Sempra Energy recognized among top U.S. companies for diversity by Black Enterprise

Media Contact:
Sabra Moallem

 

Sempra Energy

 

(877) 866-2066

 

www.sempra.com

 

 

        SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2008 – Sempra Energy (NYSE:  SRE) has been named to Black Enterprise magazine’s annual list of “40 Best Companies for Diversity,” which will be published in the July 2009 issue of the magazine.

        Sempra Energy, one of only two California companies recognized by the magazine, was lauded for its supplier diversity program.

        “We are honored to be among Black Enterprise’s best companies for diversity,” said G. Joyce Rowland, senior vice president of human resources for Sempra Energy.  “Developing a diverse workforce and supplier base is critical to our success and helps us stay in tune with the needs of our 29 million customers globally.”
 
        For its annual top 40 list, Black Enterprise conducted a comprehensive outreach effort to chief executives and diversity management of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies, as well as the 50 leading global companies with strong U.S. operations.  The survey focused on diversity in four categories:  suppliers, employee base, senior management and board of directors.

        This is the second consecutive year Sempra Energy has been named to Black Enterprise’s diversity list.  The recognition comes on the heels of several other accolades including: No. 3 ranking in Hispanic Business magazine’s “Top 25 Supplier Diversity Companies” for 2009 and the No. 2 ranking among electric and gas utilities on Fortune magazine’s annual “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 2009.  Additionally, for seven consecutive years, Sempra Energy ranked among the top five of Fortune’s “America’s Best Companies for Minorities.”

        In 2008, Sempra Energy’s utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co., spent a combined total of $369 million on purchases with women, minority, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses – a 20-percent increase in spending over 2007.

        Fifty-three percent of Sempra Energy’s general workforce and 35 percent of its leadership are African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans.  Sempra Energy’s major subsidiaries are Southern California Gas Co., San Diego Gas & Electric, Sempra Generation, Sempra Pipelines & Storage and Sempra LNG.

        Black Enterprise, a multimedia company, is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends.  Its monthly publication, Black Enterprise magazine provides 4.3 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management.  A complete list of the Top 40 Best Companies for Diversity will be available in the July 2009 issues as well as on www.blackenterprise.com.

        Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2008 revenues of nearly $11 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.

###