Candice Sams

Tractor Supply Company

Senior Manager Supplier Diversity

Candice Sams is Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity for Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States. In this role, she is responsible for standing up and leading the company’s Supplier Diversity function by partnering with corporate leaders, internal and external stakeholders, and merchandising and procurement influencers. Her work includes developing and executing strategic sourcing strategies and process improvements to advance diverse supplier sourcing. Candice acts as Tractor Supply’s liaison and representative to minority, veteran, and women’s business enterprise advocacy organizations locally and nationally.

Candice has over 15 years of experience and a record of achievement in operations management, labor relations, human resources, global strategic planning, and supply chain management. Before Tractor Supply, Candice was Head of Supplier Diversity, Procurement Communication, and Training at Dematic. Prior to that, she served as Business Analyst in Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at Ford Motor Company, managing more than 200 diverse suppliers and small business relationships.

Candice holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Wisconsin Stout, and a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University.