Press Releases
07/22/2024
Avangrid Furthers Supplier Diversity Commitment by Joining National Veteran Business Development Council
Avangrid Furthers Supplier Diversity Commitment by Joining National Veteran Business Development Council
Partnership reinforces Avangrid’s support of veteran-owned businesses
ORANGE, Conn. — July 22, 2024 — Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company and a member of the Iberdrola Group, announced today that it has joined the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC), an organization dedicated to providing greater access and opportunities for certified veteran-owned businesses across the United States. This partnership reinforces Avangrid’s commitment to supporting veteran entrepreneurs and fostering an inclusive and diverse supply chain.
“At Avangrid, we're dedicated to creating a business environment where diversity is not just welcomed, but celebrated,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “This new partnership with the National Veteran Business Development Council illustrates that commitment and is one of the many ways we can ensure our supply chain is as dynamic and robust as the communities we serve. Our supplier diversity program continues to grow each year and I expect our engagement with NVBDC will only further our program by fostering meaningful connections, driving innovation and contributing to the economic growth of service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses.”
As a corporate member, Avangrid will have access to NVBDC's comprehensive database of certified veteran-owned businesses and will participate in various NVBDC events, including networking opportunities, educational workshops, and business matchmaking sessions. This collaboration aims to enhance Avangrid's supplier diversity initiatives while providing veteran business owners with valuable opportunities to expand their businesses. NVBDC's rigorous certification process ensures that veteran-owned businesses meet the highest standards of excellence. This certification provides corporate members like Avangrid with the confidence that they are partnering with businesses that are not only veteran-owned but also capable and reliable.
"We are honored to welcome Avangrid as our newest corporate member," said Brigadier General (Ret) Richard Miller, president of NVBDC. "Their commitment to sustainability and community aligns perfectly with our mission to empower veteran business owners. Together, we can create more opportunities and drive meaningful change."
Avangrid's supplier diversity program is centered on creating an inclusive and equitable environment that recognizes and values the unique qualities of each individual. The program aims to promote the participation of businesses owned by ethnic minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, veterans, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals in the company's procurement process. Avangrid believes that innovation thrives in diverse and inclusive settings and has aligned its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy with this belief by focusing on increasing representation, driving opportunity, and building community. In 2023, Avangrid grew its supplier diversity program and surpassed its diverse supplier spend goal by 24%, achieving $284 million and creating a significant economic impact.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.
With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
