LINDEN, N.J. — Visionary, strategist and retired senior Johnson & Johnson supplier diversity and inclusion executive Beverly Jennings has joined the Turtle & Hughes Board of Directors. Over a 30-year career at the pharmaceutical giant, Jennings focused on driving growth to benefit inclusion-focused and diversity-forward enterprises. Turtle & Hughes is a diversity business; the addition of Jennings brings parity to its Board of Directors.
“As a fourth-generation, woman-owned business, we are thrilled to welcome Bev to our Board,” said Jayne Millard, Chairman and Co-CEO. “Her passion for the community, talent in collaborative leadership, and expertise in diversity, supply chain and procurement, will all combine to enhance our board as we set our course for the next 100 years.”
Millard continued, “Bev has been a friend and partner for a more than a decade. She knows our organization inside out and brings the strength of a first-rate career at the world’s largest and most respected healthcare company. Her resume is rich with experience and she is highly sought-after by many corporate boards. We are grateful for her commitment and service.”
Jennings spent most of her career at Johnson & Johnson. She retired in 2019 as Head of Global Supplier Diversity & Inclusion, a position she held for seven years. During that time, she led delivery of results of over $1.7 billion with diverse suppliers and near $3 billion with small businesses annually, achieving benchmark levels of performance.
Jennings also served as a key contributor to Johnson & Johnson’s selection as the first healthcare company to become a member of the elite Billion Dollar Roundtable. Established in 2001, the non-profit is comprised of companies committed to spending $1 billion or more annually with Tier 1 diversity suppliers.
She was also instrumental in Johnson & Johnson being recognized as a Top Corporation for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE); National Minority Supplier Development Council recognition for Supplier Development, Innovation, and Global Programs; and a DiversityInc Top Company for Supplier Diversity. She also co-chaired Johnson & Johnson’s African American Leadership Council National Employee Resource Group with 35 chapters and 1500 members. Previously, Jennings served as Johnson & Johnson Vice President, Worldwide Process Excellence, Consumer Group, after holding several procurement and supply chain roles.
A seasoned member of several corporate boards, Jennings is currently Vice Chair and Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors of the Billion Dollar Roundtable. The Executive Committee is charged with strategic planning and oversight of governance, policy, and execution of priority initiatives for its member corporations. She personally leads the Triad Initiative, the Capital Connector for Growth Committee, which connects corporations, diversity businesses and capital providers. Jennings previously served as a board member to the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance, the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization (WPEO), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Community First Credit Union, and the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council.
She has been recognized with several awards, including Johnson & Johnson’s Top 25 People of the Year. In addition, she was awarded Diverse Manufacturing Supply Chain Alliance (DMSCA) Legacy Award, named to the WBE Hall of Fame, and was a 2018 Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneur (LWE) in New Jersey. She also received the WBENC Applause Award, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Masked Award, and was a Gateway Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction.
A resident of Jacksonville, Florida, her education includes a BS degree in Management from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL; an MBA in Industrial Management from the University of Dallas, Irving, TX; she is a Certified Master Business Coach from Fowler School of Business, San Diego, CA; and completed Life Mastery from Anthony Robbins.
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