Supplier Diversity at the St. Louis Fed
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis makes every effort in its policies, procedures and actions to encourage competition and provide fair and equal treatment for all organizations. Our Supplier Diversity and Procurement teams are committed to growing our diverse supplier base through outreach and engagement that will build stronger business relationships with our community.
Our supplier diversity initiative supports the St. Louis Fed’s strategic plan in two ways:
- Promoting awareness and understanding of our services and corporate citizenship.
- Continuing execution of a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy, including operating an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.
Supplier Diversity Events and Workshops
Participants at a recent supplier diversity event in Louisville, Ky.
Each spring and fall, we host a Supplier Diversity Workshop to introduce women- and minority-owned businesses to the St. Louis Fed and to advise them how to become a part of our supplier community. This outreach initiative aims to build relationships and drive economic development in our communities. Attendees learn from a variety of St. Louis Fed representatives, including Economic Research, External Engagement and Corporate Communications, Information Security, Legal and Procurement.
Contact the supplier diversity team to learn more about the next event.
Ally Organizations
- National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)
- Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (MSMSDC)
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
- DisabilityIN
- The St. Louis Anchor Action Network (STLAAN)
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or genetic information in its contracting and procurement activities. The Bank has an outreach program designed to maintain a diverse pool of responsible suppliers. The Bank does not set aside any acquisitions, in whole or in part, for purposes of contracting with specific groups.
Supplier Diversity in the News
Monica Buren, St. Louis Fed Supplier Diversity Program Manager
The St. Louis Fed’s Supplier Diversity Program manager, Monica Buren, has been named one of St. Louis Small Business Monthly magazine’s Diversity Heroes. This honor is given to individuals whose personal and professional actions foster equity, inclusion and belonging in the St. Louis region. The newspaper highlighted Buren in its May 2023 issue.
“Our supplier diversity program encourages department leaders to consider women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned, disability-owned, and small businesses in procurement decisions,” Buren said. “At the St. Louis Fed, we have made progress in strategic sourcing and diverse supplier inclusion by working with community groups, conferences, organizations, funders and diverse suppliers that engage historically underrepresented communities.”
Minority- and women-owned businesses were particularly hard hit in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. The St. Louis Fed’s Supplier Diversity lead describes the impact and ways businesses can help in this Open Vault Blog article.
St. Louis Fed employee Monica Buren was named the 2019 Advocate of the Year by the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. The MSDC is an advocacy group for minority-owned business enterprises in Central Illinois, Indiana and Eastern Missouri. The Advocate of the Year award honors outstanding individuals, from MSDC member organizations, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist minority-owned business enterprises with procurement opportunities, development opportunities and feedback. American CyberSystems, an MBE in St. Louis, nominated Buren.
