GEA Debuts Launchpad Program for Diverse-Owned Suppliers

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Appliances, a Haier company, (GEA) announced today the introduction of its GEA Launchpad program, which is designed to grow and develop the capacity of diverse-owned suppliers needed for its operations. The GEA Launchpad is designed to educate the participants on the company’s supply chain needs, what suppliers are currently doing that could be grown, and the company’s processes and procedures for suppliers. The goal is to increase GEA’s diverse-owned supplier base and ensure potential suppliers are ready to do business with the company.

During the two-and-a-half-month program, the selected suppliers will learn about the focus of GE Appliances, the brands it represents, as well as the company’s numerous products and extensive US manufacturing locations. The program will include educational sessions and discussions on best practices with various subject matter experts. Participants will also be paired with their own GEA mentors, who will help them prepare for their final pitch to the business.

The GEA Launchpad’s first cohort includes:

• Cimtech, Jesika Young (WBENC certified)
• Core Technology, Geoff Foster (NMSDC certified)
• Cory Electronics, Jason Fiore (NGLCC certified)
• Eagle Steel & Metal Products, Shelby Throneburg (NMSDC certified)
• Interapt, Ankur Gopal (NMSDC certified)
• Katatama American Company Inc. (KACI), Masayuki Katayama (NMSDC certified)
• Lavelle Industries, Kathryn Turke (WBENC certified)
• LB Manufacturing, Keith Hamilton (NMSDC certified)
• Machine & Components Industries, Holly Hile (WBENC certified)
• NYX Inc., JatinderBir Sandhu (NMSDC certified)

"Through this program, we’re hoping to further develop the scope and scale of these 10 certified, diverse-owned suppliers who can, in turn, add value to our supply chain," said Jorge Lionel Ramirez, Chief Procurement Officer at GE Appliances. “In this group, we have a mix of local and national suppliers. It’s exciting for us to explore opportunities with some new companies and potentially generate new equitable growth in our manufacturing communities.”

The program will culminate in early April with a livestreamed event, where cohort participants will present their service or product recommendations to internal GEA stakeholders.

Please visit this link for a b-roll and soundbite package. In addition, a link is provided to an overview video of the GEA Supplier Diversity initiative.

About GE Appliances

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make "good things, for life." We're creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We’re a company powered by our people, made stronger through our diversity — allowing us to grow closer than ever before to our owners, anticipate their needs and enhance their lives. We’re certified as a U.S. Great Place to Work ™, named one of the Best Companies for Multicultural Women by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media), Achievers Top 50 Most Engaged Workplaces, received a perfect score for the fourth year in a row on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and named one of the top 100 Internship Programs by Way Up.

Since 1907, we’ve built innovative, quality products that are trusted in half of all U.S. homes. We sell appliances under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, wine & beverage centers, air conditioners, small appliances, water filtration systems and water heaters.

To learn more about our company, our brands, our Corporate Citizenship efforts, our economic impact, and working for GE Appliances visit www.geappliancesco.com.

Disclaimer: The GEA Launchpad, and the suppliers’ participation in it, are not an endorsement or a commitment for future business with GE Appliances. Moreover, future business is not in any way conditioned on a supplier’s participation in the program.