Owens & Minor and the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA) announced the winners of the 2023 Supplier Diversity Awards, which honor the legacy of Earl G. Reubel, co-founder of Kerma Medical Products Inc., a family and veteran-minority owned company and supplier. The awards recognize the individuals and organizations that are actively making an impact in advancing and championing greater diversity in the healthcare supply chain. This year’s award recipients were recognized during the HSDA Conference held virtually on Dec. 7.
Winners were chosen across three categories:
- Civic Leader of the Year: George Robinson II, Director of Supplier Diversity & Inclusion (SDI) at Pennsylvania-based UPMC, has significantly grown the system’s annual diverse spend from $125 million to $335 million. He accomplished this by establishing multiple supplier diversity development programs, which have provided business and technical training to more than 2,400 diverse businesses. Robinson also developed UPMC’s Policy to Prosperity program, which hosts meetings with local officials to address UPMC SDI’s community impact and guide legislation impacting local diverse businesses.
- Diverse Enterprise of the Year: Cube Care Company is a woman-owned small business founded by CEO Susan Robledo, a Colombian immigrant who recognized a need for privacy curtains in hospitals. Today, Cube Care is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that hires from local neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County and invests heavily in employee development. This involves recruiting and training residents from a diverse range of backgrounds, such as retirees and those who are seeking a path to success, including individuals from local halfway houses.
- Large Corporation of the Year: As the third largest nonprofit integrated health system in the U.S., Advocate Health is committed to providing equitable care for all – contributing nearly $6 billion in charitable care and services across its 68 hospitals and more than 1,000 care locations. This investment builds on Advocate’s pledge to advance health equity and improve affordability for the communities it serves, whether by providing free care through financial assistance programs, investing in affordable housing or bringing virtual healthcare services to underserved communities.
“We are always impressed by the incredible accomplishments and passion of the people and organizations receiving these awards, and this year is no exception,” said Andy Long, EVP, CEO, Products & Healthcare Services, Owens & Minor. “Owens & Minor is proud to value and prioritize the diversity of our manufacturers, suppliers, customers, partners and teammates to make each day better for patients.”
“It’s an honor to congratulate this year’s award recipients on their significant achievements in fostering diversity and inclusion across the healthcare supply chain,” said Andrea Reubel-Walker, Director of Marketing and Key National Accounts, Kerma Medical Products Inc. and board member of HSDA.
To learn more about the awards and see past winners, click here.
About the Supplier Diversity Awards Honoring Earl G. Reubel
Launched by Owens & Minor in 2012 in collaboration with Kerma Medical Products, Inc., and the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA), the Earl G. Reubel Awards recognize people and organizations that demonstrate leadership and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the healthcare supply chain. The annual program honors the legacy of the late Earl G. Reubel, entrepreneur and co-founder of Kerma, a family and veteran-minority owned company with a direct sales division in Miramar, Florida. Founded by Joyce Kershaw-Reubel and Earl G. Reubel, Kerma began as a manufacturer in 1991 as a United States government supplier and today is one of the largest diversity manufacturer/supplier companies in the private sector.