It's my job to educate our people to not only consider diversity-eligible firms, but to learn how to work with and develop our smaller diverse suppliers. I also play a coaching role to help suppliers grow and develop their businesses. AFC is also committed to the communities where its offices are sited. Jane Hamilton, community relations manager, says her department's focus is community outreach. Her team works with an employee philanthropy committee to grant funding for community programs that the employees find worthwhile.
Employees can take paid time off each month to work on approved projects.
It makes their community involvement so much more practical. Under the program, engineers from AFC's Petaluma headquarters are working with kids on a robotics project at nearby Technology High School. Volunteers also give local young people information and encouragement on careers in telecom. This employee committee will encourage company-wide efforts to reduce AFC's use of natural resources. AFC is a growing corporation, but it's working to preserve its small-company values.