Supplier Inclusion

Statistics

Inclusive procurement practices provide opportunities for diverse businesses that in turn increase representation, create job opportunities and provide economic advancement for historically underrepresented groups, including racial minorities, women, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Southern Company Gas’ engagement with small, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in 2020 and 2021 led to over $3 billion in contributions to the U.S. economy and sustained nearly 20,000 jobs.

Statistics

Supplier Diversity at Southern Company Gas has grown since its inception in 2005 from a program focused on economic empowerment and compliance to becoming an organizational value that supports our strategic corporate objectives.

We have made significant investments in our supplier diversity efforts by expanding our supplier diversity leadership team, investing in critical technology, implementing organization-wide performance objectives and setting an aggressive target to significantly increase our investment in minority, women and veteran owned businesses.

We are committed to supporting diverse businesses because it acts as a stimulant for job creation and economic development, which in turn creates opportunities to grow our business within our local economies.

Global Leader

We want to be a global leader in creating equitable and sustainable communities through economic inclusion.

Trusted Partner

We are committed to being a viable partner within our ecosystem that identifies and develops profitable, solution driven, local, small, and diverse suppliers who advance equity, promote wealth creation, and maximize shareholder vlaue in our supply chain.

Guiding Principles

Respecting Diversity and Promoting Equity and Inclusion

We value and seek diversity in our employees, contractors and outsource partners. We are committed to treating all individuals with respect and dignity and seek to foster an inclusive workplace that draws upon diverse backgrounds and experiences and embraces a wide range of thought processes. Supplier Diversity at Nicor Gas is based upon five foundational principles: Advocacy, Development, Procurement, Reporting and Sustainability

Advocacy and Engagement

Building awareness about our commitment to Supplier Diversity

Development

Supporting efforts to promote capacity building and value creation

Procurement

Leveraging the value of diversity when planning and executing procurement

Reporting

Building awareness about our commitment to Supplier Diversity

Sustainability

Executing workforce development, economic inclusion, and sustainability programs

Partner Spotlights

Supplier Diversity at Southern Company Gas has grown since its inception in 2005 from a program focused on economic empowerment and compliance to becoming an organizational value that supports our strategic corporate objectives.

We have made significant investments in our supplier diversity efforts by expanding our supplier diversity leadership team, investing in critical technology, implementing organization-wide performance objectives and setting an aggressive target to significantly increase our investment in minority, women and veteran owned businesses.

We are committed to supporting diverse businesses because it acts as a stimulant for job creation and economic development, which in turn creates opportunities to grow our business within our local economies.

Jackie Richter, founder of Heels and Hardhats and Endurance

After struggling to find individual work in the construction industry due to her gender identity, Jackie Richter created Heels and Hardhats

Meet Jackie

Marco Campos, Founder of Campos EPC

With his entrepreneur grandfather as a huge inspiration, Marco Campos knew upon entering the energy industry as an engineer that he wanted to make a difference

Meet Marco

Wilbur C. Milhouse III, Founder of Milhouse Engineering and Construction

It all started in 2001 with a man in his Chicago basement with a dream of growing his small business into an empire.

Meet Wilbur III

Advocacy Groups We Support

National Minority Supplier Development Council

How to Apply

Step 1

Create a Power Advocate account.

Step 2

Fill out application with company information.

Step 3

Upload proof of certification.

Apply Now

Developmental Opportunities

We help grow diverse suppliers’ business throughWe help grow diverse suppliers’ business through:

Mentorship programs

Engagement and Inclusion

Second tier program

Supplier Diversity Business Development Program

Supplier Diversity Business Development Program(SDBDP), it is design to help small and diverse businesses reach their goals through mentoring. The program’s aim is to enrich companies in all areas necessary to advance their business growth, and equip them with the education, supportive networks and customized services needed to support their prospects of doing business with Southern Company Gas. The Program ran for 18 months and included quarterly round-table sessions addressing critical business topics, leadership issues, guidance for working with Southern Company Gas.

Diverse Business Partnerships

Diverse Business Partnership (DBP) – is a formalized process designed to identify and develop strategic, long-term sustainable business partnerships with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. The purpose of DBP is to expand the development and utilization of key MWVBEs to support our overall strategic business goals and objectives. The partnerships developed through this initiative are designed to encourage and enable sustainable, collaborative mutually beneficial relationships that can leverage and share resources, information, capabilities, as well as risks to achieve desired outcomes.

We provide Fuel for Life

We Deliver

Clean, safe, reliable, affordable natural gas.

We Enrich

The lives of our employees, customers and communities.

We Invest

In innovative solutions, offering choice, convenience and more.