ABOUT
Kimberly R. Coffman is an award-winning inclusion strategist and bestselling author whose mission is to build the capacity of small and diverse-owned firms, devise and execute strategies to enhance supply chains, build strong brand partnerships, drive sustainability, and increase access to emerging markets.
A dynamic speaker and panelist, Kimberly actively contributed to serving on committees for diversity-focused organizations, including the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity, Disability:IN’s Procurement Council, and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Advisory and Procurement Councils.
She previously served as the chair, National Minority Supplier Development Council’s Air, Rail & Transportation Industry Group, was a member of the Council of Supplier Diversity Professionals, and WEConnect International’s Corporate Member and Best Practices Committees. She also previously served on the boards of directors of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council and the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development and was the diversity chair for the Institute for Supply Management – Greater Grand Rapids.
Kimberly has contributed thought leadership through research reports on supplier diversity best practices and is the bestselling author of “Supplier Diversity from the Inside Out”.
Coffman’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades in supplier diversity. She was named: one of the “2024 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity” by DiversityPlus magazine; one of the “100 Women Impacting Supplier Diversity” by Women’s Enterprise magazine; a “Champions of Diversity” by DiversityPlus magazine; and the “Outstanding Advocate for Minority-Owned Business” by the Business Connections Committee of the Holland Chamber of Commerce.
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University, a Master of Management from Aquinas College, and a Supplier Diversity Excellence Program certificate from Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA.
Kimberly R. Coffman is a distinguished leader in the field of supplier diversity and serves as the founder and CEO of Kimberly Rae Consulting, an agency providing business consulting services to small, medium, and large businesses.
Throughout her career, which includes positions at prominent corporations like Delta Air Lines, Herman Miller, and Voya Financial, Coffman has spearheaded transformative initiatives. She has effectively driven global supplier diversity strategies, executed integrated marketing communications programs, and facilitated corporate contracts for small and diverse-owned businesses.
Prior to launching her consultancy, Kimberly served as director, supplier diversity for Voya Financial, where she stood up the companies inaugural supplier diversity program; manager of Supplier Diversity and Inclusion for Delta Air Lines, where she implemented a strategic supplier diversity initiative that spanned the company’s global operation; served as a senior manager, Supplier Diversity, and a senior program manager, Marketing Communications, at Herman Miller, where she led a supplier diversity transformation and integrated marketing communications programs, including the launch of Herman Miller’s award-winning Mirra chair.
In her operations roles, Coffman has been responsible for leading supplier inclusion efforts that help strengthen the supply base and a company’s ability to serve customers as well as to reflect the diversity of communities, clients and markets a company serves. In addition to cultivating relationships with strategic suppliers and directing programs designed to bring new diverse vendors into corporate supply chains, she also led the development of training programs, communications, supplier development, benchmarking, and performance management systems.
Notable Achievements
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Graduate, Aquinas College, Master of Management, Grand Rapids, MI
Graduate, Michigan State University, Bachelor of Arts, Telecommunication, East Lansing, MI
Graduate, Supplier Diversity Excellence Program, Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
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Council of Supplier Diversity Professionals
Disability:IN
Serve on Procurement Council
Institute for Supply Management - Greater Grand Rapids
Served as Diversity Chair
Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council
Greater Women's Business Council
Great Lakes Women's Business Council
Served on Board of Directors
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
Served on Board of Directors
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Serve on Corporate Advisory and Procurement Councils
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
Served as Chair, Air, Rail, & Transportation Industry Group
National Veteran Business Development Council
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
Served on Global Committee
WEConnect International
Served on Global Best Practices Committee
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2024 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity
2022 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity
Authored Supplier Diversity Research Study: Exploring Best Practices which resulted in the creation of a supplier diversity advisory council and enterprise training course.
Named “Outstanding Advocate for Minority-Owned Business” by Holland Chamber of Commerce’s Business Connections Committee.
Named “Champion of Diversity” by DiversityPlus magazine.
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Traveled to 28 countries and counting
Worked in advertising, broadcasting, marketing, and public relations
Worked with Al Roker's predecessor, Willard Scott, at a Kentucky Derby Parade in Louisville, KY
Former, Michigan State University Dance Team member, MSU Motion
Always wanted to be a singer, but can't - a favorite song to sing 'Out Here On My Own' from the original movie Fame