The Power of Supplier Diversity: A DEI and Business Growth Strategy

Courtney Moore currently serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and Chief of Staff to the CHRO and for Southwest Gas. In his role as Chief of Staff, he leads the development and implementation of the HR strategic vision, acting as a liaison between the HR leadership team, C-suite officers and board of directors. As Director of DE&I, he is responsible for positively positioning Southwest Gas within the natural gas and utility industries by driving inclusion, equity, and community impact throughout the business.

Courtney’s professional acumen is a unique compendium of data analytics, continuous improvement and change management. He attributes his ability to align, strategize and execute across myriad
functional areas to his experience leading business units within the utility, gaming and service sectors. In his role, Courtney leverages his analytical background to demonstrate the remunerative outcomes generated by strategically engaging employees, customers and the community. As such, he focuses on aligning Southwest’s DE&I priorities: equity within the employee life cycle, professional development and succession planning and equitable economic and workforce development with the programmatic efforts of its diversity partners.

Courtney recognizes the value of service and his duty to the community and believes in a hands-on approach to community reinvestment. He has served on the board of directors for Democracy Prep Charter School, The Uplift Foundation of Nevada; including officer roles as president, Kelly-Parker Foundation, vice president, Disability:IN, Las Vegas Chapter and treasurer, The Ogden Family
Foundation. He was also selected to Former Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak’s, Commission on Mentorship and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Citizen’s Review Board.

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Temple University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also studied Hospitality Management and
Strategic Human Resources Engagement at Cornell University.

Karmin Bailey is the Supplier Diversity Manager for Southwest Gas. Karmin brings over 23 years of experience in various finance, procurement, compliance, and supplier diversity roles.

Recognized as an Outstanding Diversity Champion by Columbus Business First in 2020, Karmin strives to think beyond compliance and achieve measurable results in supplier diversity programs.

Karmin currently serves on the Board of Directors for Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council. Karmin has also served on the Global Board of Directors and the Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

Karmin is a graduate of The Ohio State University with dual degrees in Accounting and Finance, and is a Certified Management Accountant, Certified Public Finance Officer, and Contract Compliance Administrator.

Shardé Marchewski is the Global Head of Purpose & Inclusion at Wayfair. She owns Wayfair’s DEI and Social Impact initiatives and ensures that Wayfair is an inclusive organization that is driving positive impact in the community. Sharde has been at Wayfair for 6 years and began her career at the company in Category Management.

Prior to Wayfair, Shardé had a career in Investment Banking covering the Consumer Retail industry. Shardé has a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. She lives in Boston with her husband and three kids.