Taking our commitment beyond the walls of Warner, we actively support the DEI efforts of our clients and community stakeholders. Through intentional collaboration, we share knowledge and resources to strengthen our communities.
Community Support
Our community investments around diversity, equity and inclusion are focused on opportunities that provide community education, build diverse talent pipelines and celebrate and uplift the diversity in our communities.
For example, Warner is proud to be a long-time sponsor of the annual Young Professionals of Color Conference. Designed with a focus on empowering young professionals of color from the West Michigan area, this conference serves as a platform to impart invaluable insights into the dynamics of success in corporate America. With a lineup of speakers featuring leaders from the Grand Rapids community, accomplished entrepreneurs and distinguished nationwide speakers, attendees receive comprehensive exploration of personal growth, professional development and leadership. We are excited to continue supporting initiatives that foster diversity, inclusion and the development of future leaders.
Our individual engagements on boards and committees are numerous and constantly growing. If you are an organization seeking a sponsorship that falls into one of these categories, please complete our Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Contribution Request Form and a member of our DEI Action Committee will be in touch.
For more detailed information regarding additional community initiatives, please email Courtney Failer at cfailer@wnj.com.
Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Legacy Contest
In connection with the celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Warner sponsors an annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Legacy Contest in partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools. The contest is open to all sixth-grade students within GRPS and intentionally encourages students to reflect on how Dr. King’s legacy of peace and justice applies to the world in which they live.
Students are asked to identify and react to a racial or social justice issue that is meaningful to them and submit their entry in any creative format they wish. 50 Warner employees judge the entries and award first, second and third place winners and 18 honorable mentions. These students receive a gift card to We Are LIT Multicultural Bookshop and all participants receive a certificate of participation.
This year’s winners are:
- Grand Prize: Jeanne Uwase, Grand Rapids Montessori Academy – first place for “Ode to Peace, My Dad and M.L.K.,” an essay reflecting on the racism her father experiences at work because he is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- First Runner Up: Madison Sheets, Riverside Middle School – second place for “Our Lives, Our Bodies,” a letter to Dr. King focusing on the negative effects of bullying on body image and race.
- Second Runner Up: Malachi Gamble, Center for Economicology – third place for “Equal Rights for All,” a drawing inspired by Dr. King that shows how people have to fight for equal rights.
Supplier Diversity
A wide variety of goods and services are needed to support Warner’s mission of building a better partnership and providing the best possible client service. Our Supplier Diversity Program gives us a platform to reinvest in our local communities by identifying and engaging with diverse companies in the areas where we work and live. Our goal is to increase the number of diverse vendors in our network. Building a database of vendors is the first step. Our team members will reference this list when seeking to hire a vendor.
Our Expectations of Vendors
Our commitment to our clients is to provide them the best possible client service at a competitive price. We expect that our vendors will commit themselves to helping us fulfilling that commitment. Our vendors must be able to meet our critical deadlines, while providing the highest quality of customer service and competitive pricing.
Supplier Registration
Warner maintains a database that we use to identify suppliers for potential procurement opportunities. If your company delivers high quality products or services and wishes to be considered to help meet our procurement needs, please complete the online supplier registration form.
Warner recognizes certification of minority-owned and women-owned businesses from the following organizations:
- For minority- or women-owned businesses, any issuing city or state agency.
- For minority-owned businesses, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or any regional council.
- For women-owned businesses, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) or any of its partner organizations.
- Self-identified minority- or women-owned businesses, based on the definitions below or the NMSDC definition of minority.
Note: the NMSDC definition of a minority business enterprise (MBE) is a “United States Citizen who is Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic or Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals (i.e., the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members).”
Definition:
Warner Norcross + Judd defines -
- A minority-owned business as a company that is at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more minority persons who are U.S. citizens.
- A women-owned business as a company that is at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.
Additional Information:
For additional information about our Supplier Diversity Program, email us at DEI_Community_Engagement@wnj.com.