Visteon recognized for fostering diversity

Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC) has been recognized by two separate organizations for its commitment to fostering diversity with employees and suppliers.

Visteon earned the top rating of 100 percent in the 2009 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Visteon was one of eight automotive companies and the only first-tier auto supplier among the 259 U.S.-based companies earning top marks for their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Separately, Visteon received a Corporate ONE Award from the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) for the company’s supplier diversity program, which drives procurement opportunities with minority business owners. This is the third year Visteon has earned the award, which is given to less than 10 percent of the MMBDC’s corporate members. Criteria for the award include having an established minority/diversity supplier development program, reporting minority purchases quarterly, and belonging to MMBDC’s Corporate ONE, an initiative to aid minority businesses in becoming competitive bidders for corporate contracts.

“We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to maintaining an environment in which all employees and business partners are treated with respect,” said Donald J. Stebbins, Visteon president and chief executive officer. “We work to foster an inclusive environment that provides equal opportunity to our employees, customers, suppliers and the community at large.”

Based in Van Buren Township, Mich., Visteon is committed to diversity in all aspects of its business. The company has seven employee resource groups, initiated and chartered by employees, which directly support its goals as well as education, career development and community outreach. Visteon also has a diversity council that provides strategic leadership for diversity matters and ensures alignment of diversity with other business initiatives, including supplier diversity. Visteon previously was named one of the top 50 companies for diversity by DiversityInc., a prominent diversity business magazine.