Office Depot, Walmart named top companies for women

Office Depot, along with Walmart, Target and CVS Health, have been named as top companies for women, according to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“We are proud to be recognized again for proactively integrating WBEs into our supply chain, validating our commitment to actively conducting business with women-owned businesses that are WBENC-certified,” said Linda Boykin, vice president of merchandising for Office Depot, in a news release. Boykin said the company created its supplier diversity program to provide businesses led by minority groups opportunities to grow. The company actively seeks out minority-, women-, disabled-, LGBT- and veteran-owned businesses when it selects suppliers to help those businesses drive sales and expand their market.

"WBENC's Top Corporations set the standard for enabling women suppliers to access increased opportunities in new markets – both domestically and internationally," said Pamela Prince-Eason, president and CEO of WBENC, in a news release.

The selection of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) is conducted annually by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. The list of Top Corporations is designed to recognize organizations who are choosing to integrate policies and programs across the corporation to enable growth and reduce barriers for women-owned businesses; increasing opportunity in new markets – both domestically, and international; fueling innovation; and empowering communities through economic growth and job creation. The awards were presented at a March ceremony in Baltimore.