Diversity
Artech is a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certified by both the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSDC) and the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Ranjini Poddar, Artech president, spearheads Artech's initiative to sponsor, participate and contribute to the diversity community. Ms. Poddar has been mentoring small minority- and women-owned business owners for years, and she has given lectures and participated on panels on numerous occasions for a variety of organizations and events.
WBENC
In June 2009, Ms. Poddar spoke at several break-out sessions during the WBENC National Conference in San Francisco. As the WBE Co-Chair of the event, she participated on business discussion panels with some of the most influential and forward-thinking women business owners and corporate women executives in the US.
NJ Innovates
In March 2009, Ms. Poddar participated on a panel on behalf of the New Jersey Innovates Conference, where an audience of over 300 business people, primarily small businesses, gathered to discuss business strategies for surviving and prospering during the current economic crisis. The panel discussion was titled, "Turning Hurdles into Opportunities," and was recorded by MSNBC.
Female Lecture at FDU Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
Also in March, Ms. Poddar delivered the 2009 Female Entrepreneur Lecture at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business / Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial studies. Her well-attended lecture was aptly titled, Entrepreneurial Growth in a Challenging Economy. Soon after the success of the event, Ms. Poddar was invited to join and serve on the Advisory Board at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she has been serving ever since.
MBDA MED Week 2008
On August 28, 2008, Ms. Poddar, participated in a panel discussion as part of the National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week 2008 Conference in Washington, DC. Ms. Poddar met with government delegates and participated in a panel discussion entitled Managing Global Strategic Relationships in front of an audience of 700 government representatives and minority business owners at the Regency Ballroom.
The 26th Annual Conference focused on Strategic Alliances in the Global Economy and was hosted by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The substance of the Conference will provide critical information to foster the growth and competitiveness of the minority business community. In addition to the State of Commerce Luncheon and the Annual MED Week Awards Gala, the Conference featured a Business EXPO, a Legislative Issue Briefing and multiple educational workshops.
Diversity Culture & Outreach
Artech’s management and non-management employees voluntarily attend, participate and contribute to these organizations and events, reflecting the current culture of the firm as one that is team oriented and supportive.
In addition to personal involvement, she has mandated programs and activities to advance diversity businesses that include:
- Supplier Diversity Subcontracting opportunities and Vendor relationships
- Mentoring and educational programs
- Global diversity initiatives
Details of these programs are provided on the following pages.
SIA CWS Summit
Artech was an Optimum Sponsor for the Staffing Industry Analysts 2009 Contingent Workforce Strategies Summit in Orlando, FL. The SIA CWS Summit is the premier event in the staffing industry and Artech is proud to represent the diversity community as one of the few minority- and women-owned diversity suppliers to ever sponsor this exclusive event. Artech will once again sponsor the Summit from November 19-20, 2010 in Denver, CO.