ISM Press Room

A Message to the ISM Community

Our hearts break for our country due to the current gut-wrenching circumstances playing out across the United States. We grieve the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among too many others. We pray for peace, comfort and healing for their families and friends. But we also know that is not enough.

ISM has confronted issues of fairness, equity, and inclusion in its own past. That led us as an organization to address inequality head on, in programming for supplier diversity, diversity and inclusion in the workforce, engagement with HBCUs, even the composition of the ISM Board, to cite but a few examples. We’re proud of our history in leading positive change for the profession and remain committed to that vision for supply management today and into the future.

We stand in support of our common humanity and shared experiences. As an association, we thrive upon our Principles of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, with Diversity and Inclusion as a core pillar, throughout supply chains, organizations and communities. That also means we’re committed to actively cultivate a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone’s voice matters and where people of all cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints can thrive.

During this time, each of us can control the compassion and respect we show others. Our team knows that words and actions matter, and you can rely on ISM as a source and community of support.

We encourage you to consider how you may use your voice and the collective voices of your colleagues in your organization, chapter or region to not only contribute, but to amplify efforts that make a lasting difference in your sphere of influence. ISM will do the same, and we will continue to create programs and tools to further diversity, inclusion and equity in our profession to serve you, our members.

Thomas W. Derry
Chief Executive Officer
Institute for Supply Management^®

Camille Batiste, CPSM, C.P.M.
ISM^® Board of Directors