Major League Baseball diversity suppliers to sponsor the third annual MLB Diversity Business Summit in New York City

Major League Baseball announced today that five of their leading diverse suppliers - RGMA, Proftech, SupplierGATEWAY, Vernalis and MDG Builders - will sponsor the third annual MLB Diversity Business Summit, the premier sports employment conference and supplier diversity trade fair. The MLB Diversity Business Summit uniquely and directly connects attendees with decision-makers for employment and business opportunities from all 30 MLB Clubs, MLB Network, MLB Advanced Media, Minor League Baseball Clubs and MLB's Central Office in New York City.

"We are very proud to have RGMA, Proftech, SupplierGATEWAY, Vernalis and MDG Builders participating at the sponsorship level with our Diversity Business Summit," says Wendy Lewis, Senior Vice President, Diversity & Strategic Alliances, Major League Baseball. "These diverse-owned businesses have been an integral part of our Diverse Business Partners program, and we are thankful for their support as we collectively look to help entrepreneurs and job seekers achieve success."

As a result of their ongoing business relationship with MLB and MLB Clubs, RGMA, Proftech, SupplierGATEWAY, Vernalis and MDG Builders, have all steadily increased their business growth since linking with MLB's Diverse Business Partners Program. RGMA, also known as the one of the nation's leading supplier diversity firms, first partnered with MLB in 1998 and helped establish the Diverse Business Partners Program. Since its inception, the Diverse Business Partners program has led minority and women-owned companies to securing more than $1 billion in business with MLB and its Clubs.

 "MLB's Diversity Business Summit is as impactful to diversity in sports off the field as Jackie Robinson was to sports on the field. So to be able join MLB as a sponsor for an event that is advancing minority and women-owned businesses is a dream come true," says Ralph Moore, President of RGMA.

For over ten years, Major League Baseball has turned to Vernalis to develop secure enterprise software solutions that address essential technology and business challenges. "The return on our investment with the Diversity Business Summit has been tremendous. The more you are invested in MLB as a business, the more you will gain out of the business relationship, and it has been an incredible achievement for our company to be able to play in the 'big leagues' with a company as major as MLB," says Nate Hanafy, Managing Director for Vernalis.  

Additionally, SupplierGATEWAY, a web-based registration and vendor data portal system, manages diversity suppliers and vender processes for MLB and several other Clubs. MDG Builders, real-estate developers and general contractors, was the premier, minority vendor throughout the construction process of the current Yankee Stadium. Proftech, one of the nation's largest Hispanic-owned office product suppliers, has been a long-time supplier to MLB and a number of its Clubs.

This year's Diversity Business Summit, co-hosted by the New York Yankees, will be held in New York City on Monday, April 14^th and Tuesday, April 15^th, which is Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball. Various elements of the third annual MLB Diversity Business Summit include a keynote speech by Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, league-wide networking, matchmaking sessions for entrepreneurs, interviews for job seekers, panel discussions, workshops and more. Additionally, the Yankees will host attendees at Yankee Stadium for the Welcome Reception on April 14^th and the Jackie Robinson Day Interleague game between the Yankees and the Chicago Cubs on April 15^th. As a part of Jackie Robinson Day ceremonies, the Yankees will honor Nelson Mandela with a dedication of a plaque in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park.

Individuals interested in attending the Summit can visit MLB.com/diversitysummit to register and learn more about the 2014 MLB Diversity Business Summit.

For more information, please follow the MLB Diversity Business Summit on Twitter (@MLB_DBS) and Facebook (Facebook.com/DiversityBusinessSummit).