Major League Baseball today announced that five national and local businesses will sponsor the 2016 MLB Diversity Business Summit, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona on March 8th and 9th. The principal sponsors of the 2016 Summit are SupplierGATEWAY and Premier Management Corporation, which are both leading MLB diversity suppliers. Additional sponsors include CISCO, Nielsen and Phoenix-based Jerry Colangelo Center for Sports Philanthropy at the Arizona Community Foundation.

“We are very proud to have these outstanding partners with the 2016 Diversity Business Summit,” says Wendy Lewis, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Inclusion & Strategic Alliances, Major League Baseball. “Like Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks, these companies and their respective leadership understand the importance of diversity to the future growth of their businesses and workforces. Their involvement at the sponsorship engagement level of the Diversity Business Summit is critical to the success of this event, and we are appreciative of their support as we seek future leaders of the National Pastime.”

The MLB Diversity Business Summit, the premier sports employment conference and supplier diversity trade fair, uniquely and directly connects attendees with decision-makers for employment and business opportunities from all 30 MLB Clubs, MLB Network, MLB Advanced Media, Minor League Baseball Clubs and MLB’s Central Office in New York City. Individuals interested in attending the Summit can visit MLB.com/diversitysummit to register and learn more about the 2016 MLB Diversity Business Summit.

Various elements of the MLB Diversity Business Summit will be held on March 8th and 9th at Chase Field, the Regular Season home of the D-backs, and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the Spring Training home of the D-backs and the Colorado Rockies. The MLB Diversity Business Summit is a unique sports employment and business opportunity career and trade fair. It provides job seekers and entrepreneurs with opportunities to connect directly with decision-makers regarding employment and business opportunities. Features of the 2016 MLB Diversity Business Summit will include event-wide networking, exhibit floor access, workshops, executive roundtable discussions and a keynote speech by Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.

As a result of their ongoing business relationship with MLB and MLB Clubs, SupplierGATEWAY and Premier Management Corporation (“PREMIER”), have both seen growth since linking with MLB’s Diverse Business Partners Program. Premier Management Corporation is a certified 8(a)/Minority-Owned and VA-Verified Service, Disabled Veteran-Owned small business founded in 2004. It is a privately-held business entity employing highly skilled professionals in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Financial Management, Acquisition, Contract Management, Intelligence Operations, Program Management and Administrative Support.

Michael B. Black, Chief Operating Officer of PREMIER said: “Premier Management Corporation is proud to be a sponsor of the 2016 MLB Diversity Business Summit. With Diversity and Inclusion being cornerstones of our corporate culture, PREMIER looks forward to partnering with MLB and the Arizona Diamondbacks in a one-of-a-kind, quintessential diversity and inclusion engagement model committed to the development of social and economic platforms. Being an employer of many Veterans, PREMIER is especially excited to participate in the Summit’s Veterans Initiative.”

Major League Baseball and the D-backs are going to host a special day for 300, specially-invited Veterans from all branches the U.S. Armed Services. The day, which will be held on March 7th, will include a private, exclusive job fair and trade showcase and a special Umpire’s Camp. The MLB Umpire’s Camp will include training from Major & Minor League umpires and Minor League supervisors. Attendees will learn skills for the field as well as tips on nutrition, fitness and kinds of equipment to use, and there will be a possibility to be referred to the MLB Professional Umpire’s Mini-Camps.

SupplierGATEWAY LLC, provider of MLB’s league-wide enterprise procurement solution, which includes enablement, vendor management and procurement capability, also offers diversity and inclusion management tools that have supported the MLB Diverse Business Partners program for more than ten years. SupplierGATEWAY® is a global software-as-a-service solution that reduces vendor management and procurement costs through best practices technology. The Santa Ana, CA based company’s web portal solutions have been used by Global, National and Mid-sized corporations from a wide range of industries since 1997. SupplierGATEWAY’s turnkey, best-value portals automate enablement, compliance, procurement, diversity and vendor management.

“We are privileged and delighted to support Wendy Lewis and the MLB DBP team as it continues to represent excellence and leadership in Diversity and Inclusion in sports,” said Ade Solaru, CEO of SupplierGATEWAY LLC.

For the second consecutive year, the D-backs were named to the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Million Dollar Circle of Excellence as an organization that spends more than $1 million annually with minority- or women-owned businesses. Additionally, the team works closely with the African-American, Native-American and Hispanic communities, each of which are expected to be involved in the upcoming summit.

History of the MLB Diversity Business Summit

The previous three MLB Diversity Business Summits were held during the Regular Season calendar in Chicago (2012; co-hosted by the Chicago White Sox), Houston (2013; co-hosted by the Houston Astros) and New York (2014; co-hosted by the New York Yankees). In total, the three previous MLB Diversity Business Summits attracted more than 3,000 attendees from across the United States. For more information, please follow the MLB Diversity Business Summit on Twitter (@MLB_DBS) and Facebook (Facebook.com/DiversityBusinessSummit).