A FAMILY AFFAIR—On hand for the big event to see Lance Hyde receive the NMSDC Supplier Diversity Professional of the Year award were Lanzy Hyde, Sandy Hyde, Saniah Hyde, Alexa Hyde, Carmen Hyde, Layla Hyde and Brenda Hyde, far right. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)
by Diane I. Daniels , For New Pittsburgh Courier
In 2012, when Lance Hyde landed in Pittsburgh to head EQT Corporation’s Supplier Diversity program, he never imagined that within a seven-year period he would have accomplished all that he has.
In 2015, he said, “I am blessed to be in an occupation and situations where I am able to help small business owners and to contribute to their job growth.”
It is calculated that since Hyde joined EQT as the single head count of EQT’s supplier diversity program, EQT’s annual diversity spend has increased 1,544 percent, from $73 million in January 2012 to $1.2 billion in 2018. As a result, EQT became the first oil and gas company to invest over $1 billion dollars of Tier 1 spend with diverse suppliers in one year in the U.S. and thus, was named the NMSDC’ Class 1 National Corporation of the Year, according to Hyde.
Due to Hyde’s efforts, EQT, a national member of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council, is winner of this year’s EMSDC Best Practice, Corporate Leadership Cornerstone, and National Corporation of the Year awards. They also won the NMSDC’s Class I Corporation of the Year Award.
On May 16, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, during their Leadership Awards Gala in New York City, recognized nine individuals and companies they consider pivotal to NMSDC achieving its mission. Hyde was awarded Supplier Diversity Professional of the Year. The award is presented to a national corporate member with at least two years of experience in a corporate supplier diversity role. The recipient demonstrates exceptional action, engagement and leadership in supplier diversity in support of NMSDC’s mission.
Other awardees included: President’s Economic Impact Award, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson of the Rainbow Push Coalition; CEO of the Year, John Donovan, CEO, AT&T Communications; CPO of the Year, Tony Tomczak, Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Procurement Officer, DTE Energy; MBE of the Year, Sidd Ahmed, Founder and President, VDart; Lifetime Achievement, Sidney Johnson, Vice Chair of NMSDC and Former Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management; and APTIV Vanguard Award, Jacqueline Marie Matos, President and CEO, Puerto Rico Minority Supplier Development Council.
In his humble and soft-spoken manner during his remarks, Hyde encouraged the Minority Business Enterprises, which he classified as some of the most talented MBEs in the country and some of the most powerful influential wealthiest corporations in the world, to work together to achieve one common goal—to support the mission of NMSDC. By doing so he said economic wealth and sustainable jobs can be generated to help underserved and underrepresented communities across the country.
“Together as one team, we will be assisting our country become more inclusive and diverse, making it a better country for all of us to live and prosper together.”
Jose’ R. Mas, CEO of MasTec, an EQT MBE supplier, considers Hyde an advocate for MBEs. “He pushes and looks out for us,” he said.
Halfway through the Mountain Valley Pipeline contract, MasTec is building a pipeline through the Appalachians in the West Virginia area. When introducing Hyde before presenting him with his award, Mas mentioned that Hyde is making entrepreneurs’ dreams become a reality in the oil and gas industry and at EQT. He said Hyde has opened doors, provided opportunities, served as a mentor and along the way continues to be honest, forcing to step up one’s game and stand up to the challenge.
“He is someone that understands that diversity is not just a social responsibility, but good for business. I am honored to present this award to an individual that not just gets it but lives it while embodying all the qualities and leadership skills to make the case, open the doors to find the right fit and most importantly serves as a mentor, serving as a bridge and facilitator for all that have a dream,” Mas said.
Traveling from Pittsburgh in support of Hyde, his mentor, Attorney Glenn Mahone considers the recognition an extraordinary national award. “The honor is monumental. Lance is deserving. He has set goals and passed the mark. He is a brilliant man and I’m glad to be here.”
Other supporters on hand included EQT’s Steven Anthos, director of strategic sourcing, who Hyde credits for hiring him, and Martin Shepherd, director of land services. Additional Pittsburgh-based representatives were Bony Dawood, CEO of Dawood Engineering; Dennis J. Garrett, CEO of Blue Lake Pacifica Energy Group, LLC; John Bettis III, president of Bettis Brothers Sand and Gravel; Lester Jones, director of New Business Development of Bettis Brothers Sand and Gravel; Shuresh Ramanathan, owner of KORYAK Consulting; and Shepherd and Leo Flanagan of the Advanced Leadership Program Initiative at Carnegie Mellon’s MBA Program, in which Hyde participates. Also, Valarie J. Cofield, president and CEO of the EMSDC was in attendance, as was Sharmagne Taylor, owner of On-Site Partners, based in Houston. Hyde’s’ parents traveled to the event from California, and his wife and three children also made the trip.
National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, Henry Childs II, awards gala keynote speaker, addressed the theme, “The State of Minority Business: The Business and Economic Impact.”
Headed by Adrienne Trimble, NMSDC advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises, connecting them to corporate members.
“Because of NMSDC’s work, minority business is no longer synonymous with small business,” said Trimble. “Our awards tonight recognize hard work, earnest efforts, and tangible results. In 2018, the mutually beneficial relationships that we facilitated between certified MBEs and our corporate members resulted in $400 billion of economic output and 2.2 million jobs.”
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