Lumen has been recognized as a 2021 Best Corporations for Veteran’s Business Enterprise ® by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA). The announcement was made on November 3 during the Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium 2021 (VETS'21) which was held during National Veteran’s Small Business week in Orlando, Florida. A formal awards ceremony will take place on May 17, 2022, at the VETS22 Conference.

“The military teaches leadership, teamwork, integrity, resolve and ingenuity,” said NaVOBA President Matthew Pavelek. “These intangibles are also the most important ingredients for success in running a business – which is why corporate America is so eager to partner with veteran-owned suppliers. The corporations we honor with this program just happen to be the best.”

Sean English, the Global Chair of Lumen’s Veterans Employee Resource Group that currently has 1,500 registered members, noted, “Here at Lumen Technologies, we are well aware of the skills our nation’s Veterans bring to our business, and we are often amazed by the qualities and characteristics they teach us about teamwork.  Our Veterans Employee Resource Group, as part of our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging effort, is focused specifically on professional and opportunity development for our Veterans.  To be recognized by a respected organization like NaVOBA as a corporation best suited for Veterans is very meaningful. We are both grateful and honored.”

To determine the 2021 Best Corporations for Veteran’s Business Enterprises®, NaVOBA analyzed large companies’ policies relating to the inclusion of veteran-owned and/or service disabled, veteran-owned businesses as part of every company’s supplier diversity program and the way in which that company utilizes its outreach program to attract veteran-owned and/or service disabled, veteran-owned businesses.

"NaVOBA is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and two-thirds of NaVOBA’s Board of Directors seats are held by corporations to ensure its alignment with the needs of corporate supplier diversity programs," Pavelek added. "We are honored to have Lumen to serve as a Corporate Director and grateful for the leadership of Jay Sheldon Wesley who chairs our Technology Committee."

Lumen’s Global Supplier Diversity Office strives to actively identify, develop and use a diverse supplier base including minority-owned, women-owned, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, disabled, small business, small disadvantaged, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone and 8(a) small business enterprises (collectively Diverse Suppliers) as the source for goods and services. 

Lumen has a record of helping and appreciating veterans. For the third year in a row, Lumen Technologies has been named to the Military Times 2021 Best For Vets: Employers List and U.S. Veterans Magazine named Lumen Technologies as a 2021 Best of the Best top Veteran-friendly company. Lumen was also recognized locally as a 2021 Veteran Employer Champion by Mayor G.T. Bynum, Community Service Council (CSC), and CSC’s Oklahoma Veteran Alliance in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.