Tempe, Ariz. -- Institute for Supply Management (ISM) announces winners of its Fourth Annual ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management. Award winners will be recognized and will share their winning stories in Charlotte, North Carolina, during ISM's 94th International Supply Management Conference, May 3-6, 2009.

Winners were selected from applications received in four categories: Process; Technology; People; and Organization/Structure. The 2009 Richter Corporate Award recipients are:

- Alltel Communications Inc. LLC (Organization/Structure)
- KPN Energy Management (Process Category)
- United States Postal Service (Technology Category)

Alltel Communications Inc. LLC (Organization/Structure Category)

In the wireless industry, there is the forward flow of handsets out into the consumer market, and the reverse flow of used handsets returning to the company. Alltel's Procurement and Logistics Group consolidated and centralized all of the supply management functions throughout the life cycle of a wireless handset or accessory. Members of Alltel's supply management group will share how they consolidated reverse logistics and process improvements to yield millions in expense reductions during ISM Conference Workshop Session FJ on May 5, 2009.

KPN Energy Management (Process Category)

Throughout Europe, there are growing pressures and strict goals to reduce energy. For Royal KPN Telecom in the Netherlands, forming a cross-functional energy management group allowed the company to get a much better grip on cost and consumption as well as realize energy efficiency within the supply chain. Members of KPN Energy Management will discuss their innovations in energy savings, energy management and sustainable procurement during ISM Conference Workshop Session GJ on May 5, 2009.

United States Postal Service (Technology Category)

Sourcing events at the United States Postal Service can be very complex, with the average event involving 715 line items, 23 suppliers and $128 million in spend. The United States Postal Service's Richter Award-winning entry detailed how it implemented optimization-enabled sourcing technology to allow suppliers the flexibility to choose items from the total solicitation package on which to bid, create their own bundles and offer conditional discounts. Representatives from the United States Postal Service will share how they use optimization-enabled sourcing to deliver big savings during ISM Workshop Session GI on May 5, 2009.

Named after supply management leader and innovator R. Gene Richter, the ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management were established to recognize innovative supply organizations of all sizes and geographic locations that through strong leadership have dramatically increased their contribution to organizational success. Award winners are recognized for:

- Leadership and innovative practices
- Heightened recognition for supply management departments
- Approaches that optimize resources
- Supply management as a strategic contributor to the organization
- Real-world success stories that you can apply in your organization

Winners join an esteemed group of innovators, representing a variety of organizations including: BP p.l.c.; DaimlerChrysler; Fluor-Hanford; HP, Johnson & Johnson; KLA-Tencor, Lockheed Aeronautics Company, Masco Corporation and Rockwell Collins.

Sponsors for the 4th Annual ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management are:

Gold - A.T. Kearney; HP

Silver - ADR International; Anklesaria Group; Bank of America; BP; eclaro international; McKinsey & Company; Tyco International

Winners in the 2009 competition were selected from applications received in an online submission process held during July 2008. The fifth annual R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management call for entries will open July 1, 2009. For more information, visit www.ism.ws/RichterAwards.