Supplier Development Program
Hirons recognizes the importance of ensuring that our supply chain is strong, reflects the communities we serve and provides opportunities for small businesses. We actively partner with organizations to expand upon our employee-owner experiences to drive innovation and deliver great results for our clients. Below are details of several elements that form our program.
Program Oversight
Sheila Smiley, Executive Vice President
Patricia Childers, Project Manager
The entire Hirons management team fully supports our supplier development program.
Supplier Development Program Objectives
- Promote equal opportunities for all suppliers to compete for business, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic class, religion, disability status, age, military status, political ideology, economic status, and geographic location.
- Support the development and capacity-building of suppliers through mentorship, training and networking opportunities.
- Establish mutually beneficial partnerships with suppliers that align with our business goals and values.
Program Components
Supplier Registration, Evaluation and Support
A supplier is asked to submit registration that includes its W-9 form, any applicable certifications and its capabilities statement. The Hirons team will evaluate suppliers based on their capabilities, qualifications and alignment with specific project goals. Hirons strives to implement a fair and transparent practice to select the best supplier based on quality and value. Hirons will contact suppliers to discuss potential partnership opportunities and to give feedback on evaluation criteria.
Hirons will document a supplier’s specialty and request any additional documentation needed. At that time, Hirons will also provide an overview of its services and details for engaging with us when creating joint RFPs and when providing client deliverables.
Should a supplier not be selected for a project, Hirons will give rationale on what could be done in the future for a different outcome and assist the supplier by providing additional resources when possible. These resources may include (but are not limited to) training opportunities, mentoring, technical assistance, and help facilitating connections between people and organizations.
Supplier Development Opportunities – Organizations and Industry Groups
Hirons is a member of several organizations and participates in numerous industry groups that provide exposure to collaboration and partnership opportunities for suppliers. These include but are not limited to:
National
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
- American Advertising Federation (AAF)
- The ESOP Association (TEA)
- National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
Regional/Local
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Indy Chamber of Commerce
- Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Collaboration and Feedback from Suppliers
In an effort toward incremental advancement, Hirons’ team regularly meets with suppliers to further foster relationships and to collaborate on opportunities to grow partnerships and client success. Hirons also surveys suppliers on a biennial basis to gain feedback on past partnerships and to identify areas for improvement.
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