Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Gentex’s diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives are supported by our DE&I Council, which helps implement specific diversity programs, supports internal training, and creates opportunities to spread awareness throughout the organization. The Council is led by Joe Matthews, vice president of diversity, equity & inclusion.

DEI Council

In 2018, Gentex CEO and President Steve Downing appointed Joe Matthews as the company’s first diversity officer. Joe pulled together a council of cross-departmental employees to work alongside him to develop DEI initiatives.

The council members work on projects to support an inclusive work environment at Gentex.

The DEI council helped create three Values in Action to serve as Gentex’s diversity, equity and inclusion mission. Those values are:

Cultivating a culture of inclusion where every team member belongs.

Valuing differences and our team members’ unique contributions.

Creating a positive environment where all team members have the opportunity to thrive.

5 Sectors for DEI

When considering new DEI initiatives at Gentex, there are five areas we consider. They are:

Workplace
- How do employees view where they work?
Workforce
- How do we get world-class talent from all backgrounds?
Community
- Are we valued in the community where our employees work, serve, live, and play?
Marketplace
- How do we reach diverse clientele and turn them into loyal customers?
Supplier
- How can we broaden our supplier base?

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Program

In 2020, Gentex embarked on an exciting inclusion initiative to support a second language in our workforce. In the West Michigan area, Spanish is the second most popular language spoken, so Gentex piloted a Limited English Proficiency Program for Spanish-speaking individuals.

The program started in one facility on one shift, on one line, now, it operates on all three shifts in two facilities and on many lines.

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Program image