Pacesetters: Doing Business with National Grid, Part I

March 29, 2021 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Virtual

Event Details

Join us for the next installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring National Grid!

The Pacesetters Doing Business virtual series will allow small and minority-owned companies to hear directly from procurement officers at participating Pacesetter companies to learn about specific contract opportunities that may be unique to each company.

This event will be part one of a two-part series featuring the procurement leadership team at National Grid.

Tickets

Free & Open to the Public
Online registration will close 90 minutes before the start of the program.
If you would like to register after we have closed online registration, please reach out to [email protected].

ABOUT THIS EVENT

National Grid is one of the world’s largest listed utilities focused on regulated transmission and distribution activities in electricity and gas in the United States and the United Kingdom. As a responsible business, we play a vital role in connecting millions of people to the energy they use, safely, reliably and efficiently. In the US, we manage gas and electric distribution businesses in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In the UK, we own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and own and operate the high-pressure gas transmission system in Great Britain.

National Grid Ventures is the competitive division of National Grid plc. Our shared sense of community has taught us that our customers are forward-thinking and deeply mindful of the environment, but also challenged by the affordability of a clean energy transition. National Grid believes we can help our communities by working together to solve the greatest challenge of our time – climate change – while delivering an energy future for all of us.

It is National Grid’s goal to provide minority, women-owned, small and diverse sustainable businesses enterprises an equal opportunity to participate in National Grid’s procurement and sourcing process as a tier 1 (direct) or tier 2 subcontractor on our contracts. It is our policy to procure goods and services competitively, ethically and efficiently in accordance with all relevant laws, regulations and licenses.

We invite all MWBE firms that would like to learn more about how to become a supplier with National Grid to attend this webinar. While we purchase a wide range of products and services, this webinar is an opportunity to identify new sources of supply for our electric construction, transmission and substation requirements for both tier 1 and 2 opportunities. There are a wide range of tier 1 and 2 subcontracting opportunities available.

Learn More About Pacesetters Learn More About National Grid

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Speakers

Carla Hunter Ramsey

Global Sr. Director of Supply Chain Corporate Social Responsibility National Grid

Carla Hunter Ramsey joined National Grid, one of the nation’s largest electricity and gas delivery companies and one of the largest publicly-owned energy companies…Read more

Carla Hunter Ramsey joined National Grid, one of the nation’s largest electricity and gas delivery companies and one of the largest publicly-owned energy companies in the world, as Global Sr. Director of Supply Chain Corporate Social Responsibility. In her role, she leads the coordination, integration and implementation of all supply chain diversity and sustainability strategies across the global footprint. Hunter Ramsey joined National Grid after more than 20 years in procurement, leading purchasing departments in higher education. Prior to joining National Grid, she was the director of purchasing, contracts and property management at York College, City University of New York and prior to York, oversaw procurement for The New School in New York City, in which she purchased goods and services for nine different colleges. Hunter Ramsey’s background is a perfect match supply chain corporate social responsibility. She understands the intricacies of being a supplier as well as a procurement professional and minority business owner. She worked as an executive in her father’s printing company, Black and White Impressions, Inc. for almost 15 years, and recalls the challenges she encountered in trying to secure contracts from corporations, state agencies and the federal government. Her multi-faceted work experience uniquely positioned her to see things from both sides of the table to effectively negotiate on behalf of the supplier as well as National Grid. Hunter Ramsey is committed to helping change the landscape of the business world to level the playing field for diverse companies across the U.S, as well as setting National Grid’s ambition to transform the way we do business and provide a sustainable legacy. She understands that National Grid’s long-term growth objectives depend on the ability to effectively expand business opportunities through the creation of powerful partnerships with diverse sustainable companies. Over the past eight years, National Grid’s supplier diversity program has received over 50 awards. The program has been recognized by Diversity Inc., Black EOE Magazine, Diversity Plus, Professional Women Magazine, US Black Chamber, Diversity Careers Inc., Color Magazine, the Greater New England Supplier Development Council, National Minority Business Council, Frazer Net and others. Black EOE Magazine has profiled Ms. Ramsey as one of the top supplier diversity executives in the nation. Hunter Ramsey has also been recognized by numerous organizations including NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), was honored by the Queens Women’s Center for her achievements as a Women Entrepreneur. In addition to those accolades, she was nominated as one of the top influential black women in business –The Network Journal, recognized as one of the top 25 champions of diversity in the nation and received a prestigious award from the African American Chamber of Commerce at their Women’s Leaders Recognition. She holds a bachelors degree from Queens College and an Executive Masters Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, The City University of New York and she is pursuing her Masters in Divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Hunter Ramsey is married with 3 children and resides in Queens, New York.

Vivienne Bracken

Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Global Business Services National Grid

National Grid’s supply chain is a vital part of its commitment to provide safe, reliable energy for its customers. In addition to delivering high-quality, cost…Read more

Steve Peltier

Director, U.S Transmission and Renewable Generation National Grid

Steve Peltier is the Procurement Director for National Grid’s US Transmission and Renewable Generation businesses. He has a wide range of category management expertise…Read more

Leonard Durant

Principle Program Manager National Grid

Leonard Durant joined National Grid, a leading global utility company in the Northeast and the UK in delivery of gas and electricity to its customers in 2009 as…Read more

Leonard Durant joined National Grid, a leading global utility company in the Northeast and the UK in delivery of gas and electricity to its customers in 2009 as Senior Buyer, Global IS and Telecommunications. In 2013 Len migrated to the Transmission and Overhead Lines group responsible for “contracting out” electric construction for National Grid’s electric infrastructure. Len has been involved in the procurement profession for over 30 years and has watched the industry changes and the increased emphasis on cost savings through the implementation of supplier diversity programs throughout major corporations worldwide. Most recently (2018) Len transitioned to a new role as Principle Program Manager at National Grid. In this new role he will develop a strategy for enlarging external contractor resources for National Grid’s gas business. Len is a passionate “champion” of supplier diversity and is constantly involved in diversity initiatives both inside and outside National Grid. He has watched National Grid grow it’s diversity spend from literally nothing to a multi-million dollar, award-winning program that stands as an example in the industry. The National Grid procurement team has partnered with their Supplier Diversity group to identify, validate and attract minority suppliers worldwide. The Supplier Diversity program at National Grid has won numerous awards and recognition in the diversity arena and is now a “bell-weather” for others. Len has worked for numerous corporations throughout his career including, Smith & Nephew, Massachusetts Port Authority, Tufts University and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from Cambridge College. He is Past President of the Greater Boston Chapter of AABE (American Association of Blacks in Energy) and within National Grid served on the Executive Council of the Alliance of Black Professionals. Len also mentors both within National Grid as well as outside. He is a former board member for Bird Street Community Center and recently completed in a leadership program, LeadBoston which prepares leaders for stewardship in their communities.

Stephen DeRosa

Director, Electric Services and Materials National Grid

Stephen DeRosa is a Director in the National Grid’s Procurement organization leading the Electric Services and Materials team while also serving as a business partner…Read more

Fleur Callender

Sr. Specialist – Supply Chain Corporate Social Responsibility National Grid

Fleur Callender is Sr. Specialist – Supply Chain Corporate Social Responsibility at National Grid. She has a strong background in organizational management, inclusion…Read more

Fleur Callender is Sr. Specialist – Supply Chain Corporate Social Responsibility at National Grid. She has a strong background in organizational management, inclusion and diversity, and sustainability. In February 2011, Fleur joined the supplier diversity team at National Grid to lead the Tier 2 program, manage the event schedule and provide diversity support to the Massachusetts procurement team. Her dedication, passion and commitment to supplier diversity were evident early on as she worked tirelessly to grow National Grid’s successful Tier 2 program to over $1 billion. During the past 9 years, Fleur has proven her ability to implement diversity and sustainability strategies to achieve the company’s supplier diversity and sustainability goals and have developed relationships internally and externally to grow diversity spend in the US jurisdictions, proving that she is a rising star. Outside of her working team, Fleur has served as Vice-Chair of ABP and has volunteered her time to work with Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to provide understanding on supply chain management as it relates to corporate, social responsibility, and assisted with the coordination of signature programs such as the Mentoring Program, Black History Month, and Executive Connections. She has also been instrumental in the management of the partnership between National Grid and American Association for Black in Energy (AABE), serving as the Co-Chair of the Membership Committee as well as serving on the Scholarship and the Events committees for AABE-NYMAC. Prior to joining National Grid, Fleur worked at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, as the Diversity Specialist responsible for the firm’s diversity and inclusion training program and supporting the organization’s affinity groups. She also held the position of Diversity Coordinator at the American Institute of CPAs supporting the Minority Initiatives and Work Life & Women’s Initiatives Committees. Fleur received her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack College, a Paralegal certificate from Brooklyn College (CUNY), and Supplier Diversity Professional Certificate from Rutgers University. In 2016 Fleur received the 2016 Power Women in Business award from Star Networks for her work in promoting women owned businesses. She is currently pursuing her fellowship with the Partnership Program. However, her most defining achievement is nurturing two aspiring future leaders in her daughter and son, Kori and Taj John.

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