Leading Supplier Diversity Into the Future

By Kyndle Huey

What does inclusive procurement mean? For Regions, it’s a commitment to increase the number of small businesses, as well as diverse-owned businesses, into its supply chain. It means Regions is intentional in its spend with diverse suppliers – which increases competition, drives value, and generates innovation.

And now, Regions has named Tiffany Lovelace as Supplier Diversity Director, and she is looking to lead the bank’s inclusive procurement efforts into the future.

“Regions has improved our diverse supplier outcomes over the past three years and I’m excited for Tiffany to join us in expanding upon that work. A broader pool of diverse service providers not only helps our business but the community as well,” said Brett Couch, head of Procurement and Corporate Real Estate “Tiffany brings a wide array of experience and fresh perspective to the supplier diversity role.”

In her new role, Lovelace will report directly to Couch, and will be responsible for creating and executing strategies that expand Regions’ network of diverse suppliers.

Lovelace joined the bank in 2015 as Commercial Card Sales Consultant and most recently served as Commercial Card Sales and Account Management Leader within the Treasury Management group. Prior to joining Regions, Tiffany held roles in procurement with Kansas City Southern Railway Company, where she oversaw strategic sourcing initiatives and the supplier diversity program.

“I worked in supplier diversity early in my career, so this feels like coming home,” said Lovelace. “Diverse businesses are crucial to local economies and I look forward to creating an inclusive framework for suppliers that benefits the vendors, Regions, and the communities we serve.”

In her role within Treasury Management, Lovelace helped form and lead a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion network where associates were encouraged to foster an inclusive environment by sharing ideas, embracing each associate’s unique talents and collaborating through cross-functional teams. Using this experience, coupled with her background in procurement and supplier diversity, Lovelace hopes to make an even bigger difference within Regions.

“This position offers an opportunity to be able to make an impact at an enterprise level,” said Lovelace. “As we move forward, it becomes clearer to think of supplier diversity as an approach for delivering business value by creating an opportunity and increasing innovation and competition while supporting the communities that make our company successful.”