Page 24 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

and financial services industries. A possible solution,
he suggests, is a consortium of insurance companies
working together to find, vet and develop qualified
vendors.
“If we can find a core group, why can’t we all just
go in and support them and then take the benefit
as an industry?” he asked. “We’re probably all
struggling with: How do I find diverse businesses
for insurance services? How do I find independent
adjusters or even law firms that can scale to support
large corporations?”
These service providers exist within the LGBTQ
community, but without adequate outreach and
visibility, connecting with them is difficult. White
acknowledges that it would take capital and
L-R: Carrie MBEs, WBEs, and other diverse suppliers. This is potentially be difficult to get into some of these
Crawford, where Nationwide’s Supplier Diversity Program service areas since there are big players already
Melanie comes in. established. However, with the right incentives,
Redding, Jeff
Montella, “Our purpose is to foster the promotion, growth these players could be encouraged to bring (and
Elizabeth and development of minority, women, LGBT and build) diverse talent and vendors along with them
Gilberti, Mary veteran-owned enterprises to protect people, to the table.
Beth Miloszar,
Thomas businesses and futures with extraordinary care,” he
Mininno said.
and Theresa One catch from one wide RFP search was THE
Perone from PRIME NETWORK. Founded in 2003, this LGBT
THE PRIME
NETWORK certified, independent medical evaluation company
headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania provides
services to insurance companies, law firms, self-
insured employers and third-party administrators.
Nationwide was the first company to offer THE
PRIME NETWORK participation in an RFP as part
of a supplier diversity program. The company was
awarded a three-year contract, which has been
renewed for an additional three-year term. THE
PRIME NETWORK has created its own supplier
diversity program after working closely with White
and his team.
“Our relationship with Nationwide has provided
us the opportunity to build our business and
encouraged us to develop a comprehensive supplier
diversity outreach and marketing program,” said
Jeffrey Montella, founder/owner, THE PRIME
NETWORK. “We are honored to be a part of
Nationwide’s Supplier Diversity Program.”
Casting a wide net has paid off so far, but White
said a major challenge he and other insurance
companies are facing now is finding diverse, certified
businesses to meet needs specific to the insurance

24 SUMMER 2021 BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE.COM