JOHN M. BARTH
John Barth is chairman and chief executive officer for Johnson Controls, Inc., a Fortune 100 company headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.
His commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in the corporate Vision, which emphasizes that the diversity and involvement of employees is the foundation of the company’s strength. He extends the diversity goals beyond Johnson Controls’ 136,000 employees to include all stakeholders: suppliers, vendors and communities.
Mr. Barth led a focused effort to increase the company’s purchases from minority suppliers. The initiative reached a milestone in 2003 when the company became one of just 12 U.S. businesses whose purchases from minority suppliers exceeded $1billion in a single year. The dollar value has increased each year.
Mr. Barth has made minority business development a priority for everyone at Johnson Controls. He cites its ability to expand customers’ markets and strengthen the company’s network of suppliers and contractors.
Workforce development and diversity is another keystone of business success for Mr. Barth, along with a commitment to supporting and improving the communities around the world where Johnson Controls’ employees live and work. He has led the company as it began measuring itself against the “triple bottom line: Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility.”
The company launched a Global Diversity Team in 2005 that set goals and created strategies to increase workforce representation of women and minorities today, and in the company’s next generation of global leaders. As a result of one of the team’s recommendations, the company appointed a vice president of Diversity and Public Affairs, reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Recognition for the company’s diversity leadership includes:
• 2006, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Leadership Award to John Barth
• 2006, recipient of Global Diversity Award for Innovative Partnerships at the World Diversity Leadership Summit
• 2006, Johnson Controls is the No. 1 minority joint venture supplier in the U.S.
• 2006, Michigan Minority Business Development Council Corporation of the Year for the ninth time in 11 years
• 2006, fourth consecutive year of membership in NMSDC Billion-Dollar Roundtable
• 2006, American Diabetes Association Corporate Honoree of Diversity to John Barth
• 2005, Milwaukee NAACP Working Together to Make a Difference Award
• 2005, Milwaukee Urban League Spirit of Diversity Award
• 2004, John Barth is chairman of NMSDC
• John Barth, Best CEO, Institutional Investor (three years)