The Office Depot Vendor Diversity team has officially been in place since December of 1999. In this short period of time they have made great strides to reinforce Office Depot's commitment to improving economic development. They actively seek out promising MWDVE (Minority, Women or Disabled Veteran Enterprises) businesses to insure equal opportunity in the Office Depot supplier selection process. The team has also formed mentoring relationships with current and potential MWDVE suppliers to assist in raising their capabilities from primarily local or regional players to being potential competitors for national and international business. Office Depot is dedicated to not only seeking out and retaining these businesses as suppliers, but more importantly, to the establishment of mentoring and training relationships which insure that MWDVEs are equipped to grow and prosper in today's marketplace. Through this effort Office Depot has made a significant contribution to the prosperity of the communities in which we live and serve. For example:

• In 1999 the Office Depot commitment to MWDVE business resulted in over $290 million dollars in sales from MWDVE product and services alone.
• In 2000 Office Depot had sales of over $365 million in MWDVE product and services.

Vendor Diversity Corporate Commitment:

"We are committed to strengthening our focus on supplier diversity to ensure that our supplier base adequately reflects today's global marketplace. We are partnering with the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and others who share our common goals. Improving the economic development of the communities we serve and live in is part of the Diversity program goal. Strengthening our focus on supplier diversity development will help us serve our customers more effectively. Providing solutions to corporate minority purchasing concerns, providing the highest quality office products and services at the lowest cost is also a vital part of our Diversity Program. " -Bruce Nelson, Chief Executive Officer-Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot Vendor Diversity Team:

• Robert McCormes-Ballou, Director of Vendor Diversity
• Angela Kee, Vendor Diversity Representative
• Shari Jameison, Vendor Diversity Coordinator

For more information: If you are a manufacturer or distributor of product which fits our focus, and want to have a business relationship with Office Depot, click here to obtain more information.