AT&T Receives High Marks from DiversityInc

Dallas, Texas,----


AT&T* has once again been recognized by DiversityInc for continuing to build on its decades-long tradition of commitment to diversity and inclusion across all of its business practices. The communications company captured several top honors in The DiversityInc 2011 Top 50 Companies for Diversity®, a ranking of diversity practices among U.S. companies, ranking No. 4 overall.

AT&T also ranked No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Blacks, No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity, No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention, and No. 6 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos.

AT&T is the only communications company to rank among the top 10 companies for its overall commitment to diversity.

“There are good reasons AT&T has been at the top of this list for the last three years and a mainstay on the list for most of the last decade,” said DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti. “With its long history as a supplier-diversity leader, its increasingly inclusive workplace culture and its firm diversity leadership commitment from the top of the organization, AT&T is a model of consistent and sustainable diversity-management progress.”

"It’s always gratifying when an outstanding organization like DiversityInc recognizes our efforts,” said Cindy Brinkley, AT&T’s senior vice president of talent development and chief diversity officer. “I was especially pleased that DiversityInc recognized our CEO’s leadership in diversity and inclusion. His commitment permeates the organization, and ensures that we have a diverse perspective – which enables us to address our diverse markets.”

AT&T has been a diversity leader for more than a century and has been consistently recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in three key areas: workforce, supply chain and community involvement.

Workforce Diversity

AT&T’s 50-state workforce is 40 percent female and 38 percent people of color. Across management ranks, 40 percent are women and 31 percent are people of color.

Supplier Diversity

AT&T’s 40-year-old Supplier Diversity Initiative promotes, increases, and improves the quality of the overall participation of minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs and DVBEs) in its supply chain. AT&T has spent more than $54 billion dollars with minority, women and disabled veteran businesses since 1968 and in 2010 increased its Supplier Diversity spend by 34 percent to $9.2 billion, representing 18.8 percent of its total procurement. AT&T has one of the most aggressive goals in the industry, working to reach 21.5 percent of its procurement with diverse suppliers.

Community Support

As part of its commitment to the communities it serves, AT&T announced in 2008 the largest education initiative in company history – AT&T Aspire – a $100 million commitment focused on high school success and workforce readiness. The program supports teachers and administrators by funding nonprofit and school programs that help students succeed in the classroom and beyond.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About DiversityInc
Launched in 1997, DiversityInc is the leading business publication connecting diversity and the bottom line, with 1 million unique monthly visitors. DiversityInc also produces events and conducts benchmarking, custom research and consulting.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.