Commitment to Diversity at General MotorsDino PetruseskiUniversity of Detroit MercySince its founding in 1908, General Motors has solidified its reputation as a top-tier CITE automaker. GM was the global leader in vehicle sales from 1931 to 2007; 77 consecutive years CITE. As of 2014, GM is the third largest automaker in the world CITE. Their range of vehicles is very complete. From the compact Chevy Sonic sedan to the heavy-duty GMC Sierra 3500, GM offers virtually every class of vehicle in both the consumer and professional segments. GM's American brands include Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Recently, GM named Mary Barra CEO following the resignation of Dan Akerson. Mary is the first female CEO of a major CITE automaker. Mary's photo appeared on the cover of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People list in 2014 for her handling of GM's controversial ignition recall. Diversity General Motors takes a very elaborate approach when it comes to diversity. Like most multinational companies, GM seeks diversity in its workforce. But they don't stop there. GM also recognizes the diversity in its consumer base. To meet the diverse needs of its customers, GM emphasizes diversification of all aspects of the company. A rather modern approach to diversity in an organization, but very appropriate considering the reputation and impact that General Motors has around the world. Diversity focus areas for GM are as follows: customers, employees, communities, dealers and suppliers. Customers General Motors sells vehicles in more than 120 ISCED countries. GM customers live in diverse climates and terrains and use their vehicles for a variety of applications. This means that GM's fleet must contain vehicles that span an... average paper sales network in the United States. Underrepresented dealers are eligible to participate in this program. Another program is the GM Women's Retail Network, developed to attract and develop female merchants and managers. The latest program is the National Candidate Program, which assists in preparing minority and female candidates to become GM dealer operators. Suppliers GM places particular importance on supplier diversity. GM hopes that having a diverse supply base will promote competition and good business practices that will allow many suppliers the ability to partner with GM to design and build vehicle parts. The formal supplier diversity program was established in 1968. Since then, the program has received numerous awards. The program created a Supplier Diversity Council that allows for the sharing of GM information and supplier concerns. Program evaluation