One-star NaVOBA Corporate Member Alcatel-Lucent made a second consecutive appearance as one of the 10 Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses for 2009. The global communications provider, headquartered in Paris, France has more than 77,000 employees with more than 130 offices around the world. Janet Stone, senior manager for Supplier Diversity said the company is proud that its hard work has paid off.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized for our efforts and successes in doing business with veteran-owned small businesses," Stone said. "It also provides additional motivation to continue the level of business and find new opportunities with future bids."

Nick De Tura, senior vice president, Quality and Customer Care described the benefits the company reaps from its initiative to include veteran suppliers.

"We are seeing an increasing number of veteran-owned businesses compete in the market today," De Tura said. "Veterans understand risk management. By serving our country and fighting in the name of freedom they have been trained on assessing situations and responding accordingly. We have a diverse supply base and veterans are an important part of our diversity supply chain."

Lynn Scott, executive director of supplier diversity said using veteran-owned businesses as part of the company’s supplier diversity initiative offers a "competitive edge to our customers."

"Smart Business is important to us," Scott said. "Utilizing a network of diverse suppliers enables us to provide local resources, with the right skill mix for the particular opportunity. Supplier Diversity’s goal is to provide opportunity; opportunity that can turn into a win-win for everyone. It is our mentoring and coaching that will lead to winning business. Additionally, we know that supplier diversity is a top priority with our customers, so it is vital that our supplier diversity commitment be visible to our customers."

One of the innovative ways the company strives to improve its supplier diversity efforts is to establish guidelines and accountability for performance.

"We have emphasized our Tier II program, the commercial flowdown program, and concentrated on the reporting mechanisms internally and externally," Stone said. "It’s important that our employees understand why we have a program, in addition to the how and the what, so we can continue to increase participation."

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