Valerie Shearer from FirstEnergy to be Honored as Outstanding Advocate for Diverse Suppliers
Valerie M. Shearer serves as Consultant, Supplier Diversity for FirstEnergy Service Company. Valerie leads the supplier diversity program by supporting FirstEnergy’s goals and objectives to expand business opportunities through the creation of partnerships with diverse businesses. In this role, she contributes to increased and effective utilization of diverse suppliers by providing support and direction to diverse businesses interested in providing goods and services to the FirstEnergy operations.
Valerie has been with FirstEnergy for 35 years and has had the opportunity to work in multiple areas throughout the company. Valerie is responsible for working with FirstEnergy’s Supply Chain buyers, managers and leadership team to develop a proactive program for supplier identification, growth and development; strategic planning; and program measurement. She also is responsible for identifying diverse suppliers through community outreach and participation in trade fairs on the local and national levels. FirstEnergy’s dynamic Supplier Diversity Program increases opportunities for minority?owned and diverse businesses to grow. Diverse suppliers represent some of the fastest growing entrepreneur segments for racially and ethnically diverse business owners, women, LGBTQ+, veteran and service?disabled veterans. By doing business with these suppliers, FirstEnergy fosters the development of these diverse business enterprises and strengthens the communities we serve across our five?state service area.
On behalf of FirstEnergy, Valerie serves as the interim Chair of the Maryland Utility Forum. She also serves as the Chair of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-East Council. She is an active committee member with the Supplier Diversity Development Council in New Jersey and the Edison Electric Institute. She is also a member of several regional Women’s Business Enterprise Councils, Minority Supplier Development Councils and the NGLCC.
