American Airlines Named Corporation of the Year by Four U.S. Minority-Supplier Advocacy Organizations

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines has been named Corporation of the Year by four organizations that champion supplier diversity: the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council (D/FW MSDC); The Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC); the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas (AICCT); and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) – significant accolades for the airline as it continues to promote supplier diversity in all aspects of its business.

"We are extremely proud to be named Corporation of the Year by these distinguished organizations," said John MacLean, American's Vice President – Purchasing and Transportation. "American actively focuses on identifying minority, women-owned, LGBT, and other diverse small businesses as potential suppliers. These awards increase awareness of the importance we place on supplier diversity and our efforts to ensure that our supplier base reflects our customer base."

"We are proud to name American Airlines our Corporation of the Year because of its extraordinary contributions to developing and expanding minority business opportunities," said Debra Ponder Nelson, President and CEO of the OMSDC, whose organization annually recognizes a corporate member that has distinguished itself through its commitment and dedication to strengthening minority business development.

The NGLCC award honors companies that are committed to expanding economic opportunities of LGBT-owned businesses.

"American Airlines has been with us since the beginning, and they have partnered with us to share the story of the NGLCC around the country and across the globe," said Chance Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of the NGLCC.

The D/FW MSDC award is presented to businessmen and women, corporations and public-sector agencies that have promoted supplier diversity initiatives and minority business inclusion in leading local and national industries.

"It is my distinct honor to applaud American Airlines as the 2010 D/FW MSDC Corporation of the Year," said Margo J. Posey, President. "This is the preeminent recognition of excellence in minority business inclusion and utilization by a corporation in North Texas. Based upon performance, utilization and statistically backed metrics, it is awarded to the corporation in North Texas that best demonstrates success. The D/FW MSDC Corporation of the Year Award is judged by a tough and thorough pool of ethnic minority business owners who measure and reward results."

The AICCT recognizes outstanding corporations and individuals that go above and beyond to foster growth with American Indian-owned businesses.

"American Airlines has been a long-time supporter and partner of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas," said Bert Wells, President of the AICCT Board of Directors. "American and their people have always been there when the Chamber has needed them. They are, in many aspects, an extension of our Chamber family and without their continued support and leadership our Chamber would not be as strong as we are today."

Sherri Macko Wins Two Advocate of the Year Awards

Sherri Macko, Manager of Supplier Diversity and Business Strategies at American Airlines, was named Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council and, for a second time, Advocate of the Year by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Macko, who also won the latter award in 2007, is a volunteer for the organization in addition to serving with a number of agencies that promote minority suppliers. Recognized nationally as a champion of diversity, she facilitates relationships with qualified minority, women-owned, LGBT, veteran-owned and small businesses to give them the opportunity to become a potential supplier of products and services for American Airlines.

"It is truly an honor to receive such important recognition from these two organizations," said Macko. "These awards recognize American's commitment to diversity and our efforts to ensure that diverse suppliers benefit economically from American Airlines business in the communities we serve." American's holistic approach to diversity encompasses employees, customers, suppliers and the communities it serves.

Macko serves on the boards of the Advisory Council for the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Southwest and the Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council, as well as the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Procurement Council; the National Advisory Board for Enterprising Women; and The Heart of a Warrior Foundation. She is also active in the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council, serving as a member of its Supplier Diversity Professionals Leadership Team and its Membership and Certification committees.

For more information about American's Supplier Diversity Program, please visit AA.com/SupplierDiversity.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve approximately 750 destinations in nearly 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

About the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council

The Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council is a 501(C)(3), privately funded, non-profit business organization, formed in 1973 by major corporations committed to fostering a business environment which promotes access and opportunity for minority-owned businesses. The Council currently comprises 180 private and public sector buying entities and 650 plus diverse certified minority-owned businesses. D/FW MSDC is one of 37 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the certification body of choice by corporate America and the recognized business link for over 3,500 buying organizations and 16,000 certified minority-owned businesses nationally.

About the Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council

The Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council promotes business relationships between major corporations and minority businesses through a number of outreach programs and activities designed to promote information exchange and effective communications. The OMSDC is one of 27 regional purchasing councils nationwide, and has been promoting minority purchasing for over 34 years.

About the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas is a nonprofit corporation organized and established to aid and assist American Indian-owned businesses in providing leadership and guidance to the community by serving as representatives of the American Indian community in the business world; by developing entrepreneurial skills and improving management expertise of American Indians; and supporting American Indian education.

About the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

The NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of our members.

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SOURCE American Airlines