At first glance, one might suspect that American Honda suppliers Sharp Decisions, Inc. and the Anaheim Ducks & Honda Center could not be more different. As a global Information Technology Consulting service provider, Sharp Decisions has offices throughout the world and meticulously places qualified candidates with clients on an individual basis to ensure ideal staffing combinations. Conversely, the ownership and staff of the Honda Center regularly succeed in thrilling thousands of fans simultaneously at Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Duck games, premier entertainment events and sports exhibitions held in the acclaimed local arena owned by the City of Anaheim.

But as you take a closer look, you’re likely to find that these two vendor partners may actually have more in common than not, and the business philosophies which have helped lead them to success further mirror many of our own practices here at American Honda. They strive to exceed customer expectations and consistently deliver excellence. They draw world-class talent from across the globe and make customer satisfaction the top priority.  And in 2008, both were selected to join American Honda’s elite group of Premier Partners.

"These suppliers embody Honda's philosophy of delivering the highest possible value to our customers through quality products and customer service",  said Gary Kessler, American Honda’s senior vice president of human resources and administration. “We appreciate their commitment and thank them for their contribution to Honda’s success.”

The NH circle created AHM’s Premier Partner program in 1997 as a means to recognize and honor the company’s most valued suppliers and vendors who are dedicated to our efforts to succeed, and who share in our company’s most valued philosophies. Each year, just fifteen (15) suppliers are selected from more than a thousand outstanding business partners who are helping American Honda to achieve excellence and deliver superior quality and service to our customers across the globe.

“We’re extremely proud of our Premier Partner Award and the level of quality it represents, says Linda Hazzard, Sharp Decisions’ Vice President for the Western Region. “It’s often one of the first things we mention and it has affected our business in very positive ways, including our ability to recruit top candidates who recognize the level of excellence that the Honda name represents. And as a Women Owned Business Enterprise (W.O.B.E.), we’re honored to work with a company who exhibits an ongoing commitment to diversity in the workplace, allowing us to compete on equal footing.”

This year, the project scope and budgets for SDI and Honda Center contracts were vastly different, yet both suppliers consistently delivered high quality results and demonstrated a true spirit of partnership, making each of the Premier Partner Award recipients equally important to American Honda.

"Everything we do with American Honda is infused with a shared philosophy of achieving high standards and delivering excellence both in business and for the community," says Rachel Kaizoji, Naming & Title Rights Manager for the Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center. "Our ownership and staff feel a strong sense of partnership with Honda in every sense of the word.  We are happy that American Honda shares pride in our accomplishments, as we do with theirs.  We're honored to have received our Premier Partner Award as recognition for our work together, and look forward to continued success with American Honda for many years to come.”