Kendra Burris-Austin
Director, Supplier Diversity
Centene Corporation

With a procurement background of 20+ years, KENDRA BURRIS-AUSTIN began her supplier diversity career at a regional utility. Relationship-building grew the business and brought a fresh outlook to existing structures while contributing to programming. She started at Cigna. Strategy and collaboration drove executive sponsorship, creating corporate goals and aligning with business lines with goals to increase the bottom line through sales. Spend has increased over 100%. She serves as chair of the Health Care Industry Group (NMSDC), as a member of NMSDC’s Supplier Diversity Advisory Board, and also sits on two local advisory councils.