M&T Bank’s Kevin Deese Explains How Diverse Suppliers Can Perform Work With M&T Bank
Kevin Deese
Executive Associate, Office of Supplier Diversity, Corporate Procurement
If you’re looking for opportunities to provide services to M&T Bank, Kevin Deese is your guy.
As an Executive Associate in M&T’s Office of Supplier Diversity, Deese knows projects that our out to bid and when the bank might have other procurement needs.
Learn more about how Deese could help your business win the bank’s business.
Tell us about your journey to M&T Bank?
I started at M&T in August 2020 after graduating from the University of Minnesota with an MBA and Master’s in Public Policy. Prior to graduate school, I worked in a variety of roles in operations. I sought out a role at M&T because I believe in the bank’s belief in putting our communities first. Having the opportunity to shape our Supplier Diversity efforts has been a dream come true so far.
What is your role in procurement at the bank?
I collaborate closely with stakeholders within and outside the bank to drive the development and execution of M&T’s Supplier Diversity strategy. It’s a lot of consensus and relationship building and advocating internally for the value that diverse suppliers can and do bring to the bank and our customers. There’s also a lot of “nitty-gritty” stuff involved, like frequently getting knee-deep in data and reporting.
How is the bank approaching fairness in procurement with certified diverse suppliers?
We do a lot of work to ensure that we have at least one certified diverse supplier participating in each competitive bid that our Strategic Sourcing team conducts. We are also launching a new internal communications effort to educate folks inside the bank on our Supplier Diversity mission and vision, so that we have champions across the bank pushing for a Supplier Diversity lens in all third-party decision-making, whether or not it goes through our formal RFP process.
What are the diverse supplier certifications that the bank accepts?
We focus on businesses owned by people of color, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and veterans. We recognize certifications for these businesses from all the leading non-governmental organizations that provide certifications, as well as from the state and federal agencies that provide certifications.
How does one register within your system to learn about upcoming procurement opportunities?
Our supplier enablement capability is currently being retooled, so please send your capabilities statement to supplierdiversity@mtb.com if you have services you think could benefit M&T. We’ll be sure to stay connected on potential opportunities and the development of our supplier registration process.
Are decisions in procurement made centrally or within the various regions of the bank, and how does one learn about them?
Our procurement decision-making is for the most part decentralized and occurs within the area(s) of the bank in need of a given third-party service, with Corporate Procurement facilitating the bid process for larger projects. To learn about opportunities, please reach out to me and I can do my best to connect you with folks at the bank who could benefit from your services.
