Diversified dollars: 7 corporate programs

Office Depot's first diversity program arrived through acquisition: It had no initiatives of its own in place until it inherited the diversification programs of Eastman Office Products Corporation and Wilson Stationery & Printing Company, both purchased in 1993.

Seven years and a handful of acquisitions later, Office Depot consolidated its patchwork of programs into a national endeavor. "The inspiration basically came when a large customer asked me who she should contact for vendor diversity-related questions," recalls Robert McCormes-Ballou, director of merchandising. "I gave her seven answers, and that's when I realized that wasn't acceptable."

In 2006, about 8% of Office Depot's vendors were categorically diverse. In September, Office Depot will host an open house at its Delray Beach, Fla., headquarters, at which prospective vendors will meet individually with buyers and potentially ink deals for 2009.

"We used to seek diverse vendors through your average fairs and tradeshows, but now we need to up our game," says McCormes-Ballou.

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