Diversity Information Resources (DIR) appointed new board member, Tara Spann, during the annual Board of Directors meeting in February, 2013.
Spann is responsible for the strategy and execution of supplier diversity for Bristol-Myers Squibb. She oversees the integration of supplier diversity into the strategic category management process and is the lead for the supplier diversity strategic imperative supporting a transformation of the enterprise-wide program. Spann reports into the Global Procurement Center of Excellence.
Prior to joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Spann led the development and management of diversity initiatives for Staples, Inc. as the Executive Director of Diversity Initiatives reporting directly to the President of North American Delivery. She oversaw the development and execution of strategic alliances that significantly advanced sales and helped Staples Advantage customers reach their supplier diversity purchasing goals. Additionally, she supported the advancement of Staples as a great place to work with a diverse and talented workforce.
During a career at Harvard University, Spann served as Senior Software Licensing Negotiator, negotiating the terms and conditions of enterprise licensing software contracts. She was also the Contract Manager of Harvard University's procurement management department, where she was responsible for managing the University's minority procurement program, government compliance regulations and audits for purchasing as well as implementing strategic vendor alliances.
Spann is a graduate of Northeastern University in Electrical Engineering and Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts.
