VALLEY FORGE, Pa.--Sept. 28, 2004-- IKON Office Solutions, the world's largest independent distributor of document management products and services, has been named "Corporation of the Year" by the Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE for its commitment to supplier diversity. The award was presented to IKON last week during the Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE's annual trade fair luncheon, "ExpOpportunity 2004," at the Tropicana Casino and Resort Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. IKON was chosen from a pool of outstanding and diversified organizations; Aramark, Boise, Connectiv, Exelon, General Mills, PSE&G, and Procter and Gamble were among the nominated. In 2001, IKON established its Supplier Diversity Initiative to continually seek and expand partnerships with minority-owned, small, woman-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned and HUBZone-owned small businesses. Through this initiative, IKON is committed to building relationships and strategic partnerships that promote the advancement of a diverse business community. IKON's spend with diverse businesses has increased 445% since the inception of the initiative. "This award is a testament to our commitment to facilitating and embracing diversity in the communities in which we serve," said Carlyle Singer, Senior Vice President of Operations, IKON Office Solutions. "As we continue to partner with minority/woman-owned and small businesses, we are confident that all parties will benefit, both now and in the years to come. We are honored to accept this award from the Minority Supplier Development Council." IKON has standardized internal processes throughout the company for recruiting, training, and using diverse suppliers. IKON also participates in trade fairs, including the National Minority Supplier Development Council conference and business opportunity fair, and has sponsored several council activities. IKON is also a corporate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and belongs to a number of regional affiliate councils. Additional information regarding IKON's Supplier Diversity Initiative can be found at http://www.ikon.com/supplierdiversity.