service Disabled and Veteran Owned Businesses and our resource partners. Recommendations are solicited from all NVBDC team members and submitted to the Board for deliberation and selection. Each award has its own set of standards and criteria that are reviewed to ensure we have an appropriate candidate for the award. The person or company is recognized for merit or achievements well above normal expectations.
The NVBDC awards are announced at the annual NVBDC National Business Matchmaking Conference. Our 5th annual conference was held this year on November 5-6 in a virtual environment due to the pandemic. With over 500 Veterans and Corporations’ overwhelming attendance, it was the perfect setting to acknowledge the award recipients.
NVBDC’s system works, but it is essential to understand the extra mile of commitment needed for success. As we acknowledge the below recipients, we are proud of all our Certified SD/VOBs and beholden to the support received by all our Corporate Members.
Corporation of the Year Award is presented to the corporation that has demonstrated its continued leadership in building an organization in support of America’s Veteran Business Owners. Whose industry leadership is an example to be emulated and respected. The external and internal advocacy supporting NVBDC’s certification program and our certified service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses is recognized.
The 2020 Corporation of the Year was awarded to Johnson & Johnson; with their leaders in procurement initiatives Charlene Vickers, Director and John Perez, Head, Military & Veterans Affairs.
“Johnson & Johnson is honored to be named 2020 NVBDC Corporation of the Year, and would like to thank your team for this prestigious award. We are excited and honored.
We also thank our Johnson & Johnson procurement teams, our business partners and our veteran-owned suppliers for enabling us to deliver economic and social impact. That is what our program is about…using our reach and size for good to impact the communities in which we live and work.
Also, we believe that when our supplier base reflects the diversity of our patients and customers who use our products and services, we achieve our mission of helping people live longer, happier, healthier lives.
We are committed to furthering our work together with NVBDC and our industry partners, as we collectively bolster support of veteran owned businesses.” Said, Charlene Vickers, Director, Supplier Diversity and Inclusion, Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson believes in good health as the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. For more than 130 years, they have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly based healthcare company, they are committed to using their reach and size for good. They strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere.
Johnson & Johnson recognizes the importance of having a diverse supplier base that reflects their patients and customers around the world. By working with small and diverse suppliers, they tap into new ideas that add value to their businesses and provide innovative solutions to their marketing, manufacturing and research& development efforts. Their commitment to Supplier Diversity led to establish a form Office of Supplier Diversity in 1998 in addition to their ongoing active outreach program. The Office is integrated into their operating companies through Supplier Diversity leadership representatives, and also includes additional representation for their corporate and category leadership teams.
As a Corporate Member of NVBDC, Johnson & Johnson went above and beyond their efforts for inclusion of NVBDC Certified Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses.
Veteran Advocate of the Year is presented to the individual within a corporation that has demonstrated their external and internal advocacy in support of America’s Veteran Business Owners, whose industry advocacy leadership has an impact inside their corporation and in the communities in which they serve. The advocacy they deliver in support of NVBDC’s certification program and our certified service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses is an example to be honored and recognized.
The 2020 Veteran Advocate of the Year was presented to Sharon Manker, Senior Diversity Program Lead, National Supplier Diversity, American Water.
“Thank you for this award. I am truly honored to receive it. It is an even greater honor to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honorees. Special thanks go to Veteran-Owned Businesses who support American Water Works Service Company, Inc., its subsidiary and affiliated companies out network, NVBDC Officers and Board of Directors for having the generosity to nominate me American Water buyers and category leaders for supporting our national supplier diversity strategy, My boss and mentor, Lawrence B. Wooten for your guidance and encouragement, My personal circle of SHEROs and HEROs for making this event possible. I feel truly blessed to advocate for VBEs for all that they have done and continue to do for our country.” Said, Sharon Manker, Sr. Diversity Program Lead, National Supplier Diversity, American Water.
Sharon Manker, M.Ed. is a supply chain and supplier diversity professional with two decades of experience. She helps diverse companies connect with people and resources, position for success and partner with lucrative deals. She graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Applied Technology and from Northcentral University with a Master of Education degree in Organizational Leadership.
Sharon is the Senior Diversity Program Lead for American Water’s National Supplier Diversity Program headquartered in Camden, N.J. She currently is a key contributor to the national supplier diversity strategy reporting to the senior manager for the program.
Veteran Champion of the Year is presented to the individual within a corporation for their tireless efforts on behalf of our veteran business owners and the NVBDC. To the person that has proven their patronage and implementation of NVBDC’s certification program and support of our certified service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses. In recognition of their efforts on behalf of our veteran business owners and their active participation in the growth of the NVBDC.
The 2020 Veteran Champion of the Year was presented to Sherry Diccion, Sr. Manager, Global Supplier Diversity, Adient.
“Thank you to the entire NVBDC team for this amazing recognition! I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with NVBDC, veteran-owned businesses and corporate peers. Being recognized as NVBDC’s 2020 “Veteran Champion of the Year” reinforces Adient’s commitment to our guiding principles of People, Community and Customers. Focusing on these principles has made Adient an inclusive and diverse company that prides itself on creating a workplace governed by mutual respect – for our customers, our suppliers and our employees. I also want to extend this recognition to our purchasing team—Adient’s success is from our team’s commitment and dedication to enhance our supply base with diverse suppliers.
Thank you again. I look forward to the continuous work of advancing supplier diversity initiatives and connecting our veteran’s to business opportunities.” Said, Sherry Diccion, SR. Manager, Global Supplier Diversity, Adient.
Sherry is a strong leader in strategy development, deployment and has demonstrated success in program management. She is an advocate for the inclusion of minority – and women- and Service-Disabled – and Veteran-Owned businesses in corporations value chain through the implementation of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s best practices. Sherry has deployed internal training programs, developed reporting tools and processes to prepare reports internally and externally. Sherry has been recognized as Women’s Enterprise USA’s Top 100 Leaders in Supplier Diversity.
Corporate Support Award is presented to the individual with a corporation that has demonstrated their guidance and mentorship of the NVBDC in building an organization that meets the highest standards and best practices of the corporate supplier diversity industry. For their support of our veteran business owners and their active participation in the development of the NVBDC.
Award Recipient: Fernando Hernandez, Director of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability, Microsoft
“On behalf of Microsoft, my team and myself we are honored to receive this NVBDC’s “corporate support” award. I thank all of our Veterans and active duty military men and women and their families for your service, courage and love of our nation. I’m honored to serve you. God bless you” Said, Fernando Hernandez, Supplier Diversity &Sustainability Director, Microsoft.
Fernando has experience in developing world-class programs in supplier diversity, sustainability and multicultural marketing for over 30 years. He has a proven track record of influence achieved by applying business acumen, innovation, and collaboration. In addition, Fernando’s focus is responsible sourcing, impact sourcing, marketing strategy, artificial intelligence, technology, management, innovation and collaboration. He has developed a world-class Supplier Diversity program for Microsoft that has grown from $600M to $2.7B in annual spend.
“NVBDC’s process matching corporations to SD/VOBs has a proven track record with numerous success stories. NVBDC is so grateful to all our corporations who provided NVBDC Certified Service-Disabled, and Veteran-Owned Businesses access and opportunities. All our award recipients truly stand out to reflect NVBDC goals and objectives. The support and leadership they endure in the global efforts to include NVBDC Certified SD/VOBs in their diverse supply chain are commendable. NVBDC thanks you for taking a leading role in all our efforts to support our Veterans.” Said Keith King, Founder & CEO, NVBDC.
NVBDC would like to extend congratulations to all our Corporate Member award recipients.
For more information on NVBDC and to learn how to become an NVBDC Certified SD/VOB, additional support is available. Please feel free to reach out to NVBDC by visiting our website: www.nvbdc.org or contacting us directly: (888) CERTIFIED.
