WINSTON-SALEM — Novant Health was recently named a 2019 Top Performer by Vizient in Supplier Diversity in the Supply Chain Excellence award category.

The Supplier Diversity Excellence Award recognizes members that best champion inclusion in their supply chain and accelerate economic growth in their local community through engagement, empowerment and utilization of minority-, women- and veteran-owned business enterprises.

“We are honored to be recognized by Vizient for our supplier diversity initiatives,” said Kevin J. Price, senior director of supplier diversity at Novant Health. “Novant Health has been committed to developing mutually beneficial and successful partnerships with diverse suppliers for 13 years by incorporating them into the everyday process of category reviews and product or service bids.”

Since Novant Health began its supplier diversity initiative in 2006, it has partnered with more than 400 suppliers, representing a $900 million investment.

In 2018, Novant Health partnered with M&F Bank to develop the Diverse Supplier Community Reinvestment Program, a loan program designed to provide working capital to small-business owners located in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, who currently are part of Novant Health’s supplier network. Through a $5 million investment, Novant Health will provide loan guarantees to its diverse suppliers to enhance the financial health of small, diverse businesses.

For more information about Novant Health’s supplier diversity initiative, visit NovantHealth.org/supplierdiversity.