07/10/2024
Proximo is delighted to continue our Partnership Highlights series by highlighting Heather Cox and her company, Certify My Company. We chose Heather and CMC for this highlight, as she works closely with many diverse suppliers getting them certified by Disability:IN, who has their conference in Las Vegas next week!
Heather and Proximo’s paths first crossed 13 years ago at Nglccny - National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York, back when she lived in New Jersey. Since then, Proximo and CMC have fostered a strong and successful partnership that has brought numerous benefits to both organizations. Heather said that our partnership came out of her constant run-ins with David Ricciardi at nearly every event she went to. “We would always ask each other, ‘So remind me what you do again?’ and then follow-up with, ‘We should totally partner!’, but it never really materialized until one day at a Diversity Alliance for Science event.
Heather and David conceived the ideas for what became Heather’s favorite project she has worked on with Proximo: Supplier Diversity in a Box (now part of The Diversity Edge family of products). Heather and David had both discovered that companies were struggling with launching Supplier Diversity program due to a lack of resources. Combining our analytics and CMC's certification and knowledge, we (along with SourceOne Innovations, Inc.) created a product that has been highly effective.
Heather is incredibly proud of CMC’s growth over the past 14 years. She takes pride in educating people about Supplier Diversity and certifications, helping them achieve successes and win contracts they previously thought unattainable. Looking to the future, Heather hopes Supplier Diversity remains significant. She envisions CMC expanding into state certifications. She believes CMC's experience can help optimize state certification processes, where resources are often limited. What sets CMC apart from others in the industry? Succinctly stated by Heather, it’s CMC's ability to “facilitate the right diversity certifications for our clients”.
Heather is passionate about elevating underestimated entrepreneurs, describing herself as a “champion and cheerleader” for them. This dedication drives her work at CMC and beyond.
On a lighter note, Heather’s favorite food is hamburgers (she answered this question in a sing-song voice too, so we know she really likes them), specifically those with beef bacon, spicy sauce, and a runny egg. Her favorite hobby is hitting the gym, which she has made a routine despite her busy schedule with five (!) kids.
Finally, we asked Heather if she could see any artist, dead or alive, who would it be, and where? She instantly said Woodstock. “Even though I hate the outdoors and being dirty, Woodstock was just so iconic. It had such a vibe and energy... and to witness Janis Joplin live would be electric.”
To learn more about CMC, please visit www.certifymycompany.org.
