Moving communities forward through supplier diversity

At Spire, we are responsible for delivering clean, affordable, reliable natural gas to more than 1.7 million customers in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi. And we can only do this successfully if inclusion is at the core of how we do business. 

We strive to create an inclusive culture and a true sense of belonging —not just because it’s good business—but because it’s the right thing to do. We also acknowledge and promote broad perspectives that are essential to innovation, helping us find new and better ways to serve our customers.  

As the Director of Supplier Diversity, I am responsible for ensuring that our inclusive environment is extended to our supplier communities who, with their own unique backgrounds, help us unlock opportunities to establish multiple sources to secure goods and services, drive competition among suppliers, promote innovation and drive economic growth in the communities we serve . 
There’s a heightened focus on seeking and growing relationships with diverse companies for important reasons beyond just compliance. Spire is investing in efforts to promote economic growth within our communities. There’s a tremendous opportunity for supplier-led innovation as we look to solve some of the most complex industry problems, enhance customer service, and build relationships with high-performing and diverse suppliers to help expand our service to new regions.
 
We are doing all this while remaining focused on increasing awareness of Spire’s commitment to supplier diversity. This includes measuring more of what matters such as bid event demographics, tracking bid event outcomes to ensure inclusion and equity in each opportunity, and tracking collaboration with business communities and leaders, as well as advocacy groups throughout the regions we serve.  

We also launched the Spire supplier portal – “Supplier Connect” and the “Doing business with Spire” page to make it easier for new and existing suppliers to work with our company.  A supplier diversity policy is underway as well as a two-tier diversity strategy. 

By doing all this and more, our goal is to advance inclusion and promote equitable competition so we can all move each other—and our communities—forward. 

Joshua McLeod
Director, Supply Chain Innovation & Supplier Diversity