GE Appliances, a Haier company (GEA), announced today the introduction of its GEA Launchpad program, which is designed to grow and develop the capacity of diverse-owned suppliers needed for its operations.

The GEA Launchpad is designed to educate the participants on the company’s supply chain needs, what suppliers are currently doing that could be grown, and the company’s processes and procedures for suppliers. The goal is to increase GEA’s diverse-owned supplier base and ensure potential suppliers are ready to do business with the company.

During the two-and-a-half-month program, the selected suppliers will learn about the focus of GE Appliances, the brands it represents, as well as the company’s numerous products and extensive U.S. manufacturing locations. The program will include educational sessions and discussions on best practices with various subject matter experts. Participants will also be paired with their own GEA mentors, who will help them prepare for their final pitch to the business.

The GEA Launchpad’s first cohort includes:

• Cimtech, Jesika Young (WBENC certified)
• Core Technology, Geoff Foster (NMSDC certified)
• Cory Electronics, Jason Fiore (NGLCC certified)
• Eagle Steel & Metal Products, Shelby Throneburg (NMSDC certified)
• Interapt, Ankur Gopal (NMSDC certified)
• Katatama American Company Inc. (KACI), Masayuki Katayama (NMSDC certified)
• Lavelle Industries, Kathryn Turke (WBENC certified)
• LB Manufacturing, Keith Hamilton (NMSDC certified)
• Machine & Components Industries, Holly Hile (WBENC certified)
• NYX Inc., JatinderBir Sandhu (NMSDC certified)

"Through this program, we’re hoping to further develop the scope and scale of these 10 certified, diverse-owned suppliers who can, in turn, add value to our supply chain," said Jorge Lionel Ramirez, Chief Procurement Officer at GE Appliances. “In this group, we have a mix of local and national suppliers. It’s exciting for us to explore opportunities with some new companies and potentially generate new equitable growth in our manufacturing communities.”

The program will culminate in early April with a live-streamed event, where cohort participants will present their service or product recommendations to internal GEA stakeholders.

Disclaimer:The GEA Launchpad, and the suppliers’ participation in it, are not an endorsement or a commitment for future business with GE Appliances. Moreover, future business is not in any way conditioned on a supplier’s participation in the program.

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