OREANDA-NEWS. United Airlines was named a top corporation for women-owned and -operated businesses by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) for the third consecutive year. "America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises" is the only national award honoring corporations with world-class supplier diversity programs that create level playing fields for women's enterprises and generate a high volume of business with these companies. United is the only airline to earn a spot on WBENC's 15th annual list.

Employees of various backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, lifestyles and cultures from around the world make up United's global workforce of 85,000. "At United we believe diversity is one of our greatest strengths," said Katrina Manning, United's vice president of technical procurement. "And that diversity extends beyond employees; it shapes how we approach relationships with our suppliers and business partners. We've made it our priority to ensure that small, minority-, and women-owned suppliers have access to opportunities with United."

This WBENC honor stems from United's Supplier Diversity Initiative, an integral part of the airline's business operations. The program aims to ensure that certified minority-, women-, veteran-, LGBT-owned enterprises and small businesses have opportunities to compete to provide products and services within United's extensive supply chain.

Last year, United was named Corporation of the Year by the Minority Supplier Diversity Council. In addition to WBENC, United is a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and many local affiliate councils such as the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women's Business Enterprise Alliance and the Women's Business Development Center.