Supplier Diversity Services
Diverse businesses and suppliers share many of our values here at AmeriHealth Caritas
We are invested in the neighborhoods our members call home, where populations are increasingly multicultural, multilingual, and multidimensional. We work to accurately reflect the diversity of those communities.
We understand the value of your diverse business and the impact its success can have on the local economy. As we encourage and mentor these businesses, their growth translates to more jobs and puts them in a position to further support both AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana and other businesses in your community.
So it’s only natural that we actively return the support and collaborate with diverse businesses such as those owned by minorities, women, and disabled veterans through our Supplier Diversity and Mentor Protégé programs.
Why work with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana?
Our goal is simple: to help suppliers like you improve and grow your business. Every dollar we spend with our suppliers can be traced to new careers, larger orders for goods and materials, and greater opportunities to thrive. We support supplier diversity with:
Partnerships in the communities we serve, such as the Southern Region Supplier Diversity Council, Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South, chambers of commerce (Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans), the New Orleans Black Chamber, and the New Orleans Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Our established Mentor Protégé Program, which helps suppliers prosper and grow.
“As a small-business owner affiliated with the Hudson Initiative Program, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana has partnered with Dubois & Associates LLC for their printing needs. Having a partnership with a company like AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana can make all the difference in the world to a small businesses bottom line." — Sonia Dubois, Dubois & Associates LLC
Determining supplier diversity eligibility
As a diverse business owner, your work values reflect the multicultural makeup of our members. As a health care company, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana wants to work with you to help grow your business — creating more jobs and building another piece of a strong foundation for a healthy community.
Before we get started, we need to verify that you are a majority owner of your business and that you are a third-party-certified diverse business.
Mentor Protégé Program
As part of our commitment to supplier diversity, we offer a Mentor Protégé Program, which helps suppliers like you become stronger, more vibrant partners. This training program provides minority-owned businesses with the tools and guidance you need to grow.
Under this program, you’ll learn more about a variety of crucial business topics, including:
- Developing and executing management strategies.
- Managing your finances and improving your viability.
- Expanding your product and service capacity and innovation.
- Guiding your professional and organizational development.
- Entering into new markets and agreements.
We’ll also assess your unique needs and meet at least quarterly to evaluate your progress.
Our professional support is designed to help you develop the management expertise you need to grow and succeed. As you do, you may generate even more economic benefits for the communities you serve.
“AmeriHealth Caritas has been both a strong partner to the community and to the small businessman. I’m proud of the work we’ve done for them and am grateful that AmeriHealth Caritas gave Corporate Business Supplies Inc., the opportunity to prove our worth as a commercial office furniture provider.” — Alfonso Gonzalez II, President, Corporate Business Supplies Inc.
Join the Mentor Protégé Program
Interested in becoming part of the program or need advice to get started?
Contact Ron Baldwin, Director, Supplier Management and Diversity, at rbaldwin@amerihealthcaritas.com and Herman Jones, Facilities & Emergency Management Specialist, at hmjones@amerihealthcaritasla.com.
If you are already a certified diverse supplier, then get started by filling out the Minority Supplier Registration Request form.
Eligibility
To participate in our Supplier Diversity and Mentor-Protégé programs:
- Eligible Louisiana based minority, small and veteran-owned businesses must be Hudson certified.
- Not certified? Learn more about becoming a certified Hudson (small business) or Veteran-owned business with Louisiana Economic Development (LED).
- Minority, small and veteran-owned businesses that are not eligible for Hudson certification must engage with a third-party certification resource, such as:
- The Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council Inc.
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
- National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
- Vets First Certification Program (for veteran-owned businesses).
- U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN, for disabled-owned businesses).
- Your state government.
Specific requirements vary by state.
For more detailed eligibility requirements:
Contact Ron Baldwin, Director, Supplier Management and Diversity, at rbaldwin@amerihealthcaritas.com