As a certified Minority Business Enterprise, Group O is dedicated to programs, policies, and business practices that support our philosophy of "making tomorrow better than today."
Group O is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and social and environmental responsibility. We expect our Suppliers to aspire to these same standards in their business operations and, to have their own documented policies and processes in place addressing the matters detailed herein. Additionally, we expect our suppliers to hold their third parties to the same standards. Accordingly, Group O has created a Supplier Code of Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”), which sets out the standards expected of any Supplier doing business with Group O.
Commitment to Diversity
As a 100% Hispanic-owned Minority Business Enterprise, Group O maintains a strong commitment to celebrating diversity in all facets of our business. Group O's 1,000+ employees include a 52% diverse workforce that spans all levels of the organization.
In addition, we are committed to supporting supplier diversity through our global network of preferred vendors and suppliers.
Group O recognizes that working with and spending dollars with suppliers that reflect the customer base in the communities they serve is not only socially responsible, it also helps drive innovation and growth. Supplier diversity spend programs increase vendor competition and quality of goods and services as well as can cut operational costs.
As a minority-owned business, Group O also helps dozens of businesses across multiple industries achieve their tier 1 and tier 2 supplier diversity spending goals through our world-class services. Industries include automotive, pharma, telecom, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, and more! As a graduate of Nike's Diverse Supplier Development Program and Apple's Impact Accelerator program, Group O is committed to continuous improvement and learning.
For more information on how Group O can help your organization with your diversity spend goals, Contact Mike De La Cruz, SVP Supplier Diversity at Mike.DeLaCruz@GroupO.com.
Top Latino-owned Business (USHCC.com) | National Minority Supplier of the Year (NMSDC.org) | MBE Corporate Plus Member
COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sustaining and improving our community.
We believe community involvement is a critical component of sustainability and part of our ethical responsibility.
Our employees are actively involved in many important charitable organizations and contribute hundreds of hours annually to serve their communities. Whether hosting fundraisers or volunteering our time and talents, Group O and its employees support many organizations including Junior Achievement, United Way, the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Group O founder, Bob Ontiveros was a second generation Mexican-American immigrant who believed that “Everyone wins when people get an opportunity to show what they can do.”
Bob never forgot his roots, especially in the Floreciente neighborhood. After he retired as CEO of Group O and became chairman of the company in 1999, he financed and raised money for the neighborhood’s Community Health Center and the Moline Boys and Girls Club (whose Teen Center was renamed in his honor to the Ontiveros Teen Center in 2019).
In 2016, Bob also financed and raised money for Mercado on Fifth, a weekly night market held in the summer, which is run by his granddaughter, Maria.
Mercado on Fifth is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves as a resource and catalyst for minority entrepreneurs.
The organization works with both English and Spanish-speaking minority entrepreneurs to help start, test, launch and grow their businesses, and has helped to start and provide a platform for over 60 new businesses since Mercado’s inception in 2016.
Bob was the driving force behind the founding of the Quad Cities HISPANIC Chamber of Commerce. He quietly supported almost all efforts, big and small, to enhance the lives of Quad City residents, especially Mexican Americans.
He and his wife Blenda have provided scholarships to Hispanic students and donated $1 million to their alma mater Blackhawk College in 2020.
