56 DIVERSEability Magazine www.diverseabilitymagazine.com

BUSINESS 2 BUSINESS

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n todays competitive environment, every owner must take advan- tage of any opportunity to differentiate their company from the competition. Supplier diversity certifications for disadvantaged busi- nesses are an often-overlooked option with great potential. Qualifying companies include those with veteran, minority, LGBTQ+ or women owners, as well as those in historically underutilized business zones, or HUBZones. These certifications grant access to private-sector opportunities and contracts with local, state and federal government agencies that want to do business with a diverse pool of suppliers.

Certification History

According to A History of Corporate Supply Chain Diversity ( WEUSA 4 [2020]: 95), certification programs were born out of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and guided by legislative man- dates enacted to end discrimination that gave large businesses a disproportionate share of opportunities. The program lourished in 1969, when the Office of Minority Business Enterprise was established to provide guidance and support. In 1978, the Small Business Act recategorized minority businesses as socially and economically disadvantaged and required federal agencies to comply with new goals for federal contracts. In the 1990s and early 2000s, new legislation fostered the advancement of federal con- tracting opportunities to busi- nesses in HUBZones and those owned by women, veterans,

What's the Deal with Certifications?

This Vet Shares His Company's Story