Nancy Conner is the CEO of Nancy Conner Consulting, LLC, a diversity consulting practice serving corporations along with minority women, veteran, disabled and LGBT suppliers.
From 2001 to 2016 Nancy Conner was Supplier Diversity Manager for W. W. Grainger, Inc. There, she was responsible for developing and executing corporate supplier diversity strategy, satisfying customer expectations for supply chain diversity and inclusion, and for driving internal results. Her program served as a catalyst for over $2 billion in customer sales, and increased corporate diversity procurement by more than 200%.
Prior to joining Grainger in 2001, Ms. Conner managed Supplier Diversity for R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company and held senior procurement positions at Tribune Company.
Ms. Conner is one of the founders of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council’s “Corporate Bridges,” an entrepreneurial education program for Minority Business Entrepreneurs. She was chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s 2003 Conference Program Committee. She served in a leadership role on the board of directors for Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and is active with the Women’s Business Development Center and the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council. Ms. Conner served as President and Chair of the CMSDC from 1997 to 2000. In addition, Ms. Conner has served on the board of directors for Diversity Information Resources and the Diverse Manufacturing Supply Chain Alliance. She served on the Certification Committe for DisabilityIN. She currently serves as the Executive Director for IUBDC and Certification Director for NaVOBA.
Associations / Affiliations / Recognition:
National Minority Supplier Development Council
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council
DisabilityIN
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Business Development Center
Diverse Manufacturers Supply Chain Alliance
Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council
National Veteran Owned Business Association
Bunker Labs
AWARDS
2022 Influential Women in Business - Daily Herald Top 100 Leaders in Supplier Diversity – 2016 Women’s Enterprise USA
2012 Anders C. Rasmussen Award - CMSDC
2011 & 2012 Applause Award - WBENC
Top Supplier Diversity Executives - 2012 Professional Woman's Magazine
2010 Champions of Diversity - DiversityPlus Magazine
2008 Hall of Fame Award – Women’s Business Development Center/Chicago
First Ladies of Supplier Diversity – 2007 Minority Business News Magazine
100 Women Impacting Supplier Diversity - 2006 Women’s Enterprise USA Magazine
Supplier Diversity Manager of the Year - 2005 U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA, Chicago Region
Corporate Excellence Award - 1996 Tribune Company
Buyer Achievement Award - 1992 NAPM Chicago
Buyer of the Year - 1988 Chicago Minority Business Development Council